Hp Be'er Sheva vs Levski: Overview

In a tightly contested UEFA Europa League qualification match, Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Levski Sofia played out an evenly balanced 1-1 draw at the Városi stadion on July 17, 2025. The result leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg, with both teams still harboring strong hopes of progression to the next qualification round.

The atmosphere in Hungary was electric, with traveling supporters from both Israel and Bulgaria creating a colorful backdrop for this important European clash. The neutral venue added an interesting dynamic to the fixture, with neither side enjoying a true home advantage in this first leg encounter.

Despite entering the match with impressive scoring records—Levski averaging 2.30 goals per game and Hapoel 1.40—both defenses stood relatively firm throughout the 90 minutes. The Bulgarian side enjoyed more possession, but Ran Kozuch's men demonstrated the defensive solidity that has seen them concede just 0.60 goals per game in their recent outings.

This stalemate means everything remains at stake for the return fixture, with away goals no longer a factor in UEFA competitions. For Hapoel Be'er Sheva, securing a draw away from home represents a decent result, while Levski Sofia will be somewhat disappointed not to have capitalized on their possession advantage.

Both clubs will view qualification for the Europa League proper as a significant achievement, with the financial and sporting benefits that European football brings becoming increasingly important for clubs from these leagues. The return leg promises to be an enthralling encounter as these evenly matched sides battle for a place in the next round of qualification.

"We showed good character today against a strong opponent. The draw is a fair result based on how the match unfolded. Levski controlled possession but we remained disciplined and created our own opportunities. Everything will be decided in the second leg," reflected Hapoel Be'er Sheva coach Ran Kozuch after the match.

"I'm satisfied with certain aspects of our performance, particularly our ball control, but we needed to be more clinical in the final third. A draw away from home isn't a terrible result, but I believe we had opportunities to take more from this game. We'll need to be more efficient in the return leg," stated Levski Sofia manager Julio Velázquez.

"The intensity was high throughout the match. We knew Levski would try to dominate possession, but we maintained our defensive shape well. This tie is far from over," commented Hapoel midfielder Dan Biton, who played a crucial role in the midfield battle.

"We created enough chances to win, but sometimes football doesn't reward the team with more possession. We remain confident for the second leg when we'll have our supporters behind us," said Levski's captain Georgi Kostadinov.

"Both teams showed their tactical awareness today. Hapoel's defensive organization was impressive, while Levski demonstrated good technical ability in possession. The return leg should be fascinating with both teams needing to show more attacking intent," analyzed former European coach and football expert Arsène Wenger in his post-match assessment.

Possession: Hapoel Be'er Sheva 42% - 58% Levski Sofia

Shots (On Target): Hapoel Be'er Sheva 9 (4) - 14 (5) Levski Sofia

Corners: Hapoel Be'er Sheva 5 - 7 Levski Sofia

Fouls: Hapoel Be'er Sheva 12 - 10 Levski Sofia

Yellow Cards: Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2 - 2 Levski Sofia

Individual Statistics:

Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be'er Sheva): 91% passing accuracy, 3 key passes, 7 recoveries

Igor Zlatanović (Hapoel Be'er Sheva): 4 shots, 1 goal, 2 aerial duels won

Marin Petkov (Levski Sofia): 5 shots, 1 goal, 3 dribbles completed

Georgi Kostadinov (Levski Sofia): 8 ball recoveries, 92% passing accuracy, 2 chances created

The statistical breakdown reflects the general flow of the match, with Levski Sofia controlling possession and creating more chances throughout the 90 minutes. Their 58% possession translated into 14 total shots, with 5 finding the target. Hapoel Be'er Sheva adopted a more counter-attacking approach, managing 9 shots with 4 on target from their 42% possession share.

The corner count (5-7) further illustrates Levski's territorial advantage, though Hapoel's defensive organization limited the Bulgarian side's ability to convert this dominance into clear-cut opportunities. Both teams maintained discipline despite the competitive nature of this UEFA Europa League qualifier, with an even distribution of yellow cards and a similar foul count.

Individually, Kings Kangwa stood out for Hapoel with his passing range and ball recovery, while Igor Zlatanović provided the offensive threat with his goal. For Levski, Marin Petkov was the danger man with 5 shots including his goal, while captain Kostadinov controlled the midfield with impressive passing statistics and defensive contributions.

17': GOAL! Hapoel Be'er Sheva 1-0 Levski Sofia - Against the run of play, Igor Zlatanović capitalized on a defensive error to put the Israeli side ahead. After intercepting a misplaced pass from Kristian Dimitrov, the forward calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to give Hapoel the lead.

34': Yellow Card - Hapoel Be'er Sheva - Dan Biton entered the referee's book for a tactical foul on Georgi Kostadinov, stopping a promising counter-attack for Levski Sofia.

41': GOAL! Hapoel Be'er Sheva 1-1 Levski Sofia - The Bulgarian side equalized through Marin Petkov, who finished off a well-worked team move. Radoslav Kirilov provided the assist with a precise cross from the right wing that Petkov headed powerfully into the bottom corner.

45+2': Half-time - Teams went into the break level at 1-1 after an evenly contested first half, with Levski gradually asserting control after conceding the opening goal.

58': Tactical Change - Levski Sofia - Coach Julio Velázquez adjusted his team's formation to a more attack-minded 4-3-3, pushing Fábio Lima into a more advanced position to increase pressure on the Hapoel defense.

65': Double Substitution - Hapoel Be'er Sheva - Coach Ran Kozuch responded to Levski's tactical shift by introducing fresh legs in midfield, reinforcing the defensive structure while maintaining counter-attacking threat.

76': Near Miss - Levski Sofia - Rildo came agonizingly close to giving Levski the lead, striking the post with a powerful shot from the edge of the area after a clever cutback from Petkov.

90+3': Full-time - The referee blew the final whistle with the scores level at 1-1, setting up an intriguing second leg in the UEFA Europa League qualification tie.

This encounter marks only the third competitive meeting between Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Levski Sofia, with their historical record now standing at one win for Levski, one draw, and one win for Hapoel. Their previous UEFA Europa League confrontation came in 2018, when Levski secured a narrow 2-1 aggregate victory in a qualifying round.

The Bulgarian side won the home leg 2-0 before losing 1-0 in Israel, just enough to progress. That previous tie featured similarly tight tactical battles, with Levski demonstrating greater possession statistics but Hapoel proving dangerous on the counter-attack—a pattern repeated in this latest encounter.

On the field, several key individual matchups shaped this contest. The midfield battle between Dan Biton of Hapoel and Levski's Georgi Kostadinov proved particularly influential, with both players demonstrating technical quality and tactical intelligence. Kostadinov's 92% passing accuracy slightly edged Biton's contribution, though the Israeli midfielder's tactical foul demonstrated his understanding of game management.

In attack, Igor Zlatanović for Hapoel and Marin Petkov for Levski both showcased their goal-scoring instincts, each finding the net with clinical finishes. Their continued effectiveness will likely prove decisive in the return fixture.

Defensively, Matan Baltaksa performed admirably for Hapoel against Levski's fluid attack, while Kristian Dimitrov recovered well from his early error that led to Hapoel's goal. The fullback positions also provided an interesting tactical subplot, with Hélder Lopes of Hapoel and Gašper Trdin of Levski both contributing significantly to their teams' attacking phases.

The coaching battle between Ran Kozuch and Julio Velázquez reflected their respective philosophical approaches, with Kozuch's pragmatic defensive organization countering Velázquez's possession-based system. This tactical chess match will continue in the second leg, where adjustments could prove decisive in determining which side advances to the next qualification round of the UEFA Europa League.

While this UEFA Europa League qualification match stands separate from domestic competition, both teams' recent form provides context for their European aspirations.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva currently sits in 3rd position in the Israeli Premier League, demonstrating solid form with 5 wins, 1 defeat, and 4 draws in their last 10 matches. Their defensive record has been particularly impressive, conceding just 0.60 goals per match on average. This places them in strong contention for European qualification through their domestic league as well, providing a potential backup route should this Europa League campaign end prematurely.

Levski Sofia occupies 2nd place in the Bulgarian First League, having compiled an impressive run of 6 wins, 2 defeats, and 2 draws in their recent fixtures. Their offensive output of 2.30 goals per match showcases their attacking credentials, though their defensive record (conceding 1.00 per game) suggests some vulnerability at the back.

For both clubs, progression in the UEFA Europa League represents a significant opportunity for financial gain and continental exposure. The 1-1 draw leaves both with realistic chances of advancement, though the second leg will be decisive.

Should either team progress through this qualification round, they would still face additional qualifying hurdles before reaching the group stages—a target that would substantially boost their season objectives and provide valuable experience against higher-caliber European opposition.

Both clubs have made European qualification a priority in their seasonal targets, recognizing the prestige and revenue that accompanies participation in UEFA competitions. With domestic league positions already favorable, success in this Europa League qualification tie would represent an important step toward achieving those ambitions.