Viktoria Plzen vs Levski Sofia Preview: Prediction, Team News and Predicted Lineups. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Plzen's consistent goal scoring and home confidence give them the edge over Levski's limited attacking output. Despite defensive vulnerabilities, Plzen's ability to create chances and Levski's struggle to sustain penalty-box pressure suggest a narrow home win is most likely.
A 1-0 score fits Plzen's ability to convert chances at home and Levski's defensive resilience and limited attacking threat. Levski's compact midfield and low penalty-box shots suggest a tight match, while Plzen's defensive concessions pose a risk to the clean sheet needed for this exact scoreline.
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REGISTER FREE & UNLOCK TIP →Already registered? Log in18+ · Historical results only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Betting involves risk.Compare form, H2H, goals trends and key data for Plzen v Levski Sofia.
Viktoria Plzen welcome Levski Sofia to Doosan Arena on Thursday, 22 October, with both sides searching for their first Europa League victory of the campaign.
Viktoria Plzen vs Levski Sofia — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
Plzen's superior chance creation and home form give them a narrow edge over Levski.
Plzen's higher goal output suggests an attacking edge over Levski's limited scoring.
Plzen's consistent goal scoring contrasts with Levski's low in-box shot count.
Plzen's defensive vulnerability could threaten the exact 1-0 scoreline prediction.
Three Punchy Stats
- 12 goals conceded: Plzen's defensive record across their last six matches highlights their vulnerability.
- 17 away matches: Levski have lost just once during that impressive travelling sequence.
- Zero European points: Plzen have lost both opening Europa League fixtures, conceding five goals and scoring once.
Goals Scored in Last 6 Matches
Recent attacking records for Viktoria Plzen and Levski Sofia are shown below.
Defensive Performance in Last 6 Matches
Recent defensive records for Viktoria Plzen and Levski Sofia are shown below.
The Czech hosts have lost their opening two league-phase fixtures and sit 32nd without a point, while Levski arrive with one point following their draw against NEC Nijmegen.
Despite Plzen's difficult start, their attacking output offers encouragement. However, Levski's impressive away record suggests this could be a far tighter contest than the hosts would prefer.
Plzen Searching for European Redemption
Radoslav Kovac's side have endured a disappointing opening to their European campaign, suffering a 3-0 defeat against Union St Gilloise before losing 2-1 to Ferencvaros.
The latter setback was particularly frustrating. Plzen created three big chances but failed to convert two of them, eventually conceding an 82nd-minute penalty that proved decisive.
Their domestic performances have also lacked consistency. Plzen occupy ninth place in the Czech top flight with 16 points from 11 matches, although Sunday's 3-2 victory over Jablonec provided a timely confidence boost.
Defensive vulnerability remains their biggest concern.
Across their previous six matches, Plzen have scored 10 goals but conceded 12, highlighting a side capable of creating opportunities without consistently controlling proceedings.
That imbalance could shape Thursday's contest. Plzen possess enough attacking quality to trouble Levski, but their willingness to commit players forward risks exposing spaces during defensive transitions.
Home advantage is another uncertain factor.
Although Plzen defeated Mlada Boleslav 3-0 at Doosan Arena on 10 October, they had previously gone three home matches without victory, losing twice.
Kovac therefore needs more than attacking improvement. His team must demonstrate greater defensive discipline if they are to turn encouraging passages of play into European points.
Levski's Away Form Offers Encouragement
Levski Sofia travel to the Czech Republic with considerably stronger recent momentum.
Julio Velazquez's side are unbeaten in three matches following their 2-0 Bulgarian Cup victory over Spartak Pleven, recording two wins and a draw during that sequence.
Their most recent European outing ended 1-1 against NEC Nijmegen, with Reinaldo scoring for the Bulgarian visitors.
However, that result exposed some attacking limitations.
Levski faced three big chances after half-time while producing just one shot from inside the penalty area, suggesting they struggled to maintain an offensive threat as the match progressed.
Indeed, they have scored no more than once in four of their previous seven matches, failing to find the net twice.
Their away performances nevertheless provide a compelling counterargument.
Levski are unbeaten across six consecutive away fixtures, winning four, and have suffered just one defeat in their last 17 matches on the road.
That resilience could prove especially valuable against opponents whose defensive organisation has repeatedly been questioned.
Rather than engaging in an open contest, Velazquez may prioritise midfield compactness, controlled possession and exploiting the spaces Plzen leave behind.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Plzen are expected to retain Christophe Kabongo as their central attacking threat, supported by creative midfielder Jiri Panos.
Stefan Pirgic and Patrik Hrosovsky could continue their midfield partnership, while Sampson Dweh and Filip Prebsl are likely to feature ahead of goalkeeper Dominik Tapaj.
For Levski, former Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic should provide experience and defensive protection in central areas.
Reinaldo is expected to lead the attack, with Christian Makoun and Kristian Dimitrov forming the central defensive partnership.
Viktoria Plzen predicted XI: Tapaj; Gabriel, Dweh, Prebsl, Doski; Pirgic, Hrosovsky; Sojka, Panos, Memic; Kabongo.
Levski Sofia predicted XI: Vutsov; Aldair, Dimitrov, Makoun, Maicon; Serginho, Grujic, Moubarik; Kusso, Reinaldo, Bala.
Match Prediction: Viktoria Plzen 2-1 Levski Sofia
Plzen's attacking production and home advantage give them a narrow edge, but their defensive weaknesses make a comfortable victory unlikely.
Levski's outstanding away resilience should ensure a competitive encounter, although their limited attacking output could ultimately prevent them from capitalising fully.
A narrow Plzen victory appears the most plausible outcome, potentially ending their European losing sequence.
Definition & Settlement
The Match Result market requires you to select the exact winner of the fixture at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. For a “Plzen to win” selection to settle as a winner, the Czech side must be ahead when the final whistle sounds. Extra time and penalties are not included. If Levski Sofia win the match, or if the game finishes as a draw, the selection loses.
Other opportunities in this market
The Double Chance market covers two possible outcomes, such as a Plzen win or a draw, reducing the number of losing match results but normally trading at a shorter price. The Draw No Bet market settles as a winner if the selected team wins, but refunds the stake entirely if the match finishes level, providing an intermediate option between the standard Match Result and Double Chance.
Definition & Settlement
The Correct Score market requires the exact final scoreline to match the selection at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. A “Plzen 1-0 Levski Sofia” bet wins only if Plzen score exactly one goal and Levski Sofia score zero. Any single variation—such as a 1-1 draw, a 0-0 draw, or a 2-0 home victory—causes the selection to lose entirely.
Other opportunities in this market
Under 2.5 Goals wins if the match finishes with zero, one, or two total goals, meaning it covers the 1-0 scoreline alongside 0-0, 0-1, 1-1, and 2-0/0-2. This trades the precision required for the exact-score market for a wider set of winning scorelines. Both Teams To Score ‘No’ requires at least one team to fail to score, covering any shutout victory or goalless draw regardless of the exact goal tally.
📊 Market Explainer
Match Result Market
Selection: Plzen to win. Choose the home win, draw or away win after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties are excluded from settlement.
Correct Score Market
Selection: Plzen vs Levski Sofia 1-0. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
🎯 Pick 1: Plzen to win @ 3/4
Plzen’s attacking production, particularly on domestic soil, gives them the necessary platform to secure victory over a Levski side currently struggling for consistent attacking output, despite the visitors’ stubborn travelling record. The Czech hosts have scored 10 goals across their last six fixtures and created three big chances against Ferencvaros in their previous European outing, highlighting a concrete ability to generate opportunities. They return to the Doosan Arena following a 3-0 home win over Mlada Boleslav earlier in October and a 3-2 domestic victory over Jablonec on Sunday, establishing a renewed level of confidence in front of their own supporters.
In contrast, Levski’s recent European appearance against NEC Nijmegen exposed clear limitations in the final third. The Bulgarian side managed just one shot from inside the penalty area during the second half of that 1-1 draw. Across their previous seven fixtures in all competitions, Levski have scored no more than once on four occasions and failed to find the net entirely twice. This clear disparity in attacking volume suggests Plzen are significantly better equipped to convert periods of possession into the decisive goals required to claim three points.
The primary risk to a home victory stems from Levski’s impressive away resilience, as Julio Velazquez’s side arrive unbeaten in six consecutive away fixtures and have lost just once in their last 17 road matches. Furthermore, Plzen’s defensive unit remains fragile, having conceded 12 goals across six matches. However, Levski’s demonstrated struggle to create sustained penalty-box pressure limits their capacity to fully exploit those defensive transitions, leaving Plzen’s superior chance-creation metrics as the decisive factor.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Plzen scored 10 goals in their last six matches, showing consistent attacking output.
- Levski had only one shot inside the penalty area in the second half against NEC Nijmegen.
- Levski scored no more than one goal in four of their last seven matches, failing twice to score.
Risk Factor: Plzen's 12 goals conceded in six matches expose them to risks if they overcommit forward against Levski's possession control.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Generated 10 goals in six matches and created three big chances against Ferencvaros in Europe.
Managed only a single shot from inside the area during the second half against NEC Nijmegen.
⚔️ Pick 2: Plzen vs Levski Sofia 1-0 @ 7/1
A narrow 1-0 victory aligns with Plzen’s capacity to convert their attacking opportunities at home while reflecting Levski’s proven resilience and simultaneous struggles in the final third. The evidence for the hosts securing a single goal stems from their established attacking patterns against disciplined defensive units. While Plzen recently scored three against both Jablonec and Mlada Boleslav, Levski present a significantly harder challenge. The visitors arrive unbeaten in six away fixtures, indicating they will not afford Plzen the same expansive space. Levski’s strategy under Julio Velazquez is expected to prioritise midfield compactness, forcing Plzen to work intensely for their openings. Consequently, while the hosts created three big chances against Ferencvaros, Levski’s tight organisation makes a multi-goal home return less probable, pointing towards a tighter scoring outcome.
The argument for a Levski blank relies heavily on their documented attacking limitations. Despite Plzen’s broader defensive vulnerabilities—having conceded 12 times in six matches—Levski must demonstrate the capacity to exploit those gaps. The visitors’ European performance against NEC Nijmegen featured only one shot from inside the penalty area after half-time, and they have failed to score entirely in two of their last seven fixtures. Their tendency to prioritise controlled possession over expansive play restricts their goal-scoring ceiling.
This exact scoreline requires Plzen to navigate Levski’s defensive structure to find a breakthrough, while relying on the visitors’ lack of penalty-box penetration to secure the clean sheet. Although exact-score selections remain fragile to a single set-piece or transitional moment, Levski’s limited output provides a credible basis for a narrow home shutout.
Risk Factor: Plzen's 12 goals conceded in six matches threaten the clean sheet needed for a 1-0 scoreline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must happen for the Plzen to win selection to succeed?
Plzen must be ahead at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time for the bet to win.
How does the Correct Score market settle for this match?
The exact final scoreline must match the selection at the end of normal time for a win.
Why is Levski Sofia's away form relevant to this fixture?
Levski's unbeaten run in six away matches shows defensive resilience that could frustrate Plzen.
What is Double Chance and how does it alter the risk?
Double Chance covers two outcomes, increasing winning chances but offering shorter odds.
Why are Plzen's defensive numbers highlighted as a concern?
Conceding 12 goals in six matches shows vulnerability that could affect clean-sheet bets.
How did Levski perform offensively in their last European match?
Levski managed only one shot inside the penalty area in the second half of their last European game.
