95th season of top-tier football league in Bulgaria
Football league season
The 2018–19 First Professional Football League was the 95th season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 71st since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid and also the 3rd season of the First Professional Football League , which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season began on 20 July 2018 and finished on 30 May 2019. Ludogorets Razgrad became champions for the 8th consecutive time, on the final matchday of the season, with a 4–1 home win over Cherno More Varna .[ 9]
Teams
Fourteen teams are competing in the league – the top thirteen teams from the previous season, and one team promoted from the Second League .[ 10]
Botev Vratsa were promoted as champions of the 2017–18 Second League .[ 11] The promoted club replaced Pirin Blagoevgrad , who were relegated after elimination in the relegation play-offs by Vitosha Bistritsa . Botev Vratsa return to the top tier after a 5-year absence, while Pirin Blagoevgrad ended a 3-year stay in the top flight.[ 12]
Stadia and locations
Team
Location
Stadium
Capacity (seating)
Beroe
Stara Zagora
Beroe
12,128
Botev
Plovdiv
Botev 1912 Football Complex
4,000
Botev
Vratsa
Hristo Botev
12,000
Cherno More
Varna
Ticha
8,250
CSKA
Sofia
Balgarska Armiya
18,495
Dunav
Ruse
Gradski
12,400
Etar
Veliko Tarnovo
Ivaylo
18,000
Levski
Sofia
Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov
25,000
Lokomotiv
Plovdiv
Lokomotiv
13,000
Ludogorets
Razgrad
Ludogorets Arena
10,422
Septemvri
Sofia
Vasil Levski National Stadium
43,230
Slavia
Sofia
Slavia Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,556 43,230
Vereya
Stara Zagora
Trace Arena
3,500
Vitosha
Bistritsa
Stadion Nikolay Stanislavov
2,500
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised by UEFA in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations).
Clubs in the domestic league can have more than one sponsorship per jersey which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area. Shorts also have space available for advertisement.
Managerial changes
1.^ No license for First League.
Regular season
League table
Source:
Soccerway Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.
[ 43]
Results
Source:
bulgarian-football.com Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Positions by round
Results by round
Championship round
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
Source:
Soccerway Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.
[ 44] (C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners
Positions by round
Below the positions per round are shown. As teams did not all start with an equal number of points, the initial pre-playoffs positions are also given.
Relegation round
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
Group A
Source:
Soccerway Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.
[ 48] (D) Disqualified;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
Group B
Source:
Soccerway Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.
[ 49] (R) Relegated
Notes:
European play-offs
Bracket
European play-off quarter-finals
European play-off semi-finals
European play-off final
Relegation play-offs
Bracket
Winners of matches 3, 5 and 6 will play in the top division next season
First round
Second round
Vereya are relegated to the Second League.
Third round
Septemvri Sofia are relegated to the Second League.
Season statistics
Top scorers
As of 24 May 2019 [ 50]
Hat-tricks
Clean sheets
As of match(es) played on 24 May 2019 [ 60]
Transfers
References
^ "След сигнал на УЕФА: БФС изхвърли клуб от Първа лига" [After a signal by UEFA: BFU expels a club from the First League] (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 2019-05-08.
^ "Кърджали ликува! Арда е в елита за първи път в историята си, сълзите са за Септември (видео+снимки)" [Kardzhali rejoices! Arda joins the elite for the first time ever, tears for Septemvri (video+photos)] (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 2019-05-29.
^ "Levski Sofia vs. Vereya 7–0" . soccerway.com. 26 October 2018.
^ "Cherno More vs. Septemvri Sofia 1–5" . soccerway.com. 4 August 2018.
^ "Slavia Sofia vs. Dunav 3–5" . soccerway.com. 12 April 2019.
^ a b c d "Bulgaria - 1st league - streaks and sequences" . soccerstats.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018 .
^ "CSKA Sofia vs. Levski Sofia 0–1" . soccerway.com. 29 September 2018.
^ "Septemvri Sofia vs. Dunav 2010 2–1" . soccerway.com. 9 December 2018.
^ "Жребият за професионалния футбол е изтеглен" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 8 June 2018.
^ "Състав на Първа и Втора професионална лига за сезон 2018/2019" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 8 June 2018.
^ "След голяма драма Ботев Враца се завърна в Първа лига!" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 19 May 2018.
^ "Витоша изхвърли Пирин от Първа лига след обрат в луд мач" (in Bulgarian). blitz.bg. 21 May 2018.
^ "Представяме ви екипа на "Берое" за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). beroe.bg. 19 July 2018.
^ "ВИДЕО: Екипът на Ботев за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). botevplovdiv.bg. 13 July 2018.
^ "WINBET e новият спонсор на ПФК "Ботев" " (in Bulgarian). botevplovdiv.bg. 3 August 2018.
^ " "Етър" с нови екипи през сезон 2018/2019 г." (in Bulgarian). etarvt.bg. 20 July 2018.
^ "Екипите на Локомотив за сезон 2018/2019" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivpd.com. 12 July 2018.
^ "Лудогорец ще играе с Umbro през следващите два сезона" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 7 July 2017.
^ "Efbet is Ludogorets' new official main sponsor" . ludogorets.com. 6 June 2018.
^ "Звездно трио представи новите екипи на Витоша" (in Bulgarian). fcvitosha.bg. 15 July 2017.
^ "Третият във Втора лига обяви официален спонсор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 17 April 2017.
^ "Новият старши треньор на Витоша: Искам да променя мисленето на играчите (видео)" (in Bulgarian). fcvitosha.bg. 1 June 2018.
^ "Иван Колев е новият треньор на Верея" (in Bulgarian). fcvereya.bg. 4 June 2018.
^ "Ludogorets has a new head manager" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 6 June 2018.
^ "Нестор Ел Маестро е новият треньор на ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 7 June 2018.
^ "Левски има временен треньор, той ще води "сините" срещу Ботев Пд" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 18 July 2018.
^ "Промени в треньорския щаб на клуба" (in Bulgarian). levski.bg. 25 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2018 .
^ "Верея се раздели с Иван Колев, сърбинът Небойша Лекич пое отбора" (in Bulgarian). fcvereya.bg. 14 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018 .
^ "ФК "Дунав" се раздели с Малин Орачев" (in Bulgarian). fcdunav.eu. 17 September 2018.
^ "Ето кой ще наследи Митов начело на Септември" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 30 September 2018.
^ "Людмил Киров е новият старши треньор на ФК "Дунав" " (in Bulgarian). fcdunav.eu. 1 October 2018.
^ "ПФК "Лудогорец" и Пауло Аутори се разделят по взаимно съгласие" . ludogorets.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 9 October 2018 .
^ "Потвърдено: отбор от Първа лига остана без старши треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 10 January 2019.
^ "Севидов: Ще се борим за мястото си в Първа лига" [Sevidov: "We will fight for our place in First League"] (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 18 January 2019.
^ "Славиша Стоянович вече не е треньор на Левски" [Slaviša Stojanovič is no longer coach of Levski.]. sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-01-21 .
^ "Единственият български треньор с победа в Шампионската лига пое Левски" . sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-01-21 .
^ "Официално: Любо Пенев е новият треньор на ЦСКА-София - обявиха причината за смяната на Ел Маестро (видео)" [Official: Lyubo Penev is the new coach of CSKA-Sofia - announced the reason for the replacement of El Maestro.]. sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 2019-02-08. Retrieved 2019-02-08 .
^ "Официално: Стойчо Стоев е новият треньор на Лудогорец, обявиха бъдещето на Здравков" . sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 9 March 2019 .
^ "Босът на тим от Първа лига: Разделихме се с 12 чужденци, Иван Вутов е новият треньор" [The boss of a First League team: "We've parted ways with 12 foreigners, Ivan Vutov is the new coach"]. sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 26 March 2019 .
^ "Левски се раздели официално с Дерменджиев и обяви причината" [Levski officially parted ways with Dermendzhiev and announced the reason.]. sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 29 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-05 .
^ "Любо Пенев заяви, че напуска огорчен ЦСКА-София и нападна ръководството на клуба (декларацията на треньора)" [Lyubo Penev announces that he leaves CSKA-Sofia bitter and attacks the team's management (declaration of the coach).]. sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2019-05-05 .
^ "A PFG - Regular season rules" . Scoresway. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2016 .
^ "Наредба за първенствата и турнирите по футбол в системата на БФС за сезон 2018/2019 година" (PDF) . Bulgarian Football Union . Retrieved 28 July 2018 .
^ "След сигнал на УЕФА: БФС изхвърли клуб от Първа лига" [After signal by UEFA: BFU expelled a team from First League] (in Bulgarian). Sportal.bg . 7 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019 .
^ "Верея изваден от Първа лига заради пет мача, три от тях са известни" [Vereya expelled from First League because of five matches, three are known] (in Bulgarian). Sportal.bg . 7 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019 .
^ "Ще получи ли Лудогорец две точки предимство след изваждането на Верея от Първа лига?" [Will Ludogorets receive two points advantage after the expulsion of Vereya from First League?] (in Bulgarian). Sportal.bg . 7 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2019 .
^ "Наредба за първенствата и турнирите по футбол в системата на БФС за сезон 2018/2019 година" (PDF) . Bulgarian Football Union . Retrieved 28 July 2018 .
^ "Наредба за първенствата и турнирите по футбол в системата на БФС за сезон 2018/2019 година" (PDF) . Bulgarian Football Union . Retrieved 28 July 2018 .
^ "Първа лига 2018/19" [First League 2018/19] (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018 .
^ "CHERNO MORE VS. SEPTEMVRI SOFIA 1 - 5" . soccerway.com. 4 August 2018.
^ "BOTEV VRATSA VS. LUDOGORETS 1 - 4" . soccerway.com. 7 October 2018.
^ "ETAR VS. LUDOGORETS 1 - 4" . soccerway.com. 4 November 2018.
^ "BEROE VS. VEREYA 6 - 0" . soccerway.com. 25 November 2018.
^ "BOTEV VS. VITOSHA 3 - 0" . soccerway.com. 10 December 2018.
^ "CSKA SOFIA VS. SEPTEMVRI SOFIA 5 - 1" . soccerway.com. 2 March 2019.
^ "VEREYA VS. ETAR 0 - 3" . soccerway.com. 21 April 2019.
^ "VITOSHA BISTRITSA VS. BOTEV VRATSA 2 - 5" . soccerway.com. 22 April 2019.
^ "LUDOGORETS VS. CHERNO MORE 4 - 1" . soccerway.com. 24 May 2019.
^ "Първа лига 2018/19" [First League 2018/19] (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 23 July 2018 .
2024–25 clubs Stadiums Former clubs* Former clubs (from Macedonia & Thrace ) Competition Associated competitions Seasons * In the brackets is the number of seasons in the league.
Domestic leagues Domestic cups League cups Supercups UEFA competitions International competitions