The Eternal Derby Fans of Levski Sofia (left) and CSKA Sofia (right)
Location Sofia , Bulgaria Teams Levski Sofia CSKA Sofia First meeting Levski 1–0 CSKA (5 May 1948; 76 years ago (5 May 1948 ) ) Latest meeting CSKA 1–0 Levski (18 December 2020) Next meeting 17 April 2021, Levski v CSKA Meetings total 206 Most wins Levski Sofia (82)Most player appearances Manol Manolov (35)Top scorer Georgi Ivanov (15)Largest victory CSKA 1–7 Levski (23 September 1994)
The Eternal derby of Bulgarian football or simply The Eternal derby (Bulgarian : Вечното дерби ) was the name of the local derby football match between the two most popular and successful football clubs in Sofia and Bulgaria : Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia . The dominant teams in Bulgarian football have won 26 and 31 national championship titles and 25 and 20 Bulgarian Cup titles, involved into 13 and 11 Doubles , respectively. The rivalry was chosen by COPA90 as the 2nd Maddest Derby In Eastern Europe . [ 1]
History
The rivalry started in the late 1940s when the newly founded club of CSKA became a champion in their first year in competitive football in 1948. Both the 1948–49 and 1950 seasons ended with the two teams facing each other in Soviet Army Cup finals with Levski Sofia winning on both occasions after extra time of the second final replay, as the previous two final matches had finished as draws.
During the years, as the two teams became more and more successful, they gained large supporter bases. The confrontations between the clubs and their fans became commonplace and often resulted in tense encounters on the pitch and hooligan clashes between the fans off the pitch.[citation needed ]
The hostility reached its climax on 19 June 1985 during the Bulgarian Cup final held at Vasil Levski National Stadium when, after many disputable referee decisions, both teams demonstrated poor sportsmanship which resulted in regular fights between them on the pitch. On 21 June, the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party issued a decree that disbanded both teams. CSKA Septemvriysko zname had to be re-founded as Sredets and Levski-Spartak as Vitosha . Six players (including Hristo Stoichkov and Borislav Mikhailov ) were banned for life from playing competitive football; many other players and staff members were banned for three months to one year. A year later, the decision was abolished and the players continued their sport careers.[ 2]
Although both Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia are still regarded as the two most popular and supported teams as of now, neither of the two sides have been crowned champion after the 2008-09 season. This has been partly because of the rise of other teams in the country, such as Litex Lovech , and Ludogorets Razgrad . Litex won two consecutive titles between 2009 and 2011, while Ludogorets is currently on a streak of nine consecutive titles since 2012. This is also partly for financial reasons, which was not the case during the communist period in Bulgaria prior to 1989, when sports teams were backed by the country itself. Despite this, the Eternal derby games are still the most attended in the league.
Venues
During the years, all the matches between Levski and CSKA were held at a neutral venue, in most cases at the Vasil Levski National Stadium . During the 2000s the clubs started to play their eternal derby matches at their own stadiums Georgi Asparuhov Stadium and Balgarska Armiya Stadium but soon they decided to move the matches between them back to the National Stadium because of its higher capacity and the damages done on club stadiums by the visiting supporters.
Only once in the history of the Eternal derby it was held outside Sofia – in 1991, Levski won the Bulgarian Cup quarter-final 2–0 in a match that was played at Tundzha Stadium in Yambol .[ 3]
Summary of results
Competition
Matches
Levski Sofia wins
draws
CSKA Sofia wins
Goal difference
League
153
55
43
55
206:214
Cup
40
21
10
9
68:45
Other
13
6
2
5
14:18
Total
206
82
55
69
288:277
Note: All matches that have finished with a win after extra time are represented as a win for the respective club. All matches that have finished with a penalty shoot-out are represented as draws with the final score after 120 minutes.
Matches list
A PFG (1948–49 – present)
Levski – CSKA
CSKA – Levski
Season
Date
Venue
Atten.
Score
Date
Venue
Attend.
Score
1948–49
11–12–1948
Yunak Stadium
15,000
1–0
13–07–1949
Yunak Stadium
18,000
0–0
1950
23–03–1950
Yunak Stadium
15,000
1–0
11–06–1950
Balgarska Armia Stadium
20,000
0–0
1951
12–09–1951
Balgarska Armia Stadium
25,000
2–0
06–05–1951
Yunak Stadium
25,000
2–1
1952
04–04–1952
Yunak Stadium
20,000
1–3
23–09–1952
Rakovski Stadium
20,000
1–0
1953
23–09–1953
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
0–5
29–03–1953
Balgarska Armia Stadium
25,000
0–1
1954
15–11–1954
Balgarska Armia Stadium
25,000
1–3
20–03–1954
Balgarska Armia Stadium
30,000
2–2
1955
30–09–1955
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
0–3
13–03–1955
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
3–1
1956
01–08–1956
Vasil Levski National Stadium
45,000
1–3
07–04–1956
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
1–1
1957
14–04–1957
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
0–4
28–08–1957
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
0–0
1958
06–07–1958
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
2–2
1958–59
23–08–1958
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
0–2
08–03–1959
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
0–1
1959–60
29–11–1959
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
1–1
29–05–1960
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
3–2
1960–61
16–09–1960
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
1–0
12–03–1961
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
2–0
1961–62
15–07–1962
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
6–3
26–11–1961
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
1–1
1962–63
27–12–1962
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
3–2
25–05–1963
Vasil Levski National Stadium
45,000
1–1
1963–64
05–10–1963
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
2–1
18–04–1964
Vasil Levski National Stadium
45,000
1–2
1964–65
13–09–1964
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
1–0
10–04–1965
Ovcha Kupel Stadium
38,000
0–3
1965–66
28–04–1966
Vasil Levski National Stadium
60,000
0–3
10–04–1966
Vasil Levski National Stadium
62,000
1–0
1966–67
11–03–1967
Vasil Levski National Stadium
70,000
1–1
03–09–1966
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
3–1
1967–68
29–10–1967
Vasil Levski National Stadium
65,000
1–1
15–06–1968
Vasil Levski National Stadium
65,000
0–0
1968–69
31–05–1969
Vasil Levski National Stadium
70,000
1–3
17–11–1968
Vasil Levski National Stadium
55,000
2–7
1969–70
07–07–1970
Vasil Levski National Stadium
32,000
5–2
01–11–1969
Vasil Levski National Stadium
60,000
4–2
1970–71
20–12–1970
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
2–2
28–06–1971
Vasil Levski National Stadium
60,000
0–1
1971–72
05–07–1972
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
0–2
18–12–1971
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
0–1
1972–73
24–03–1973
Vasil Levski National Stadium
55,000
1–2
17–09–1972
Vasil Levski National Stadium
30,000
2–2
1973–74
24–04–1974
Vasil Levski National Stadium
60,000
1–1
12–11–1973
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
0–1
1974–75
28–09–1974
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
1–2
18–04–1975
Vasil Levski National Stadium
55,000
1–0
1975–76
07–05–1976
Vasil Levski National Stadium
65,000
1–3
04–12–1975
Vasil Levski National Stadium
45,000
1–4
1976–77
25–09–1976
Vasil Levski National Stadium
60,000
3–2
09–04–1977
Vasil Levski National Stadium
65,000
1–3
1977–78
29–10–1977
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
4–1
20–05–1978
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
2–2
1978–79
30–05–1979
Vasil Levski National Stadium
65,000
2–1
03–12–1978
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
2–1
1979–80
22–03–1980
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
2–3
01–09–1979
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
1–1
1980–81
25–04–1981
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
2–0
07–10–1980
Vasil Levski National Stadium
55,000
2–2
1981–82
05–09–1981
Vasil Levski National Stadium
55,000
2–2
13–03–1982
Vasil Levski National Stadium
45,000
2–1
1982–83
15–12–1982
Vasil Levski National Stadium
30,000
0–0
08–05–1983
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
0–3
1983–84
10–12–1983
Vasil Levski National Stadium
17,000
2–0
03–06–1984
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
1–3
1984–85
09–03–1985
Vasil Levski National Stadium
31,000
3–1
22–08–1984
Vasil Levski National Stadium
30,000
0–1
1985–86
22–12–1985
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
25,000
1–3
31–08–1985
Balgarska Armia Stadium
30,000
1–2
1986–87
23–11–1986
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
0–1
30–05–1987
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
1–0
1987–88
23–08–1987
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
2–2
06–03–1988
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
2–3
1988–89
17–09–1988
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
2–2
01–04–1989
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
2–1
1989–90
07–04–1990
Vasil Levski National Stadium
30,000
2–2
01–10–1989
Vasil Levski National Stadium
30,000
5–0
1990–91
20–10–1990
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
0–1
05–05–1991
Vasil Levski National Stadium
20,000
1–1
1991–92
23–11–1991
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
2–1
24–05–1992
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
2–2
1992–93
17–10–1992
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
1–3
08–05–1993
Vasil Levski National Stadium
20,000
2–3
1993–94
07–11–1993
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
2–1
24–04–1994
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
1–4
1994–95
02–04–1995
Vasil Levski National Stadium
20,000
3–0
23–09–1994
Vasil Levski National Stadium
30,000
1–7
1995–96
18–11–1995
Vasil Levski National Stadium
8,000
3–1
27–04–1996
Vasil Levski National Stadium
20,000
1–0
1996–97
04–05–1997
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
0–2
04–11–1996
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
1–1
1997–98
10–04–1998
Vasil Levski National Stadium
30,000
3–3
24–10–1997
Vasil Levski National Stadium
22,000
0–1
1998–99
16–08–1998
Vasil Levski National Stadium
36,000
2–0
06–03–1999
Ovcha Kupel Stadium
27,000
2–3
1999–00
13–05–2000
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
25,000
1–0
30–10–1999
Balgarska Armia Stadium
21,000
1–0
2000–01
22–04–2001
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
27,313
2–1
15–10–2000
Balgarska Armia Stadium
22,000
1–1
2001–02
30–09–2001
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
18,000
2–0
02–03–2002
Balgarska Armia Stadium
19,000
2–2
24–04–2002
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
22,000
2–0
26–05–2002
Balgarska Armia Stadium
8,000
1–0
2002–03
10–05–2003
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
15,000
1–1
26–10–2002
Balgarska Armia Stadium
15,000
3–0
2003–04
31–10–2003
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
16,000
1–1
24–04–2004
Balgarska Armia Stadium
18,000
1–2
2004–05
23–04–2005
Vasil Levski National Stadium
17,123
0–1
17–10–2004
Vasil Levski National Stadium
13,501
2–2
2005–06
11–09–2005
Vasil Levski National Stadium
13,290
1–1
02–04–2006
Vasil Levski National Stadium
15,846
0–1
2006–07
17–09–2006
Vasil Levski National Stadium
11,432
1–0
07–04–2007
Vasil Levski National Stadium
20,000
0–1
2007–08
02–12–2007
Vasil Levski National Stadium
15,000
0–1
10–05–2008
Balgarska Armia Stadium
18,000
1–1
2008–09
01–11–2008
Vasil Levski National Stadium
17,420
1–1
09–05–2009
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
0–2
2009–10
27–03–2010
Vasil Levski National Stadium
12,710
0–0
20–09–2009
Vasil Levski National Stadium
16,790
2–0
2010–11
26–02–2011
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
17,480
1–3
01–08–2010
Vasil Levski National Stadium
12,250
0–1
2011–12
29–04–2012
Vasil Levski National Stadium
15,000
1–0
28–10–2011
Vasil Levski National Stadium
8,970
1–0
2012–13
27–04–2013
Vasil Levski National Stadium
13,140
2–1
20–10–2012
Vasil Levski National Stadium
17,340
1–0
2013–14
08–03–2014
Vasil Levski National Stadium
9,920
0–1
19–10–2013
Vasil Levski National Stadium
13,950
3–0
21–04–2014
Vasil Levski National Stadium
8,650
1–3
15–03–2014
Vasil Levski National Stadium
10,060
1–0
2014–15
25–10–2014
Vasil Levski National Stadium
8,900
0–3
27–07–2014
Vasil Levski National Stadium
11,420
2–0
2016–17
04−03−2017
Vasil Levski National Stadium
17,992
2–1
15–10–2016
Vasil Levski National Stadium
21,000
1–1
29−04−2017
Vasil Levski National Stadium
11,200
0–3
28−05−2017
Vasil Levski National Stadium
13,600
3–0
2017–18
21–10–2017
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,107
2–2
18–03–2018
Vasil Levski National Stadium
16,500
1–0
15−05−2018
Vasil Levski National Stadium
7,900
2–3
18−04−2018
Vasil Levski National Stadium
12,000
2–2
2018–19
24–02–2019
Vasil Levski National Stadium
11,000
1–0
29–09–2018
Vasil Levski National Stadium
23,000
0–1
21−05−2019
Vasil Levski National Stadium
11,200
0–2
20−04−2019
Vasil Levski National Stadium
15,900
0–0
2019–20
15–02–2020
Vasil Levski National Stadium
24,687
0–0
01–09–2019
Vasil Levski National Stadium
14,200
2–2
20–06–2020
Vasil Levski National Stadium
14,000
3–3
2020–21
17–04–2021
Vasil Levski National Stadium
18–12–2020
Vasil Levski National Stadium
0
1–0
Bulgarian Cup and other
Season
Date
Match
Stadium
Attendance
Competition
1948
5 May 1948
Levski 1−0 CSKA
Yunak Stadium
12,000
Sofia First Division
1948
5 September 1948
Levski 2–1 CSKA
Yunak Stadium
30,000
Bulgarian Republic Championship Final – 1st leg
9 September 1948
CSKA 3–1 Levski
Yunak Stadium
30,000
Bulgarian Republic Championship Final – 2nd leg
1949
8 May 1949
CSKA 1–1 (a.e.t. ) Levski
Yunak Stadium
35,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
16 May 1949
Levski 2–2 (a.e.t. ) CSKA
Yunak Stadium
35,000
Bulgarian Cup Final – 1st replay
17 May 1949
Levski 2–1 (a.e.t. ) CSKA
Yunak Stadium
35,000
Bulgarian Cup Final – 2nd replay
1949
8 December 1949
Levski 2–0 CSKA
Yunak Stadium
15,000
Sofia Qualification for Bulgarian Cup
1950
26 November 1950
Levski 1–1 (a.e.t. ) CSKA
Balgarska Armiya Stadium
30,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
27 November 1950
CSKA 1–1 (a.e.t. ) Levski
Balgarska Armiya Stadium
30,000
Bulgarian Cup Final – 1st replay
3 December 1950
Levski 1−0 (a.e.t. ) CSKA
Balgarska Armiya Stadium
30,000
Bulgarian Cup Final – 2nd replay
24 December 1950
Levski 1–0 CSKA
Yunak Stadium
20,000
Joseph Stalin Birthday Cup - Final
1951
3 November 1951
CSKA 3–0 Levski
Balgarska Armiya Stadium
25,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal
1957
23 October 1957
Levski 2−0 (a.e.t. ) CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal
1964–65
8 September 1965
CSKA 3–2 Levski
Slavia Stadium
30,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1968–69
30 April 1969
CSKA 2–1 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1969–70
25 August 1970
Levski 2–1 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
46,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1970–71
14 April 1971
Levski 2–2 (a.e.t. ) (5−4 p ) CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
Bulgarian Cup Quarterfinal
1973–74
10 August 1974
CSKA 2−1 (a.e.t. ) Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1975–76
2 June 1976
Levski 4−3 (a.e.t. ) CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
65,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1978–79
4 April 1979
Levski 2–1 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
60,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal
1980–81
10 June 1981
Levski 0–1 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
Bulgarian Cup Final Group
29 July 1981
Levski 2–0 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
Cup 1300 Years Bulgaria Semifinal
1981–82
16 June 1982
Levski 4–0 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
45,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1982–83
2 March 1983
Levski 1–1 (a.e.t. ) (3−4 p ) CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
Soviet Army Cup Quarterfinal
1983–84
14 March 1984
CSKA 0–1 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
28,000
Soviet Army Cup Semifinal
31 March 1984
CSKA 1–3 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal
1984–85
19 June 1985
CSKA 2–1 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
35,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1985–86
27 April 1986
CSKA 1–2 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
28,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1986–87
13 May 1987
CSKA 2–1 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1987–88
13 February 1988
CSKA 0–3 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
25,000
Soviet Army Cup Round of 16
11 May 1988
Levski 1–4 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
40,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1990–91
13 February 1991
CSKA 0–2 Levski
Tundzha Stadium - Yambol
20,000
Bulgarian Cup Group stage
1995–96
21 February 1996
Levski 2–0 CSKA
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
40,000
Bulgarian League Cup Quarterfinal
3 April 1996
Levski 1–0 CSKA
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
25,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal - 1st leg
17 April 1996
CSKA 2–4 Levski
Balgarska Armiya Stadium
25,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal - 2nd leg
1996–97
9 November 1996
CSKA 3–0 Awarded Levski
Bulgarian League Cup Quarterfinal group
11 December 1996
Levski 0–3 Awarded CSKA
Bulgarian League Cup Quarterfinal group
28 May 1997
CSKA 3–1 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
18,500
Bulgarian Cup Final
1997–98
13 May 1998
CSKA 0–5 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
50,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
1999–2000
22 March 2000
CSKA 0–1 Levski
Balgarska Armiya Stadium
17,000
Bulgarian Cup Quarterfinal - 1st leg
5 April 2000
Levski 3–1 CSKA
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
27,000
Bulgarian Cup Quarterfinal - 2nd leg
2001–02
15 May 2002
CSKA 1–3 Levski
Slavia Stadium
15,000
Bulgarian Cup Final
2002–03
16 April 2003
CSKA 0–1 Levski
Balgarska Armiya Stadium
15,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal - 1st leg
3 May 2003
Levski 0–0 CSKA
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
17,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal - 2nd leg
2004–05
25 May 2005
Levski 2–1 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
10,848
Bulgarian Cup Final
2005–06
31 July 2005
CSKA 1–1 (a.e.t. ) (1−3 p ) Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
9,354
Bulgarian Supercup
2006–07
30 July 2006
Levski 0–0 (a.e.t. ) (0−3 p ) CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
9,751
Bulgarian Supercup
2013–14
16 November 2013
CSKA 0–0 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
11,670
Bulgarian Cup Round of 16 - 1st leg
19 December 2013
Levski 0–0 (a.e.t. ) (7−6 p ) CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
8,540
Bulgarian Cup Round of 16 - 2nd leg
2017–18
11 April 2018
CSKA 0–2 Levski
Vasil Levski National Stadium
20,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal - 1st leg
25 April 2018
Levski 2–2 CSKA
Vasil Levski National Stadium
24,000
Bulgarian Cup Semifinal - 2nd leg
Trophies
Head-to-head ranking in First League (1948–2020)
• Total: CSKA with 42 higher finishes, Levski with 30 higher finishes (as of the end of the 2019–20 season).
Statistics
Biggest wins
Levski wins
7:1 - 23 September 1994
7:2 - 17 November 1968
5:0 - 13 May 1998
4:0 - 16 June 1982
CSKA wins
5:0 - 23 September 1953
5:0 - 1 October 1989
4:0 - 14 April 1957
Most derby appearances
35 - Manol Manolov (CSKA)
32 - Stefan Bozhkov (CSKA)
31 - Emil Spasov (Levski)
Most derby goals
15 - Georgi Ivanov (Levski)
14 - Nasko Sirakov (Levski)
12 - Pavel Panov (Levski)
11 - Dimitar Milanov (CSKA)
Record attendances
Highest attendance : 70,000 – 11 March 1967, Vasil Levski National Stadium (final score Levski 1–1 CSKA) and 31 May 1969, Vasil Levski National Stadium (final score Levski 1–3 CSKA)
Lowest attendance : 8,000 – 18 November 1995, Vasil Levski National Stadium (final score Levski 3–1 CSKA) and 26 May 2002, Balgarska Armiya Stadium (final score CSKA 1–0 Levski)
Notes and references
General information Stadiums Rivalries Other sports Related articles
General information Teams Stadiums Rivalries Other sports Related articles Unbeaten doubles Unbeaten champions Three-peats