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2020–21 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

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First Professional Football League
Season2020–21
Dates7 August 2020 – 9 May 2021
Matches played112
Goals scored281 (2.51 per match)
Top goalscorerMartinique Mathias Coureur (15 goals)[1]
Biggest home winBeroe 6–0 Botev Vratsa
(28 August 2020)
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 6–0 Botev Plovdiv
(28 November 2020)
Biggest away winEtar 0–4 Cherno More
(16 August 2020)
Montana 0–4 Levski Sofia
(29 August 2020)
Highest scoringMontana 3–4 Tsarsko Selo
(7 December 2020)
Longest winning run7 matches
Ludogorets Razgrad
Longest unbeaten run15 matches
Ludogorets Razgrad
Longest winless run13 matches
Etar
Longest losing run7 matches
Etar
All statistics correct as of 18:58, 27 December 2020 (UTC).

The 2020–21 First Professional Football League, also known as Efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[2] is the 97th season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 72nd since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 5th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. Ludogorets Razgrad are the defending champions for the ninth consecutive time.

The season was initially set to start on 24 July 2020,[3] but began on 7 August 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation in Bulgaria.[4][5]

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Measures pertaining to fan attendance

All matches were at first envisioned to be held without spectators, at the minimum until 31 August,[6] but this was reversed in early August (allowing for matches to be held at 50% stadium capacity and up to 1000 people per stand),[7] reportedly under pressure from fan groups, with the government's inconsistency on the matter in turn criticized in certain circles.[8] On 27 October 2020, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov issued a decree valid from 29 October until 12 November, stipulating that all matches are to be held behind closed doors.[9][10] Minister of Youth and Sports Krasen Kralev claimed that some of the fans of certain teams had not been observing the pandemic control protocols.[11] On 12 November 2020, the ban on the presence of spectators was extended at least until 30 November.[12] In late November 2020 Kralev stated that the return of fans will not be under consideration until March 2021.[13]

A sign at the Vasil Levski National Stadium urging fans to be mindful of the need for social distancing

Footballers testing positive for the virus and schedule changes

Two Ludogorets Razgrad players tested positive for coronavirus just prior to the beginning of the championship.[14] In September 2020, the whole Etar team was initially quarantined by the regional health authorities in Veliko Tarnovo after 5 footballers' and 2 staff members' PCR tests indicated that they were infected,[15] but the match against Lokomotiv eventually went ahead without the date being changed.[16] The fixture between Arda and Ludogorets Razgrad that was to be held on 4 October 2020 was postponed after more than 10 footballers' tests from the Kardzhali team (as well as a trainer) returned positive results.[17] In late October 2020, Slavia also saw multiple footballers testing positive for COVID-19.[18] In early November 2020, four Levski Sofia players were reported to have the infection.[19] Prior to the start of the November international window, 12 Ludogorets footballers from both the first and the second teams[20] as well as additional Levski Sofia players from the senior and junior rosters were diagnosed with the virus,[21] bringing the total number of infected at the latter club to 16.[22][23] This caused some of the players to miss out on national team call-ups and led to the postponement of Ludogorets' Bulgarian Cup match against Sportist Svoge and Levski Sofia's league game against Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Beroe also saw cases of coronavirus among its players.[24] After initially given the green light to be held on the planned date,[25] The Eternal Derby match originally scheduled for 21 November was eventually postponed as well,[26] taking place on 18 December.

Teams

Fourteen teams are competing in the league – the top eleven teams from the previous season, the team that finished in first place in the Second League, and the two winners of the promotion/relegation playoffs.[27]

CSKA 1948 were promoted as champions of the 2019–20 Second League and will make their debut in the top tier of Bulgarian football. The second team to be promoted was Montana, who earned promotion after winning their play-off match against Dunav Ruse.[28] The club returns after three seasons in the second tier, following their relegation in the 2016–17 season, while Dunav ended their four-year stay in the First League.

Stadiums and locations

Arda Beroe Botev Plovdiv Botev Vratsa
Arena Arda Stadion Beroe Futbolen kompleks Botev 1912 Stadion Hristo Botev
Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 12,128 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 12,000
Cherno More
2020–21 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) (Bulgaria)
class=notpageimage|
Location of Sofia teams.
 CSKA
Stadion Ticha Stadion Balgarska Armia
Capacity: 8,250 Capacity: 22,995
CSKA 1948 Etar
Vasil Levski National Stadium Stadion Ivaylo
Capacity: 44,000 Capacity: 15,000
Levski Lokomotiv
Stadion Georgi Asparuhov Stadion Lokomotiv
Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 13,220
Ludogorets Montana Slavia Tsarsko Selo
Huvepharma Arena Stadion Ogosta Stadion Slavia Sporten kompleks Tsarsko Selo
Capacity: 10,422 Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: 25,556 Capacity: 1,550
File:LudogoretsArena.jpg

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Additional
Arda Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov Bulgaria Plamen Krumov United States Nike[29] Efbet —
Beroe Bulgaria Dimitar Dimitrov Bulgaria Aleksandar Tsvetkov Germany Uhlsport[30] — Refan, Ajax Group
Botev Plovdiv Bosnia and Herzegovina Azrudin Valentić Bulgaria Todor Nedelev Germany Uhlsport[31] WinBet —
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Antoni Zdravkov Bulgaria Valeri Domovchiyski Italy Errea[32] WinBet —
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Krasimir Balakov Bulgaria Andon Gushterov Germany Adidas[33] Efbet Bachkovo
CSKA Sofia Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović Bulgaria Petar Zanev Germany Adidas A1 Bulgaria WinBet, Baristo
Cherno More Bulgaria Ilian Iliev Bulgaria Daniel Dimov Germany Uhlsport[34] Armeets —
Etar Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Bulgaria Hristo Ivanov Spain Joma[35] WinBet —
Levski Sofia Slovenia Slaviša Stojanovič Bulgaria Nikolay Mihaylov Spain Joma[36] Strabag PalmsBet
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Aleksandar Tunchev Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Germany Uhlsport[37] Efbet General Broker
Ludogorets Lithuania Valdas Dambrauskas Bulgaria Svetoslav Dyakov United States Nike[38] Efbet Vivacom
Montana Bulgaria Atanas Atanasov Bulgaria Ivan Mihov Spain Joma Efbet —
Slavia Sofia Russia Aleksandr Tarkhanov Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Spain Joma bet365 Asset Insurance
Tsarsko Selo Bulgaria Luboslav Penev Bulgaria Reyan Daskalov United States Nike WinBet —

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.

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ludogorets 16 12 3 1 34 13 +21 39 Qualification for the Championship group
2 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 16 10 3 3 30 14 +16 33
3 CSKA Sofia 16 9 6 1 26 15 +11 33
4 Arda 16 7 8 1 23 14 +9 29
5 Beroe 16 8 4 4 29 14 +15 28
6 CSKA 1948 16 6 6 4 24 17 +7 24
7 Cherno More 16 6 3 7 21 21 0 21 Qualification for the Europa Conference League group
8 Tsarsko Selo 16 4 5 7 13 18 −5 17
9 Levski Sofia 16 4 3 9 17 18 −1 15
10 Botev Vratsa 16 4 3 9 18 24 −6 15
11 Montana 16 3 5 8 16 30 −14 14 Qualification for the Relegation group
12 Botev Plovdiv 16 3 5 8 15 32 −17 14
13 Slavia Sofia 16 3 3 10 10 26 −16 12
14 Etar 16 2 5 9 11 31 −20 11
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2020. Source: Soccerway, Bulgarian Football
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.[39]


Results

Home \ Away LUD LPD CSS ARD BSZ CSK CHM TSS LEV BVR MON BPD SLA ETA
Ludogorets — 3–1 27 Feb 13 Mar 2–0 14 Apr 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 3 Apr 2–1 3–0 13 Feb
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 20 Feb — 2–1 0–0 13 Mar 1–1 2–1 3 Apr 14 Apr 2–1 2–2 6–0 2–0 27 Feb
CSKA Sofia 2–2 6 Mar — 3 Apr 1–1 2–0 20 Feb 1–0 1–0 2–1 14 Apr 2–1 1–0 13 Mar
Arda 2–2 20 Mar 1–1 — 10 Apr 1–1 6 Mar 2–0 1–1 20 Feb 3–0 3–2 2–1 14 Apr
Beroe 6 Mar 1–3 20 Mar 0–1 — 0–0 4–0 14 Apr 2–1 6–0 0–0 3–0 20 Feb 3 Apr
CSKA 1948 0–3 17 Apr 2–2 0–2 1–0 — 10 Apr 13 Feb 27 Feb 20 Mar 2–0 5–0 5–1 5–1
Cherno More 1–4 13 Feb 1–1 2–0 27 Feb 1–2 — 13 Mar 3 Apr 2–1 3–0 14 Apr 3–2 0–1
Tsarsko Selo 20 Mar 0–3 10 Apr 17 Apr 0–2 0–0 1–0 — 2–2 1–2 0–0 20 Feb 6 Mar 3–0
Levski Sofia 10 Apr 1–0 17 Apr 1–2 0–2 3–0 1–2 0–1 — 0–0 13 Feb 6 Mar 20 Mar 2–1
Botev Vratsa 3–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 13 Feb 0–0 17 Apr 27 Feb 13 Mar — 2–0 3 Apr 1–2 5–1
Montana 1–3 10 Apr 1–2 3–3 17 Apr 20 Feb 20 Mar 3–4 0–4 6 Mar — 3–1 2–1 1–0
Botev Plovdiv 17 Apr 2–0 0–3 13 Feb 3–3 13 Mar 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 27 Feb — 10 Apr 1–1
Slavia Sofia 0–2 0–2 13 Feb 27 Feb 0–2 3 Apr 1–1 1–0 1–0 14 Apr 13 Mar 0–0 — 0–0
Etar 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–0 2–3 6 Mar 0–4 1–0 20 Feb 10 Apr 0–0 20 Mar 17 Apr —
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2020. Source: Bulgarian Football
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

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Ludogorets118321212221111111
Lokomotiv Plovdiv13643652111222222
CSKA Sofia7421345445533433
Arda5956534557654344
Beroe3374213333466765
CSKA 1948811111181097743456566
Cherno More91910101212111068775777
Tsarsko Selo12154786689991188
Levski Sofia1212128766991112121210119
Botev Vratsa271012129788107888910
Montana6106711810101112101111121211
Botev Plovdiv4589911111212911101091012
Slavia Sofia10131313131313131313131313131313
Etar14141414141414141414141414141414
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2020. Source: Bulgarian Football

Results by round

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
ArdaDDWWDWLDDDWDWWWD
BeroeWDDWWWLLDWLWDWLW
Botev PlovdivWLDLDLWLDWDDLLLL
Botev VratsaWLLLDWWDDLWLLLLL
Cherno MoreDWLLDLWLWWLDWWLL
CSKA 1948DDLDWLWWDWWLDLWD
CSKA SofiaDWWWDDLDDDWWWWWW
EtarLLLLLLLDDLLDDWWD
Levski SofiaLDLWWWLDLLLWLLLD
Lokomotiv PlovdivLWWWLWWWDWDLDWWW
LudogoretsLWWWWDWDDWWWWWWW
MontanaDDWLLWLWLLDLDLLD
Slavia SofiaDLLLLLWLWLDWDLLL
Tsarsko SeloWDWDDLLWDLLLLLWD
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2020. Source: Bulgarian Football
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 20 December 2020[1]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Martinique Mathias Coureur Cherno More 15
2 Bulgaria Martin Kamburov CSKA 1948 9
3 Senegal Alioune Fall Beroe 8
Bulgaria Atanas Iliev Botev Plovdiv
Romania Claudiu Keșerü Ludogorets
Bulgaria Ivan Kokonov Arda
7 The Gambia Ali Sowe CSKA Sofia 7
Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Lokomotiv Plovdiv
10 Bulgaria Daniel Genov Botev Vratsa 6
Bulgaria Preslav Borukov Etar
12 Republic of the Congo Gaius Makouta Beroe 5
Bulgaria Galin Ivanov CSKA 1948
Bulgaria Spas Delev Arda
15 Brazil Alex Santana Ludogorets 4
Bulgaria Bircent Karagaren Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Borislav Tsonev Levski
Portugal Dinis Almeida Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Georgi Minchev
Spain Higinio Marín Ludogorets
Brazil Paulinho Levski
Bulgaria Toni Tasev Montana

Most assists

As of 20 December 2020[40]
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Bulgaria Ismail Isa Cherno More 5
Tajikistan Parvizdzhon Umarbayev Lokomotiv Plovdiv
3 Bulgaria Aleksandar Aleksandrov CSKA 1948 4
Bulgaria Dominik Yankov Ludogorets
Bulgaria Emil Martinov Arda
Cape Verde Steve Furtado Beroe
Bulgaria Todor Nedelev Botev Plovdiv
8 Brazil Cauly Oliveira Ludogorets 3
Romania Claudiu Keșerü Ludogorets
Bulgaria Petar Atanasov Botev Vratsa
Portugal Tiago Rodrigues CSKA Sofia

Clean sheets

As of 18 December 2020
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Bulgaria Daniel Naumov CSKA 1948 6
Bulgaria Martin Lukov Lokomotiv Plovdiv
3 Bulgaria Hristiyan Vasilev Beroe 5
Bulgaria Ivan Karadzhov Arda
5 Bulgaria Georgi Argilashki Botev Plovdiv 4
Brazil Gustavo Busatto CSKA Sofia
Bulgaria Ivan Dyulgerov Cherno More
Haiti Johny Placide Tsarsko Selo
Bulgaria Krasimir Kostov Botev Vratsa
Bulgaria Nikolay Mihaylov Levski
11 Bulgaria Hristo Ivanov Etar 3
Bulgaria Plamen Iliev Ludogorets
Brazil Renan Ludogorets

References

  1. ^ a b "Players: Topscorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Обявиха официално новото име и лого на Първа лига" [Officially announced the new name and logo of First League.]. Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  3. ^ "Официално: Отложиха старта на efbet Лига". nova.bg. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Решения след заседанието на Изпълнителния комитет на БФС". Bulgarian Football Union. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Решение СТК 28.07.2020". Bulgarian Football Union. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  6. ^ Dimitrov, Elin, ed. (31 July 2020). "Мачовете без публика на стадионите до края на август". actualno.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Публика ще бъде допускана до спортни състезания на открито при спазване на въведените със заповед на здравния министър противоепидемични мерки". mh.government.bg. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Поискай и ще ти се даде! Отново фенове по стадионите" (in Bulgarian). mediapool.bg. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Преустановяват се присъствените учебни занятия за учениците в гимназиите и висшите учебни заведения". mysofia.bg. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Затвориха стадионите в България до 12 ноември! Публика само на Sofia Open". sportal.bg. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Министър Кралев: Имам известни забележки към феновете на някои от футболните отбори". livetv.sx (citing sportal.bg). 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Без публика по стадионите до 30 ноември!". livetv.sx (citing sportal.bg). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Кралев: Преди март няма как да се мисли за отваряне на стадионите" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Двама от "Лудогорец" заразени с коронавирус". monitor.bg. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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  16. ^ "Мач ще има: РЗИ Велико Търново отмени карантината на "Етър". "Болярите" посрещат "Локомотив" Пловдив днес". btvnovinite.bg. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  17. ^ "БФС отложи Арда - Лудогорец и пренасрочи мача на ЦСКА". topsport.bg. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Мощна вълна от COVID-19 заля Славия". livetv.sx (citing sportal.bg). 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
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  20. ^ "ШОК В ЛУДОГОРЕЦ: 12 футболисти са с COVID-19". tribune.bg. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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  22. ^ "Проблемите пред Дерменджиев нямат край! Футболисти на Левски и Лудогорец изгърмяха с COVID-19". livetv.sx (citing sportal.bg). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  23. ^ "16-и футболист на Левски с коронавирус". sportal.bg. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Нови трима национали са заразени с COVID-19". livetv.sx (citing sportal.bg). 16 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Няма да отлагат вечното дерби, ЦСКА - "Левски" ще cе игpае в cъбота". 24chasa.bg. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  26. ^ "ЗАРАДИ КОРОНАВИРУСА: Отложиха мача ЦСКА - "Левски" и конгреса на БФС". nova.bg. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  27. ^ "Състав на Първа и Втора професионална лига за сезон 2019/2020" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 4 June 2019.
  28. ^ "Монтана влезе в елита след победа над Дунав" [Montana enters the elite after a victory over Dunav]. dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  29. ^ "Арда отново залага на най-доброто за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). fcarda.bg. 6 August 2020.
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  32. ^ "Спорт Депо стана партньор на Ботев Враца" (in Bulgarian). botev-vratsa.com. 31 May 2019.
  33. ^ "ЦСКА подписа с Adidas за 3 години" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.bg. 5 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Представяме ви новия екип на Черно море за сезон 2020/21" (in Bulgarian). chernomorerpfc.bg. 14 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Етър показа новите екипи за сезон 2020/21" (in Bulgarian). etarvt.bg. 8 August 2020.
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  37. ^ "Новите екипи за сезон 2020/21" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivpd.com. 31 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Лудогорец представи новите екипи за сезон 2020/2021" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 21 July 2020.
  39. ^ "A PFG - Regular season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  40. ^ "Players: Assists". Fctables. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
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