Verdict: Braga win & Under 4.5 goals
Best Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Looking to claim a first-leg advantage on Thursday evening, Braga will travel over to Bulgaria when they meet Levski.
Levski
Starting with the hosts, extending on their Europa League qualifying adventure earlier in the month as they surprisingly edged past Israeli outfit Beer Sheva, Levski will certainly be relishing a return to Sofia on Thursday evening. Picking up some perfect momentum last weekend as they opened the 2025/26 campaign with a routine 5-0 romp against Montana, Julio Velazquez’s men will be confident of asking some real questions here. Despite open their first-leg showdown pencilled in as a landslide underdog, Levski will take plenty of solace from their rugged success on home soil. In fact, the Blues have suffered just a single competitive defeat at the Stadion Georgi Asparuhov so far this calendar year.
Levski Team News
While Brazilian defender Maicon might have missed out last week after serving a one-match European suspension, the 25-year-old is free to feature on Thursday evening. Handed a full domestic rest over the weekend, Aldair Neves will return at right-back here.
Opening his top-flight account with a brace against Montana on Sunday, Bulgarian international Marin Pektov could play a leading role in the final third. Former Gremio starlet Rildo could be handed a full recall in Sofia.
Braga
As for the visitors, while Braga might have failed to win any of their final four domestic appearances last season as they had to settle for another fourth-place finish among Portugal’s elite, Carlos Vicens’ side have embarked on a real summer flurry. Signing off their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 victory against Spanish outfit Celta Vigo, the Archbishops won all of their five friendly matchups by an aggregate score of 10-2. Looking to lay down an early marker when they open their Europa League qualifying adventure on Thursday evening, Braga are rightfully installed as a standout contender here. In fact, Vicens’ camp have suffered just a single competitive defeat across any competition since returning from March’s international break.
Braga Team News
Completing a permeant switch from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland this summer, Ivory Coast international Mario Dorgeles will make his Braga debut on Thursday evening. However, academy graduate Jonatas Noro remains on the sidelines with a long-term Achilles tendon injury.
One-time Sporting Lisbon star Paulo Oliveira will keep his spot at the heart of Vicens’ defence here. Notching 11 Primeira Liga strikes last season, Ricardo Horta will shoulder plenty of Braga’s goalscoring threat over in Bulgaria.
Levski vs Braga Key Factors to Consider
- Thursday’s showdown in Sofia will be the first meeting between Levski and Braga.
- The Portuguese giants won all of their five summer friendlies by an aggregate score of 10-2.
- Braga suffered just a single competitive defeat across any competition since returning from March’s international break.
- However, Thursday’s guests have failed to register consecutive away victories throughout 2025.
- Levski have suffered just a sole defeat at the Stadion Georgi Asparuhov so far this calendar year.
Conclusion
Enjoying what was a stellar summer flurry and winning all of their five pre-season showdowns by an aggregate score of 10-2, Braga will be desperate to extend on their momentum here. Getting their Europa League qualifying campaign underway on Thursday evening, the Archbishops find themselves pencilled in as a standout contender when they travel to Sofia in midweek. Suffering just a single competitive defeat since returning from March’s international break, we are backing the Portuguese giants to claim a first-leg advantage.
Verdict: Braga win & Under 4.5 goals
Best Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: Dachbet
