Levski Sofia vs Red Bull Salzburg

Levski Sofia face Red Bull Salzburg in the opening round of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league stage on Thursday. The fixture takes place at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in the Bulgarian capital, as both sides look to establish early momentum in the revamped European competition.

Salzburg Form Guide

Salzburg arrive in Bulgaria unbeaten in domestic competition this term, though manager Danny Röhl was left frustrated by their recent weekend outing. The Austrian giants were held to a 1-1 draw on the road against SV Oberbank Ried. Despite creating several clear-cut opportunities in the first half, Salzburg needed an 84th-minute strike from substitute Karim Konate to finally break the deadlock. However, their advantage lasted just two minutes before conceding an equaliser to Pomer. Röhl lamented his side's lack of a clinical edge but highlighted their resilient unbeaten streak as a solid foundation for this European campaign.

Team News and Injury Latest

The Austrian visitors travel to Sofia with several notable absentees. Goalkeeper Christian Früchtl remains sidelined after sustaining a foot injury in a recent clash with St. Pölten. Röhl is also dealing with an extensive absentee list among his outfield players, as Soumaila Diabate and Gaoussou Diakite are both nursing thigh problems, while Johannes Moser is continuing his recovery from an adductor issue.

Given Konate's immediate goalscoring impact off the bench against Ried, the forward is making a compelling case to start this European fixture over the likes of Shion Kitano or Yorbe Vertessen in the attacking line.

Tactical Considerations in Sofia

Following the weekend draw, Röhl explicitly noted the need for patience against teams sitting deep and waiting for set-piece opportunities, an approach Levski Sofia might adopt in front of a loud home support at the Vasil Levski National Stadium. With Salzburg eager to dictate possession, they will likely rely on Mazurek and Barry, who started in midfield at the weekend, to control the tempo. Their primary task will be searching for gaps in the Bulgarian defence to supply their pacey forwards and prevent counter-attacks.

Securing three points on matchday one is crucial under the Europa League league-phase format. A victory in Sofia would ease the pressure on Salzburg before their upcoming domestic and European tests, while Levski will view this high-profile home tie as a rare opportunity to claim a major European scalp.