- 1 NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia: two sides chasing their first Europa League point
- 2 NEC Nijmegen: plenty of attacking quality, but a backline that leaks too easily
- 3 Levski Sofia: top of the Bulgarian league, but outclassed every time the level rises
- 4 Free Europa League Prediction: NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia: two sides chasing their first Europa League point 
Juventus 5, NEC 0. That was the welcome to the Europa League league phase for Dick Schreuder’s side, and it stung.
Now comes the chance to put it right. NEC host Levski Sofia at the Goffertstadion on Thursday, October 15, kick-off 21:00 Paris time, with both clubs still on zero points after matchday one.
This is a big night in Nijmegen. NEC hadn’t played continental football since 2009 before this summer. Third place in the 2025-26 Eredivisie, the best finish in the club’s history, opened the door. They knocked out Olympiacos 2-1 on aggregate in Champions League qualifying before Bodo/Glimt beat them 6-1 over two legs and sent them down a level.
Levski took the long road too. Three qualifying rounds won, then a 4-0 aggregate defeat to AEK Athens in the play-off. Their Europa League campaign opened with a 1-0 home defeat to Red Bull Salzburg. Narrow, but a loss all the same.
So who’s in better shape? On paper, Levski. They top the Bulgarian First League with 28 points from 10 games. NEC have won just two of eight in the Eredivisie. But form at home and form in Europe are different animals, and the step up from Bulgarian football is steep.
The market has NEC at 1.80, the draw at 3.75 and Levski at 4.33. A clear home lean. We think it’s justified.
NEC Nijmegen: plenty of attacking quality, but a backline that leaks too easily 
Schreuder’s high-pressing approach, nicknamed “Dicki-taka” in the Netherlands, has defined his tenure since he replaced Rogier Meijer in the summer of 2025. It’s bold. It’s fun to watch. It also leaves gaps.
The domestic numbers make for uncomfortable reading. Two wins, three draws and three defeats from eight league games. A 3-1 home loss to Feyenoord. A 3-0 beating at Cambuur. Draws with Excelsior (2-2) and Go Ahead Eagles (1-1). This defence gets breached far too often.
But Saturday’s result at Ajax showed the other side of this team. NEC went behind to an early Tolu Arokodare header and didn’t fold. Tjaronn Chery levelled from the spot after Jorthy Mokio brought down Noe Lebreton. A point in Amsterdam is never a bad day’s work.
The front three is where the belief comes from. Dusan Tadic arrived on a free transfer this summer, and alongside Chery and Bryan Linssen he gives NEC real craft in the final third. When those three click, NEC can hurt anybody at this level.
Team news is mixed. Bram Nuytinck is out until late November with an ankle problem, which doesn’t help a shaky defence. Emre Mor is working back from a groin injury and targeting a mid-October return, so Thursday may come too soon for him.
Is the Juventus result a warning or an outlier? Mostly an outlier. Juve’s quality explains most of it. Levski aren’t Juventus.
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Levski Sofia: top of the Bulgarian league, but outclassed every time the level rises 
Domestically, Julio Velazquez has Levski humming. They sit top of the First League with 28 points from 10 matches, one point and a game in hand clear of second-placed CSKA Sofia. Sunday’s 2-0 win at Cherno More Varna kept them there.
Europe is a different story. Every time Levski have faced a genuine step up this season, they’ve come up short. AEK Athens beat them 4-0 on aggregate in the Champions League play-off, after a goalless first leg in Sofia. Salzburg won 1-0 at their place on matchday one. That’s no goals scored in three games against quality opposition.
The summer recruitment has helped. Serginho, Reinaldo and Alex Centelles have all walked into the first-choice side. Reinaldo, signed from Santa Clara, already has four goals and gives Velazquez a focal point alongside the experienced Everton Bala.
The defence is organised. Kristian Dimitrov and Christian Makoun have been a steady partnership in the middle, and goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov is expected back between the posts after being rested at the weekend.
But September exposed some cracks. Levski lost 4-2 at home to CSKA Sofia in the Super Cup and drew 0-0 at Botev Vratsa. A side that knows what it’s about at home in Bulgaria. Abroad, against better teams, less so.
Can they hold out on the counter for 90 minutes in Nijmegen? It’s possible. It’s not likely.
Probable lineup NEC Nijmegen: Crettaz; Bras, Schuurs, Fonville; Kers, Nejasmic, Lebreton, Storm; Chery, Tadic, Linssen
Probable lineup Levski Sofia: Vutsov; Maicon, Makoun, Dimitrov, Aldair; Trdin, Soula; El Moubarik, Serginho, Everton Bala, Reinaldo
Free Europa League Prediction: NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia
Our prediction: NEC Nijmegen to win @ 1.80
Levski haven’t scored in three meetings with serious European opposition this season. NEC’s defence is leaky, sure, but Levski’s attack hasn’t shown it can punish teams at this level. Meanwhile, NEC’s front line of Tadic, Chery and Linssen will create chances all night at the Goffertstadion.
The atmosphere matters too. This is NEC’s first home Europa League night in 17 years, a crowd desperate to see a response after Turin. Levski’s best football comes on the counter, and that’s harder to play when you’re pinned back for long spells.
We expect goals at both ends, but the home side should have enough. NEC to win at 1.80.
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