Eternal derby of Bulgarian football

For other uses, see Eternal derby (disambiguation).

The Eternal Derby
Fans of Levski Sofia (left) and CSKA Sofia (right)
LocationSofia, Bulgaria
TeamsLevski Sofia
CSKA Sofia
First meetingLevski 1–0 CSKA
(5 May 1948; 76 years ago (5 May 1948))
Latest meetingLevski 1−0 CSKA Sofia
(19 October 2024)
Next meetingCSKA–Levski
(1 March 2025)
Statistics
Meetings total218
Most winsLevski Sofia (85)
Most player appearancesManol Manolov (35)
Top scorerGeorgi Ivanov (15)
Largest victoryCSKA 1–7 Levski
(23 September 1994)
Longest win streakLevski Sofia (9)
Current win streakCSKA Sofia (2)

The Eternal derby of Bulgarian football or simply The Eternal derby (Bulgarian: Вечното дерби) is 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 forces in Bulgarian football have won 26 and 31 national championship titles and 26 and 21 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.[2][3]

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 Mihaylov) 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.[4]

Although both Levski and CSKA are still regarded as the two most popular and supported teams in Bulgaria, neither of the two sides have been crowned champion after 2009. This has been mostly because of the rise of other clubs 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 12 consecutive titles since 2012. Despite this, the Eternal derby games are still usually the most attended ones in the league. In the 2010s, both CSKA and Levski experienced financial instability, with CSKA even being relegated to the third level of Bulgarian football after the 2014–15 season, while Levski has been in serious financial problems in the last couple of years, with multiple ownership changes.

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 and Balgarska Armia 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.[5]

Summary of results

Competition Matches Levski Sofia wins draws CSKA Sofia wins Goal difference
League 164 57 47 60 212:226
Cup 41 22 10 9 69:45
Other 13 6 2 5 14:18
Total 218 85 59 74 295:289

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.

As of 19 October 2024.

Matches list

  Levski win   Draw   CSKA win

A PFG / First League (1948–49 – present)

Levski – CSKA CSKA – Levski
Season Date Venue Attend. Score Home goals[6][7][8] Away goals[6][7][8] Date Venue Attend. Score Home goals Away goals
1948–49 11–12–1948 Yunak Stadium 15,000 1–0 Hranov '40 – 13–07–1949 Yunak Stadium 18,000 0–0 – –
1950 23–03–1950 Yunak Stadium 15,000 1–0 A. Dimitrov '54 – 11–06–1950 Balgarska Armia Stadium 20,000 0–0 – –
1951 12–09–1951 Balgarska Armia Stadium 25,000 2–0 T. Stoyanov '17
Popdimitrov '71 		– 06–05–1951 Balgarska Armia Stadium 25,000 2–1 Yankov '71
D. Milanov '80 		A. Dimitrov '74
1952 04–04–1952 Yunak Stadium 20,000 1–3 A. Dimitrov '66 D. Milanov '12
P. Panayotov '34, '76 		23–09–1952 Rakovski Stadium 20,000 1–0 P. Mihaylov '51 –
1953 23–09–1953 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 0–5 – Rakarov '27
I. Kolev '57
Yankov '72
D. Iliev '82 o.g.
K. Yanev '87 		29–03–1953 Balgarska Armia Stadium 25,000 0–1 – Kardashev '73
1954 15–11–1954 Balgarska Armia Stadium 25,000 1–3 Peev '86 I. Kolev '18
P. Panayotov '19
D. Milanov '38 		20–03–1954 Balgarska Armia Stadium 30,000 2–2 Bozhkov '6
K. Yanev '21 		Popdimitrov '54
Abadzhiev '63
1955 30–09–1955 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 0–3 – Bozhkov '38 p.
K. Yanev '59
I. Kolev '73 		31–03–1955 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 3–1 P. Mihaylov '25
Stefanov '42
G. Dimitrov '56 		Abadzhiev '22
1956 01–08–1956 Vasil Levski National Stadium 45,000 1–3 Pechenikov '12 Bozhkov '29 p.
D. Milanov '53
G. Dimitrov '58 		07–04–1956 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 1–1 K. Yanev '47 Takev '45
1957 14–04–1957 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 0–4 – K. Yanev '21
Bozhkov '30 p.
Rakarov '45
I. Kolev '87 		28–08–1957 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 0–0 – –
1958 06–07–1958 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 2–2 Yordanov '35
H. Iliev '49 p. 		D. Milanov '31, '40
1958–59 23–08–1958 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 0–2 – Georgiev '3 o.g.
I. Kolev '24 		08–03–1959 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 0–1 – H. Iliev '64
1959–60 29–11–1959 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 1–1 Yordanov '30 Bozhkov '71 p. 29–05–1960 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 3–2 D. Milanov '33
I. Kolev '55, '71 		Yordanov '48, '50
1960–61 16–09–1960 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 1–0 Sokolov '52 – 12–03–1961 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 2–0 I. Kolev '25 p.
Rankov '72 		–
1961–62 15–07–1962 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 6–3 Yordanov '1, '15, '37, '77
Abadzhiev '47
Sokolov '61 p. 		Yakimov '42, '66
Kovachev '68 p. 		26–11–1961 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 1–1 Rankov '27 Dochev '25
1962–63 27–12–1962 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 3–2 H. Iliev '4, '25
Abadzhiev '87 		I. Kolev '57
Yakimov '62 		25–05–1963 Vasil Levski National Stadium 45,000 1–1 Tsanev '32 Yordanov '25
1963–64 05–10–1963 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 2–1 A. Kostov '27
Yordanov '66 		Tsanev '87 18–04–1964 Vasil Levski National Stadium 45,000 1–2 Tsanev '21 A. Kostov '58
Asparuhov '74
1964–65 13–09–1964 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 1–0 Sokolov '89 – 10–04–1965 Ovcha Kupel Stadium 38,000 0–3 – H. Iliev '10
Asparuhov '54, '72
1965–66 28–04–1966 Vasil Levski National Stadium 60,000 0–3 – Zafirov '13
Tsanev '28
I. Kolev '55 		10–04–1966 Vasil Levski National Stadium 62,000 1–0 Tsanev '44 –
1966–67 11–03–1967 Vasil Levski National Stadium 70,000 1–1 Veselinov '32 Nikodimov '21 03–09–1966 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 3–1 Yakimov '50, '61
D. Penev '75 		H. Iliev '84
1967–68 29–10–1967 Vasil Levski National Stadium 65,000 1–1 Sokolov '61 Marashliev '10 15–06–1968 Vasil Levski National Stadium 65,000 0–0 – –
1968–69 31–05–1969 Vasil Levski National Stadium 70,000 1–3 Panov '81 D. Penev '1
Zhekov '30, '46 		17–11–1968 Vasil Levski National Stadium 55,000 2–7 Zhekov '2
T. Atanasov '89 		Asparuhov '7, '59, '78 p.
A. Kostov '23
Kirilov '24, '56
Bogdanov '45
1969–70 07–07–1970 Vasil Levski National Stadium 32,000 5–2 Kotkov '1, '12, '35 p., '37
Veselinov '69 		Zhekov '6, '73 p. 01–11–1969 Vasil Levski National Stadium 60,000 4–2 Marashliev '18
Zhekov '26, '64 p.
Yakimov '75 		Kotkov '35 p.
Asparuhov '86 p.
1970–71 20–12–1970 Vasil Levski National Stadium 35,000 2–2 Mitkov '28
Veselinov '35 		Zhekov '27
Yakimov '75 		28–06–1971 Vasil Levski National Stadium 60,000 0–1 – Veselinov '60
1971–72 05–07–1972 Vasil Levski National Stadium 35,000 0–2 – Denev '60
Marashliev '90 		18–12–1971 Vasil Levski National Stadium 35,000 0–1 – Pavlov '64
1972–73 24–03–1973 Vasil Levski National Stadium 55,000 1–2 Panov '88 Marashliev '59
Zhekov '90 		17–09–1972 Vasil Levski National Stadium 30,000 2–2 Denev '28, '55 Haralampiev '49
Mitkov '75 p.
1973–74 24–04–1974 Vasil Levski National Stadium 60,000 1–1 Panov '64 N. Hristov '34 12–11–1973 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 0–1 – T. Vasilev '27 o.g.
1974–75 28–09–1974 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 1–2 Panov '79 Marashliev '7
S. Mihaylov '66 		18–04–1975 Vasil Levski National Stadium 55,000 1–0 Denev '70 –
1975–76 07–05–1976 Vasil Levski National Stadium 65,000 1–3 Panov '79 M. Goranov '5
D. Dimitrov '65
Denev '76 		04–12–1975 Vasil Levski National Stadium 45,000 1–4 Marashliev '67 Y. Yordanov '5
Panov '30
Borisov '70
Voynov '72
1976–77 25–09–1976 Vasil Levski National Stadium 60,000 3–2 K. Milanov '56
Panov '78
Voynov '90 p. 		M. Goranov '35
Yonchev '50 		09–04–1977 Vasil Levski National Stadium 65,000 1–3 Kolev '63 p. Barzov '3
Panov '40, '60
1977–78 29–10–1977 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 4–1 Y. Yordanov '9, '47
Nikolov '29
Stankov '58 		Stefanov '68 20–05–1978 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 2–2 N. Hristov '22
Sredkov '42 		Spasov '20
G. Todorov '36
1978–79 30–05–1979 Vasil Levski National Stadium 65,000 2–1 Milkov '57
Barzov '78 		Markov '63 03–12–1978 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,000 2–1 Dzhevizov '3
Yonchev '36 		Gochev '87 p.
1979–80 22–03–1980 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 2–3 Nikolchev '22
Spasov '88 p. 		Dzhevizov '29, '55
Valkov '34 		01–09–1979 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 1–1 Dzhevizov '82 Stankov '57
1980–81 25–04–1981 Vasil Levski National Stadium 35,000 2–0 P. Petrov '19
Gochev '46 		– 07–10–1980 Vasil Levski National Stadium 55,000 2–2 Dzhevizov '64
Valkov '69 		Panov '32
Stankov '82
1981–82 05–09–1981 Vasil Levski National Stadium 55,000 2–2 Valchev '17
Barzov '90 p. 		Yonchev '12
Bezinski '74 		13–03–1982 Vasil Levski National Stadium 45,000 2–1 Yonchev '12, '36 Kurdov '46
1982–83 15–12–1982 Vasil Levski National Stadium 30,000 0–0 – – 08–05–1983 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 0–3 – Valchev '45
Iskrenov '75
Spasov '85
1983–84 10–12–1983 Vasil Levski National Stadium 17,000 2–0 Chavdarov '52
Iskrenov '72 		– 03–06–1984 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 1–3 Slavkov '72 Spasov '21
Iskrenov '55
P. Tsvetkov '88
1984–85 09–03–1985 Vasil Levski National Stadium 31,000 3–1 P. Petrov '64
P. Tsvetkov '80
Gochev '88 		Markov '40 22–08–1984 Vasil Levski National Stadium 30,000 0–1 – Kurdov '18
1985–86 22–12–1985 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 25,000 1–3 Gochev '32 L. Penev '6
Mladenov '11, '41 p. 		31–08–1985 Balgarska Armia Stadium 30,000 1–2 Mladenov '13 P. Tsvetkov '15
Valchev '86
1986–87 23–11–1986 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,000 0–1 – Bezinski '52 30–05–1987 Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 1–0 Stoichkov '80 –
1987–88 23–08–1987 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 2–2 Sirakov '52
Iskrenov '56 		Tanev '24
Kirov '47 		06–03–1988 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 2–3 L. Penev '6 p.
Kostadinov '8 		P. Petrov '18
G. Yordanov '27
Sirakov '29
1988–89 17–09–1988 Vasil Levski National Stadium 35,000 2–2 Dragolov '3, '29 Kostadinov '47
Bachev '57 		01–04–1989 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 2–1 Tanev '47, '49 Velev '64 p.
1989–90 07–04–1990 Vasil Levski National Stadium 30,000 2–2 Shalamanov '29
Donkov'35 		Vitanov '17, '52 01–10–1989 Vasil Levski National Stadium 30,000 5–0 T. Ivanov '34
Stoichkov '49, '55, '61 p., '76 		–
1990–91 20–10–1990 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,000 0–1 – G. Georgiev '10 05–05–1991 Vasil Levski National Stadium 20,000 1–1 Redín '89 Mihtarski '17
1991–92 23–11–1991 Vasil Levski National Stadium 35,000 2–1 Sirakov '13
I. Iliev '53 		Andonov '59 24–05–1992 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,000 2–2 Letchkov '13
Metkov '47 		I. Iliev '62
G. Dimitrov '77
1992–93 17–10–1992 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,000 1–3 Getov '60 Metkov '10, '69
Draganov '82 p. 		08–05–1993 Vasil Levski National Stadium 20,000 2–3 Babunski '5
Draganov '23 		Getov '40, '78
Sirakov '68
1993–94 07–11–1993 Vasil Levski National Stadium 35,000 2–1 Borimirov '8
Sirakov '79 		Andonov '12 24–04–1994 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 1–4 Stoilov '87 Sirakov '22 p., '50, '85
P. Aleksandrov '36
1994–95 02–04–1995 Vasil Levski National Stadium 20,000 3–0 G. N. Ivanov '44
Borimirov '63 p., '85 p. 		– 23–09–1994 Vasil Levski National Stadium 30,000 1–7 Mihtarski '20 I. Iliev '12
Sirakov '25 p., '45, '79 p., '90
Borimirov '41, '64
1995–96 18–11–1995 Vasil Levski National Stadium 8,000 3–1 Velev '30
M. Hristov '52
Simeonov '62 		Dartilov '24 o.g. 27–04–1996 Vasil Levski National Stadium 20,000 1–0 Mihtarski '69 –
1996–97 04–05–1997 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 0–2 – Andonov '68 p., '85 04–11–1996 Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,000 1–1 D. Ivanov '45 Zaytsev '8
1997–98 10–04–1998 Vasil Levski National Stadium 30,000 3–3 N. Todorov '26
Donev '30
Z. Sirakov '66 		Genchev '8, '12
M. Petkov '82 p. 		24–10–1997 Vasil Levski National Stadium 22,000 0–1 – G. A. Ivanov '84
1998–99 16–08–1998 Vasil Levski National Stadium 36,000 2–0 G. A. Ivanov '12
Donev '71 		– 06–03–1999 Ovcha Kupel Stadium 27,000 2–3 M. Petkov '8 p.
Bukarev '83 		G. A. Ivanov '27, '61
A. Aleksandrov '69
1999–00 13–05–2000 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 25,000 1–0 G. A. Ivanov '90+1 – 30–10–1999 Balgarska Armia Stadium 21,000 1–0 D. Ivanov '1 –
2000–01 22–04–2001 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 27,313 2–1 G. A. Ivanov '30
Topuzakov '79 		Manchev '31 15–10–2000 Balgarska Armia Stadium 22,000 1–1 Trenchev '47 Tsykhmeystruk '46
2001–02 30–09–2001 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 18,000 2–0 Dragić '10
G. A. Ivanov '53 		– 02–03–2002 Balgarska Armia Stadium 19,000 2–2 L. Penev '43
Manchev '56 		G. A. Ivanov '64
Chilikov '69
24–04–2002 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 22,000 2–0 Simonović '55
G. A. Ivanov '81 		– 26–05–2002 Balgarska Armia Stadium 8,000 1–0 Manchev '13 –
2002–03 10–05–2003 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 15,000 1–1 T. Kolev '50 Brito '62 26–10–2002 Balgarska Armia Stadium 15,000 3–0 Mukasi '11, '55
S. Petrov '45 		–
2003–04 31–10–2003 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 16,000 1–1 T. Kolev '54 Gargorov '53 24–04–2004 Balgarska Armia Stadium 18,000 1–2 H. Yanev '64 Temile '85
Chilikov '90
2004–05 23–04–2005 Vasil Levski National Stadium 17,123 0–1 – H. Yanev '75 p. 17–10–2004 Vasil Levski National Stadium 13,501 2–2 Sakaliev '10
H. Yanev '45 p. 		Telkiyski '52
Borimirov '59
2005–06 11–09–2005 Vasil Levski National Stadium 13,290 1–1 Telkiyski '38 V. Dimitrov '33 02–04–2006 Vasil Levski National Stadium 15,846 0–1 – G. A. Ivanov '59 p.
2006–07 17–09–2006 Vasil Levski National Stadium 11,432 1–0 Bardon '48 p. – 07–04–2007 Vasil Levski National Stadium 20,000 0–1 – Yovov '19
2007–08 02–12–2007 Vasil Levski National Stadium 15,000 0–1 – Machado '13 10–05–2008 Balgarska Armia Stadium 18,000 1–1 V. Dimitrov '55 p. Krastovchev '43
2008–09 01–11–2008 Vasil Levski National Stadium 17,420 1–1 G. A. Ivanov '66 Lazarov '59 p. 09–05–2009 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,000 0–2 – G. Hristov '36
Soares '58
2009–10 27–03–2010 Vasil Levski National Stadium 12,710 0–0 – – 20–09–2009 Vasil Levski National Stadium 16,790 2–0 I. Stoyanov '15
K. Stoyanov '65 		–
2010–11 26–02–2011 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 17,480 1–3 K. Stoyanov '74 o.g. Platini '33, '48
Popov '65 		01–08–2010 Vasil Levski National Stadium 12,250 0–1 – Dembélé '39
2011–12 29–04–2012 Vasil Levski National Stadium 15,000 1–0 Ramos '49 – 28–10–2011 Vasil Levski National Stadium 8,970 1–0 Zicu '25 –
2012–13 27–04–2013 Vasil Levski National Stadium 24,140 2–1 Yovov '40
J. Silva '90 		Marcinho '70 20–10–2012 Vasil Levski National Stadium 17,340 1–0 Nyuiadzi '46 –
2013–14 08–03–2014 Vasil Levski National Stadium 9,920 0–1 – Gargorov '69 p. 19–10–2013 Vasil Levski National Stadium 13,950 3–0 Milisavljević '31
Popov '35
Gargorov '37 		–
21–04–2014 Vasil Levski National Stadium 8,650 1–3 R. Tsonev '81 Kossoko '58
I. Stoyanov '86
Marković '90+6 		15–03–2014 Vasil Levski National Stadium 10,060 1–0 Krachunov '90+3 –
2014–15 25–10–2014 Vasil Levski National Stadium 8,900 0–3 – T. Silva '22
Buș '45+4
Galchev '85 		27–07–2014 Vasil Levski National Stadium 11,420 2–0 Karachanakov '47
Buș '55 		–
2016–17 04−03−2017 Vasil Levski National Stadium 17,992 2–1 Procházka '71 p.
Jablonský '78 		Arsénio '5 15–10–2016 Vasil Levski National Stadium 21,000 1–1 P. Yordanov '77 p. Narh '34
29−04−2017 Vasil Levski National Stadium 11,200 0–3 – Arsénio '2
Despodov '6
Karanga '53 		28−05−2017 Vasil Levski National Stadium 13,600 3–0 Simão '1, '82
Culma '67 		–
2017–18 21–10–2017 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,107 2–2 Jablonský '8
Procházka '61 		Tiago '12, '15 18–03–2018 Vasil Levski National Stadium 16,500 1–0 Karanga '84 –
15−05−2018 Vasil Levski National Stadium 7,900 2–3 Paulinho '34
S. Kostov '78 		Henrique '19
Malinov '57
Pinto '90 		18−04−2018 Vasil Levski National Stadium 12,000 2–2 Karanga '6 p.
Henrique '9 		I. Goranov '48
Paulinho '61
2018–19 24–02–2019 Vasil Levski National Stadium 11,000 1–0 Pereira '45+2 o.g. – 29–09–2018 Vasil Levski National Stadium 23,000 0–1 – Černiauskas '30 o.g.
21−05−2019 Vasil Levski National Stadium 11,200 0–2 – Tiago '70
Evandro '86 		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 Evandro '74
Albentosa '88 		S. Ivanov '12
Robertha '18
20–06–2020 Vasil Levski National Stadium 14,000 3–3 Kargas '16 o.g.
Carey '58 p.
Sowe '88 		I. Goranov '35 p.
Thiam '45+2
Slavchev '62
2020–21 25–04–2021 Vasil Levski National Stadium 4,000 0–2 – Keita '14
Caicedo '37 		18–12–2020 Vasil Levski National Stadium 0 1–0 Sowe '20 –
2021–22 06–03–2022 Vasil Levski National Stadium 19,000 0–0 – – 26–09–2021 Vasil Levski National Stadium 14,000 2–1 Carey '44
Caicedo '65 		G. Milanov '28
17–04–2022 Vasil Levski National Stadium 15,500 0–0 – –
2022–23 18–09–2022 Vasil Levski National Stadium 20,000 2–0 Stefanov '78
Welton '81 		– 17–04–2023 Vasil Levski National Stadium 23,430 0–0 – –
07–06–2023 Vasil Levski National Stadium 17,233 0–2 – Heintz '35
Nazon '61
2023–24 07–04–2024 Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,556 0–2 – Heintz '61
Karanga '77 		07–10–2023 Vasil Levski National Stadium 31,000 1–1 Lindseth '49 Ronaldo '43
27–04–2024 Vasil Levski National Stadium 11,948 3–1 Skarsem '25
Lindseth '36
Carreazo '45 		Fadiga '61
2024–25 19–10–2024 Vasil Levski National Stadium 31,948 1–0 Makoun '86 – 02–03–2025 Vasil Levski National Stadium

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 semi-final
1957 23 October 1957 Levski 2−0 (a.e.t.) CSKA Vasil Levski National Stadium 50,000 Bulgarian Cup semi-final
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 quarter-final
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 semi-final
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 semi-final
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 quarter-final
1983–84 14 March 1984 CSKA 0–1 Levski Vasil Levski National Stadium 28,000 Soviet Army Cup semi-final
31 March 1984 CSKA 1–3 Levski Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,000 Bulgarian Cup semi-final
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 quarter-final
3 April 1996 Levski 1–0 CSKA Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 25,000 Bulgarian Cup semi-final, first leg
17 April 1996 CSKA 2–4 Levski Balgarska Armiya Stadium 25,000 Bulgarian Cup semi-final, second leg
1996–97 9 November 1996 CSKA 3–0 (awarded) Levski Bulgarian League Cup quarter-final group
11 December 1996 Levski 0–3 (awarded) CSKA Bulgarian League Cup quarter-final 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 quarter-final, first leg
5 April 2000 Levski 3–1 CSKA Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 27,000 Bulgarian Cup quarter-final, second 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 semi-final, first leg
3 May 2003 Levski 0–0 CSKA Georgi Asparuhov Stadium 17,000 Bulgarian Cup semi-final, second 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 9,984 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 semi-final, first leg
25 April 2018 Levski 2–2 CSKA Vasil Levski National Stadium 24,000 Bulgarian Cup semi-final, second leg
2021–22 15 May 2022 CSKA 0–1 Levski Vasil Levski National Stadium 40,600 Bulgarian Cup final

Trophies

National Competition Levski Sofia CSKA Sofia
A PFG / First League 26 31
Bulgarian Cup 26+1 21+1
Soviet Army Cup 3 4
Bulgarian Supercup 3 4
Total 59 61

Head-to-head ranking in First League (1948–2024)

P. 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7
8 8
9
10
11 11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

• Total: CSKA with 46 higher finishes, Levski with 30 higher finishes (as of the end of the 2023–24 season).

Statistics

Biggest wins

Levski wins

7–1 – 23 September 1994, A PFG
7–2 – 17 November 1968, A PFG
5–0 – 13 May 1998, Bulgarian Cup final
4–0 – 16 June 1982, Bulgarian Cup final

CSKA wins

5–0 – 23 September 1953, A PFG; 1 October 1989, A PFG
4–0 – 14 April 1957, A PFG

Most appearances

35 – Manol Manolov (CSKA)
32 – Stefan Bozhkov (CSKA)
31 – Emil Spasov (Levski)

Most goals

15 – Georgi Ivanov (Levski)
14 – Nasko Sirakov (Levski)
12 – Pavel Panov (Levski)
11 – Dimitar Milanov (CSKA)

Most goals in one match

9 – Levski 6–3 CSKA (15 July 1962, A PFG); CSKA 2–7 Levski (17 November 1968, A PFG)

Most red cards

3 – Vladimir Gadzhev (Levski)[9]

Most yellow cards

11 – Todor Yanchev (CSKA)[9]

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

  1. ^ The Maddest Derbies in Eastern Europe YouTube
  2. ^ "Бой на фенове преди Левски – ЦСКА (Fan fight before Levski – CSKA)". blitz.bg. 1 November 2008.
  3. ^ "Фенове на Левски и ЦСКА се биха в Монтана, по-тежко пострадал е фен на "сините" (Levski and CSKA supporters fight in Montana, a fan of the blues seriously injured)". topsport.bg. 4 June 2020.
  4. ^ Georgi Dimitrov (30 January 2008). "Мачът за купата на България, игран на 19 юни 1985 г. (The match for the Bulgarian Cup, played on 19 June 1985)". log.bg. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  5. ^ "ЦСКА – Левски: Мачът на България (CSKA – Levski: The match of Bulgaria)". Sportal.bg. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Левски срещу ЦСКА (София) | LevskiSofia.info".
  7. ^ a b "Левски срещу ЦСКА-София (София) | LevskiSofia.info".
  8. ^ a b "ЦСКА срещу Левски (София) — FCCSKA.com фенсайт на ЦСКА". Fccska.com. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Кой е най-гоненият футболист във Вечното дерби?" (in Bulgarian). a-pfg.com. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.