2020–21 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
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.
Season | 2020–21 |
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Dates | 7 August 2020 – 9 May 2021 |
Matches played | 112 |
Goals scored | 281 (2.51 per match) |
Top goalscorer | ![]() |
Biggest home win | Beroe 6–0 Botev Vratsa (28 August 2020) Lokomotiv Plovdiv 6–0 Botev Plovdiv (28 November 2020) |
Biggest away win | Etar 0–4 Cherno More (16 August 2020) Montana 0–4 Levski Sofia (29 August 2020) |
Highest scoring | Montana 3–4 Tsarsko Selo (7 December 2020) |
Longest winning run | 7 matches Ludogorets Razgrad |
Longest unbeaten run | 15 matches Ludogorets Razgrad |
Longest winless run | 13 matches Etar |
Longest losing run | 7 matches Etar |
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 18:58, 27 December 2020 (UTC). |
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]

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 |
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Cherno More |
2020–21 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) (Bulgaria) Location of Sofia teams. |
CSKA | |
Stadion Ticha | Stadion Balgarska Armia | ||
Capacity: 8,250 | Capacity: 22,995 | ||
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CSKA 1948 | Etar | ||
Vasil Levski National Stadium | Stadion Ivaylo | ||
Capacity: 44,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | ||
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Levski | Lokomotiv | ||
Stadion Georgi Asparuhov | Stadion Lokomotiv | ||
Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 13,220 | ||
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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 |
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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 | ![]() |
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Efbet | — |
Beroe | ![]() |
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— | Refan, Ajax Group |
Botev Plovdiv | ![]() |
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WinBet | — |
Botev Vratsa | ![]() |
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WinBet | — |
CSKA 1948 | ![]() |
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Efbet | Bachkovo |
CSKA Sofia | ![]() |
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A1 Bulgaria | WinBet, Baristo |
Cherno More | ![]() |
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Armeets | — |
Etar | ![]() |
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WinBet | — |
Levski Sofia | ![]() |
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Strabag | PalmsBet |
Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ![]() |
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Efbet | General Broker |
Ludogorets | ![]() |
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Efbet | Vivacom |
Montana | ![]() |
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Efbet | — |
Slavia Sofia | ![]() |
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bet365 | Asset Insurance |
Tsarsko Selo | ![]() |
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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 |
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
Positions by round
Results by round
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Season statistics
Top scorers
- As of 20 December 2020[1]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Cherno More | 15 |
2 | ![]() |
CSKA 1948 | 9 |
3 | ![]() |
Beroe | 8 |
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Botev Plovdiv | ||
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Ludogorets | ||
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Arda | ||
7 | ![]() |
CSKA Sofia | 7 |
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Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ||
10 | ![]() |
Botev Vratsa | 6 |
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Etar | ||
12 | ![]() |
Beroe | 5 |
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CSKA 1948 | ||
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Arda | ||
15 | ![]() |
Ludogorets | 4 |
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Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ||
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Levski | ||
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Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ||
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Ludogorets | ||
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Levski | ||
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Montana |
Most assists
- As of 20 December 2020[40]
Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Cherno More | 5 |
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Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ||
3 | ![]() |
CSKA 1948 | 4 |
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Ludogorets | ||
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Arda | ||
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Beroe | ||
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Botev Plovdiv | ||
8 | ![]() |
Ludogorets | 3 |
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Ludogorets | ||
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Botev Vratsa | ||
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CSKA Sofia |
Clean sheets
- As of 18 December 2020
Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
CSKA 1948 | 6 |
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Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ||
3 | ![]() |
Beroe | 5 |
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Arda | ||
5 | ![]() |
Botev Plovdiv | 4 |
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CSKA Sofia | ||
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Cherno More | ||
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Tsarsko Selo | ||
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Botev Vratsa | ||
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Levski | ||
11 | ![]() |
Etar | 3 |
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Ludogorets | ||
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Ludogorets |
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- "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.
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