The Alinja Arena in Baku is set for a pivotal UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round second-leg clash as Sabah hosts Levski Sofia. The Azerbaijani side faces a tough task, needing to overturn a narrow 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Bulgaria. With the home crowd behind them, Sabah will be looking to capitalize on their attacking strengths to keep their European campaign alive.
Sabah enters the match seeking redemption after a hard-fought defeat in the first leg. Despite the loss, their performance showed promise, and they will be confident in their ability to score at home. The team’s domestic form has been a bit inconsistent, but their recent European qualifying results at home have been strong.
Coach Valdas Dambrauskas will likely deploy a more aggressive strategy, aiming to get an early goal to level the tie. The team’s key attacking players, such as Joy Lance Mickels and Kaheem Parris, will be crucial in breaking down the Levski Sofia defense.
Levski Sofia, on the other hand, travels to Azerbaijan with a valuable one-goal advantage. The Bulgarian side’s 1-0 victory in the first leg was a testament to their defensive organization and ability to grind out a result. Under the management of Julio Velázquez, Levski Sofia has been in a strong run of form, with a blend of discipline and timely goal-scoring.
They will likely adopt a more defensive posture, looking to absorb pressure and hit Sabah on the counter-attack. The experience of their squad and the influence of new midfielder Mazire Soula could be the difference-maker in a tense encounter.
Tactical Analysis and Key Players
Sabah’s approach will be to dominate possession and use the width of the pitch to create scoring opportunities. The team’s offensive efficiency, particularly at home, will be key to their success.
They will need to be careful not to overcommit in attack, as Levski Sofia’s ability to transition quickly could prove costly. The central defensive partnership of Christian Makoun and Kristian Dimitrov for Levski Sofia will be under a lot of pressure.
Levski Sofia’s plan will be to remain compact and frustrate the home side’s attack. They will aim to use the pace of players like Everton Bala and Marin Petkov on the wings to exploit any gaps left by Sabah’s attacking formation. The midfield battle will be crucial, and the performance of players like Carlos Ohene in a defensive role will be vital for the visitors.
Match Prediction
While Levski Sofia holds the advantage and has been in slightly better form, Sabah’s home record and the need to score will make them a formidable opponent. This tie is finely balanced, and it is entirely plausible that Sabah could win the match. However, Levski’s defensive solidity and European experience might be enough to see them through on aggregate. A tight match is expected, possibly going to extra time.
Predicted Score: Sabah 1-0 Levski Sofia (Levski Sofia to advance on penalties)
How to Watch Sabah vs. Levski Sofia Live Stream
The second leg of this UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, 2025, with kick-off at 12:00 PM ET (8:00 PM local time). The match will be broadcast on various platforms.
CountryLive Stream & TV ChannelUnited KingdomTNT Sports, discovery+United StatesParamount+CanadaDAZN CanadaAustraliabeIN SportsAzerbaijanİdman TVBulgariaBTV Action
Mobile & PC | Auto Quality
Mobile & PC | Auto Quality