Levski Sofia and AEK Athens Remain Level After Goalless Champions League Play-off First Leg

Levski Sofia and AEK Athens Share Goalless Draw

Levski Sofia and AEK Athens FC finished 0-0 in their UEFA Champions League play-off match at Georgi Asparuhov Stadium on Tuesday, leaving the tie evenly poised after 90 minutes. Levski controlled slightly more of the ball and produced the clearer attacking numbers, but AEK’s defence held firm to secure a draw.

Goalless Result in Sofia

The match ended without a goal, assist or recorded scoring incident for either side. Levski used Julio Velazquez’s 4-2-3-1 formation, while Marko Nikolic set AEK up in a 4-4-2, but neither system produced the decisive opening required to separate the teams.

There were also no yellow or red cards recorded, meaning the contest passed without a significant disciplinary incident. The absence of goals reflected a game in which both teams created opportunities but lacked the finishing touch to turn pressure into a breakthrough.

Levski Create More Attacking Threat

Levski created more attacking threat across the match, registering 15 total shots compared with AEK’s 12. The hosts also placed three efforts on target, while AEK managed only one, and the difference was reflected in the goalkeeping figures, with AEK’s goalkeeper making three saves and Levski’s making one.

The home side held 53% possession and completed 420 of 470 passes, recording 89% accuracy. AEK had 47% possession, completed 367 of 421 passes and produced two corners to Levski’s one, showing that the hosts had the territorial edge without establishing complete control.

Defensive Performances Shape the Match

Kristian Dimitrov was the standout performer, earning the highest match rating of 7.7 after completing all 90 minutes. His one shot on target and one tackle underlined a composed display as Levski limited AEK to a single effort on goal.

Nikola Serafimov and Serginho also received ratings of 7.3 for Levski, with Serginho supplying two key passes and Serafimov adding one. AEK’s Filipe Relvas matched that rating, while Aboubakary Koita combined one key pass with five tackles during his 81 minutes on the pitch.

Form and Play-off Implications

The draw continued Levski’s positive recent sequence, with the available form data showing four wins and two draws in their last six matches. AEK arrived with three wins, one defeat and one draw across its previous five games, so the visitors also avoided a result that would have interrupted their recent record completely.

No standings data was available for either team in the Champions League play-off round, so the match does not produce a confirmed league-position change. Its main competitive effect is to leave the play-off tie level, with neither Levski nor AEK taking a decisive advantage from the first completed fixture.