Levski defeated Vitosha Bistritsa 3:0 in a match from the 1/8 finals of the Bulgarian Cup, played at the "Georgi Asparuhov" stadium, Topsport reported.
"The Blues" controlled what was happening on the pitch and did not allow the team from the Third League to even think that it could end up with anything more than a loss today. The hosts took the lead at the beginning of the first half after an own goal by Rumen Gyonov (11'), and shortly after the start of the second half Radoslav Kirilov (51') doubled. The final score was formed by Marin Petkov (64'). Coach Julio Velasquez's players could have congratulated themselves with an even more impressive victory, but the goalpost proved to be helpful to the Bistrica team four times.
Thus, Levski ends the calendar year with a qualification for the 1/4 finals of the Bulgarian Cup. The "Blues" will welcome the holidays in first place in the First League standings. The team is now on break, and on January 4 they will hold their first training session for 2026. On January 6, the 26-time champions travel to Belek, Turkey.
Velasquez started with most of his starters, with one of the changes being at the top of the attack. Borislav Rupanov started instead of Mustafa Sangare and was the basis for the first goal for the "Blues". The striker headed Mazir Sula's cross and hit the post, while Rumen Gonov tried to clear the ball, but instead sent it into the Vitosha net in the 11th minute.
In the middle of the half, Sula suffered an injury and was forced to be replaced by Karl Fabien.
Levski dominated the rest of the first half, but did not score a second goal. Kirilov's goal was disallowed for offside, and midfielder Akram Bouras missed from a comfortable position, and so the two teams went into the break with a score of 1:0.
Kirilov and Bouras, however, were at the heart of the second goal for the "blues", which fell in the 51st minute. The Bulgarian advanced down the left wing and passed to the Algerian to the touchline, who returned the ball to him and Kirilov scored for 2:0. Minutes later, Buras hit the post after a quick counterattack by Levski.
The third goal, however, was not long in coming and came again after a double pass. Fabio Lima, who started at left back, took the ball in Vitosha's half and combined with Marin Petkov, who in turn passed the ball to Gasper Turdin. The Slovenian returned it to the "blues" teenager in front of the goal and he was on target with the third goal in the 65th minute.