Prediction: Levski Sofia vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Verdict: Eintracht Frankfurt win

Best Odds: 8/15

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Opening up their Europa Conference League qualifying adventure on Thursday evening, Eintracht Frankfurt will travel out to Bulgaria when they meet Levski Sofia.

Levski Sofia

Starting with the hosts, eventually extending on their Europa Conference League qualifying adventure earlier in the month as they claimed a rugged 2-1 aggregate victory against Beer Sheva, Levski Sofia will know that they face another real challenge in midweek. Although the Bulgarian outfit might have secured back-to-back wins across all competitions for the first time since opening up the 2023/24 campaign, Nikolay Kostov’s men have struggled with their consistency. Suffering a pair of defeats from their first five domestic showdowns, the Blues should at least take some positives away from their recent improvements at the back. With their sights set on trying to mount another Parva Liga top-four charge this time around, Levski Sofia have conceded just a single strike in their previous three appearances. Nevertheless, rightfully tipped as a real underdog contender on Thursday evening, Kostov’s side will be bracing themselves for a stern examination here.

Team News

Both finding the net in Sofia’s 2-1 second-leg victory against Beer Sheva last week, the attacking duo of Welton and 22-year-old Ronaldo will spearhead Kostov’s charge on Thursday evening.

Impressing last week after being handed a full recall, former Gremio man Darlan should once again join Andrian Kraev in midfield. 26-year-old Kristian Dimitrov will keep his place at the back.

Eintracht Frankfurt

As for the visitors, while Eintracht Frankfurt might have been left disappointed as they missed out on a top-six finish among Germany’s elite last season, the Eagles did gain a string of plaudits. Extending on their DFP Pokal adventure earlier in the month as they cruised their way to a routine 7-0 romp away at lower-league Lokomotiv Leipzig, Dino Toppmoller’s men also opened up the 2023/24 campaign with a rugged display over the weekend. Landing a 1-0 win against Darmstadt at Deutsche Bank Park, Thursday’s guests will be smelling the chance to claim a first-leg advantage here. However, suffering DFP Pokal final heartbreak at the hands of RB Leipzig on June 3rd as they suffered a 2-0 defeat, Frankfurt had shown some extended issues on the road. Including a 3-1 drumming against Hoffenheim back on May 6th, it should be noted that Toppmoller’s side won just one of their final 14 away fixtures across all formats.

Team News

Opening the 2023/24 campaign with a goal against Darmstadt over the weekend, attacking talisman Randal Kolo Muani will spearhead Frankfurt’s charge on Thursday evening. The French international should be joined in attack by ex-Bayern Munich superstar Mario Gotze.

Missing out over the weekend but to illness, the Eagles are hopeful that 19-year-old Paxten Aaronson can be included in Toppmoller’s matchday squad. However, Frankfurt are sweating over the fitness of skipper Sebastian Rode here.

Key Factors to Consider

• Levski Sofia have won each of their last four appearances on home soil by an aggregate score of 10-1.
• Likewise, Thursday’s hosts have conceded just a single strike in their last three appearances across all formats.
• On a similar note, along with signing off their pre-season preparations with a 0-0 stalemate against Nottingham Forest, Eintracht Frankfurt have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three outings.
• However, the Eagles remarkably recorded just one win from their final 14 away fixtures across all formats.
• Thursday’s guests have failed to record a single clean sheet on their travels since way back on January 13th.

Conclusion

While Eintracht Frankfurt might have shown some extended issues on the road last season, there is no doubt that Thursday’s guests will be confident of claiming a first-leg advantage here. Opening up the 2023/24 campaign with a 1-0 victory against Darmstadt over the weekend, the Eagles will simply be looking to avoid a major qualifying banana skin on foreign soil. Nevertheless, tipped as a runaway pick to punch their Europa Conference League group stage ticket this month, we are expecting an away victory here.

Verdict: Eintracht Frankfurt win

Best Odds: 8/15

Bookmaker: Dachbet