The Bulgarian trio face an uphill task to reach the UEFA Cup group stage. CSKA and Lokomotiv Sofia will meet French opposition in the first round and Litex Lovech were handed a tie with Hamburger SV. The Reds will have to defend their high ambitions against Toulouse while Loko is up against Rennes. The two games of the first round, one home and one away, will take place on September 20 and October 4. All three teams issued the same comment: “We drew the most difficult opponent possible.”
CSKA are the only team that refuses to consider themselves an outsider. “We have our chance to progress and the return leg in Sofia is an advantage,” coach Stoycho Mladenov said. In the second qualifying round the Reds beat Omonia Nicosia 2:1 in Sofia for a 3:2 aggregate score, the home crowd a crucial factor. Toulouse was eliminated in the third qualifying round of the Champions League by Liverpool. CSKA has a great tradition in UEFA tournaments, in contrast to the French team.
Lokomotiv have to play at CSKA’s stadium, as their own stadium does not meet UEFA standards, and therefore they have to play first leg against Rennes in Sofia. Coach Stefan Grozdanov is not happy to hand over the home advantage for the return game, but in the last round it worked well. Loko won 3:1 in Sofia against Romanian team Otelul and defended the two-goal lead in Galati (0:0).
Lokomotiv Sofia are on a run of eight consecutive UEFA Cup games without defeat but they know Rennes could be different story. “We don’t know much about how Rennes play, but we are excited and ready for this challenge,” Grozdanov said.
Litex considered the return leg at home no advantage against stronger Hamburger and they switched the games according to German TV’s wishes. The first leg will be played in Lovech on 18 September. The Bulgarian team ensured a sold-out stadium and a huge TV income. “Hamburger is very strong team but we are not going to give up without a fight,” Litex coach Ferario Spasov promised. In the last round Litex had an easy job against Albanian side Besa winning both matches 3:0.
