CSKA Sofia faces a challenging pair of away fixtures,beginning Saturday against Spartak Varna at 5:30 PM local time. The match marks the start of a demanding stretch for the Army men as they navigate a speedy turnaround including a midweek contest against Lokomotiv Plovdiv and another away game against Cherno More on December 6th. Following a challenging start to the season and a subsequent managerial change, CSKA arrives in Varna on a six-game winning streak and will look to continue their momentum as they approach the winter break.
CSKA Sofia travels to Spartak Varna on Saturday at 5:30 PM local time for the first of two consecutive away matches in the coastal city. Next Saturday, December 6th, the Army Men will also face Cherno More at “Ticha” stadium, sandwiched between a home fixture against Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Wednesday. This demanding schedule leading into the winter break will be a crucial test for CSKA’s season ambitions.
The team endured a nightmare start to the campaign, recording their worst-ever beginning under manager Dushan Kerkez. That led to the appointment of Hristo Yanev, who has significantly improved the atmosphere in the locker room and instilled a winning mentality. The turnaround has been remarkable, with CSKA currently riding a six-game winning streak across all competitions, including a victory in the Eternal Derby and a hard-fought win against Botev Plovdiv in their most recent league match. A win at “Korito” would give the Red Men their longest winning run in over seven years. As such, the clash with Spartak Varna represents an excellent gauge of the progress and aspirations under Hristo Yanev, though the hosts are determined to put up a fight. Spartak have been the surprise package of the season, and despite a recent dip in form – losses to Dobrudzha and Septemvri, and a draw with Beroe – they are fully prepared for CSKA’s arrival.
The two teams have a history dating back to last summer, when Spartak stunned CSKA with a 3-0 victory at home under Alexander Tomash. Tomash then moved to CSKA, triggering a series of challenges for the Varna side. The atmosphere at “Ticha” is sure to be hostile when CSKA returns in a week, and this match will have lasting implications for the league standings as the season progresses.
For the first of these two challenging away games, Hristo Yanev is set to deploy a formation he hasn’t used since returning to CSKA. For the first time in a league match, the coach will field a starting lineup featuring three Bulgarian players. Previously, he had relied on a maximum of two domestic players from the start, with the only exception being a Bulgarian Cup match against Sevlievo, where he started four, according to “Tema Sport”.
Theodor Ivanov and Petko Panayotov are guaranteed their places in the starting eleven. The central defender replaces the suspended Adrian Lapenya, while the midfielder steps in for Skarsem. Yanev’s only remaining dilemma concerns the right flank, which will determine the identity of the third Bulgarian in the lineup. Brazilian international Pastór returns to the squad after serving a suspension, and one option is to deploy him at his usual right-back position, with Ilian Iliev operating in front of him. Alternatively, Pastór could play on the wing with Ivan Turitsov behind him. This decision will also determine who captains the team – Turitsov or Ivanov.
So far this season, CSKA has started with at least three Bulgarian players on only two occasions. Dushan Kerkez fielded Turitsov, Panayotov, and Tasev in a 0-1 loss to Lokomotiv Plovdiv at “Lautа”, while interim coach Valentin Iliev started Theodor Ivanov, Turitsov, Panayotov, and Ilian Iliev in a 1-1 draw with Botev Vratsa under Oколчица.
Interestingly, Goeko Hadzhievski and Yanev previously met at “Korito” this season – in a 1-1 draw between Spartak Varna and Botev Vratsa on August 1st. A week earlier, Spartak also drew 1-1 with CSKA at “Vasil Levski”.
