November 2025 proved to be a pivotal month in the Bulgarian First Professional League 2025–26, covering Rounds 15 to 18 of the season. During this period, 16 teams competed in crucial mid-season fixtures, with matches spread across key venues such as Vasil Levski National Stadium (Sofia), Huvepharma Arena (Razgrad), Lokomotiv Stadium (Plovdiv), Ticha Stadium (Varna), Arena Arda (Kardzhali), Druzhba Stadium (Dobrich), and Beroe Stadium (Stara Zagora). The tournament format remained the standard double round-robin, where each club played every other team twice, aiming to accumulate points to secure top positions, avoid relegation, or qualify for European competitions. November was especially significant as teams sought to consolidate form and momentum before the winter break. Title contenders like Ludogorets Razgrad, Levski Sofia, and CSKA Sofia focused on critical head-to-head clashes, including the Levski vs CSKA derby and the Plovdiv Derby (Botev vs Lokomotiv), while mid-table clubs fought to stay in contention for the Championship Group, and lower-ranked teams battled to avoid relegation. Adverse weather conditions added another layer of challenge, testing squad depth and tactical flexibility. Ultimately, November served as a defining period in the league, where consistent performances, strategic victories, and key results shaped the trajectory for both the title race and survival battles in the remainder of the season.
Tournament Format – November 2025 of Bulgarian First Professional League 2025–26
The Tournament Format of the Bulgarian First Professional League (2025–26) — focusing on how it functions during :
1. League Structure
• The First Professional Football League (Parva Liga) is the top division of Bulgarian football.
• The 2025–26 season features 16 teams competing in a regular double round-robin format, where each team plays every other club twice — once at home and once away.
• By November, the league is typically in its mid-season phase, roughly around Rounds 15–19.
2. Points System
• Win: 3 points
• Draw: 1 point
• Loss: 0 points
Rankings are determined by total points, goal difference, and goals scored.
3. Phase Timing (as of November)
• The first phase runs from July to March, so November matches contribute crucial mid-season points.
• No playoffs are held yet — teams are fighting for better positioning before the split phase in spring (March).
4. Post-Regular Season Split (Upcoming After March)
After 30 rounds, the league splits into:
• Championship Group (Top 6) – competes for the title and European qualification.
• Relegation Group (Bottom 10) – fights to avoid relegation to the Second League.
However, in November, teams are still in the regular phase, where consistency and form matter most.
5. European Qualification Outlook (as of November)
Clubs aim to stay within the top six for a chance to qualify for:
• UEFA Champions League (1st place)
• UEFA Europa League and Europa Conference League (next best-placed clubs)
6. Relegation Stakes
• Bottom clubs (usually 15th and 16th) face direct relegation, while 13th–14th may enter relegation playoffs against Second League teams.
• Hence, November matches are vital for teams near the bottom to avoid slipping into danger.
Bulgarian First Professional League 2025–26 – November Fixtures with Dates & Venues
The complete details — with dates, teams, and venue details — for the Bulgarian First Professional Football League (2025–26) November fixtures:
Round 15 – 1 to 3 November 2025
1 November 2025 (Saturday)
• Dobrudzha 1919 vs Spartak 1918 — Druzhba Stadium, Dobrich
• Lokomotiv 1926 (Plovdiv) vs Botev (Plovdiv) — Lokomotiv Stadium, Plovdiv
• Septemvri (Sofia) vs Slavia 1913 (Sofia) — Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia
2 November 2025 (Sunday)
• CSKA (Sofia) vs Montana 1921 — Bulgarian Army Stadium, Sofia
• Arda 1924 (Kardzhali) vs Levski (Sofia) — Arena Arda, Kardzhali
• Cherno More (Varna) vs Ludogorets 1945 (Razgrad) — Ticha Stadium, Varna
3 November 2025 (Monday)
• Beroe (Stara Zagora) vs Lokomotiv Sofia 1929 — Beroe Stadium, Stara Zagora
• Botev (Vratsa) vs CSKA 1948 (Sofia) — Hristo Botev Stadium, Vratsa
Round 16 – 7 to 9 November 2025
7 November 2025 (Friday)
• Spartak 1918 (Varna) vs Septemvri (Sofia) — Spartak Stadium, Varna
• Botev (Plovdiv) vs Dobrudzha 1919 — Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv
8 November 2025 (Saturday)
• Lokomotiv Sofia 1929 vs Botev (Vratsa) — Lokomotiv Stadium, Sofia
• Levski (Sofia) vs CSKA (Sofia) — Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia
• Lokomotiv 1926 (Plovdiv) vs Beroe (Stara Zagora) — Lokomotiv Stadium, Plovdiv
9 November 2025 (Sunday)
• Slavia 1913 (Sofia) vs Montana 1921 — Slavia Stadium, Sofia
• CSKA 1948 (Sofia) vs Cherno More (Varna) — Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia
• Ludogorets 1945 (Razgrad) vs Arda 1924 (Kardzhali) — Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad
Round 17 – 22 to 23 November 2025
22 November 2025 (Saturday)
• CSKA (Sofia) vs Botev (Plovdiv) — Bulgarian Army Stadium, Sofia
• Arda 1924 (Kardzhali) vs CSKA 1948 (Sofia) — Arena Arda, Kardzhali
• Beroe (Stara Zagora) vs Spartak 1918 (Varna) — Beroe Stadium, Stara Zagora
• Montana 1921 vs Levski (Sofia) — Ogosta Stadium, Montana
• Dobrudzha 1919 vs Lokomotiv 1926 (Plovdiv) — Druzhba Stadium, Dobrich
23 November 2025 (Sunday)
• Cherno More (Varna) vs Lokomotiv Sofia 1929 — Ticha Stadium, Varna
• Septemvri (Sofia) vs Ludogorets 1945 (Razgrad) — Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia
Round 18 – 29 to 30 November 2025
29 November 2025 (Saturday)
• Lokomotiv Sofia 1929 vs Arda 1924 (Kardzhali) — Lokomotiv Stadium, Sofia
• CSKA 1948 (Sofia) vs Beroe (Stara Zagora) — Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia
• Ludogorets 1945 (Razgrad) vs Botev (Vratsa) — Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad
• Spartak 1918 (Varna) vs CSKA (Sofia) — Spartak Stadium, Varna
• Slavia 1913 (Sofia) vs Dobrudzha 1919 — Slavia Stadium, Sofia
30 November 2025 (Sunday)
• Lokomotiv 1926 (Plovdiv) vs Montana 1921 — Lokomotiv Stadium, Plovdiv
• Botev (Plovdiv) vs Cherno More (Varna) — Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv
• Levski (Sofia) vs Septemvri (Sofia) — Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia
Importance of November in the Bulgarian First Professional League 2025–26
The Importance of November in the Bulgarian First Professional League 2025–26
November marks a crucial turning point in the Bulgarian First Professional League season (2025–26). As teams approach the midway stage of the campaign, the matches in this month play a vital role in shaping both the title race and the relegation battle before the winter break in December.
1. Mid-Season Balance Point
• November represents the final full month of matches before the league pauses for winter.
• Clubs assess their first-half performance and make tactical or transfer decisions for the January window.
2. Title Race Intensifies
• Powerhouses like Ludogorets Razgrad, Levski Sofia, and CSKA Sofia often use this month to cement their top positions.
• Head-to-head derbies such as Levski vs CSKA and Plovdiv Derby (Botev vs Lokomotiv) have a massive impact on momentum and league standings.
3. Battle for Top 6 (Championship Round)
• The Bulgarian league later splits into Championship and Relegation groups — making every November point crucial for clubs like Cherno More, Arda Kardzhali, and Beroe Stara Zagora striving to stay in the upper half.
4. Relegation Pressure Builds
• Sides such as Montana, Spartak Varna, and Dobrudzha face intense competition to climb clear of the bottom places before the break.
• Poor November results can push teams into panic mode before winter transfers.
5. Weather and Match Conditions
• November’s colder, rainier conditions in Bulgaria test players’ stamina and squad depth, influencing match outcomes, especially on natural turf pitches.
6. Momentum Before Winter Break
• Teams ending November strong often carry their confidence and rhythm into the spring rounds.
• A successful November can define the tone for the rest of the season.
Conclusion
November 2025 was a crucial month in the Bulgarian First Professional League, marking the midway point of the season with Rounds 15 to 18. Clubs faced high-stakes fixtures across key stadiums including Vasil Levski National Stadium (Sofia), Lokomotiv Stadium (Plovdiv), Huvepharma Arena (Razgrad), Arena Arda (Kardzhali), and Ticha Stadium (Varna). This period was decisive for both title contenders like Ludogorets Razgrad, Levski Sofia, and CSKA Sofia, who aimed to consolidate top-table positions, and for mid-table teams fighting for Championship Group qualification. Meanwhile, lower-ranked clubs battled to avoid slipping into the relegation zone, making each match critical. November’s fixtures, including pivotal derbies such as Levski vs CSKA and the Plovdiv Derby, shaped momentum going into the winter break. Overall, performances in November played a key role in determining league standings, European qualification prospects, and survival battles, emphasizing the month’s importance as a defining phase of the 2025–26 season.
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