Spartak Varna
- Spartak Varna are undefeated in their last 2 home games (W1, D1).
- Spartak Varna are 5th in the standings with 31 points from 34 games, while Lokomotiv Sofia are in 3rd with 43 points from the same amount of games.
- Gjokica Hadzievski has clearly made Spartak Varna a better proposition since his appointment, setting up his side with a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 and encouraging width, transitions, and proactivity in the mid-block.
- The Black Lions have won 2, drawn 1, and lost 2 of their last 5, scoring 4.
Lokomotiv Sofia
- Lokomotiv Sofia are undefeated in their last 5 games (W2, D3) but have failed to win in their last 2 trips to Spartak Varna.
- Aleksandar Georgiev has been less proactive in his tactical approach, preferring to sit in a mid-block and counter attack or get bodies forward for set pieces to release their experienced and clinical forward line.
Head-to-Head
- In the last 5 meetings between the teams (all comps), Spartak Varna have won 2, Lokomotiv Sofia have won 1, and there have been 2 draws.
- The head-to-head matchup history tells us that Lokomotiv Sofia will push this game and this is a clash of styles between Spartak’s proactive wing play vs Lokomotiv’s counter-attacking, compact style.
Key Players
- Tsvetelin Chunchukov (2 goals in last 5) has been in fine form for Spartak Varna of late and could be the difference in this game, as he is a clinical finisher and the team has created enough chances for him to score goals.
- Georgi Minchev (3 goals in last 5) is always a threat for Lokomotiv Sofia.
Betting Insights
- Spartak Varna will feel hard done by the 1.62 odds the bookmakers have set for this Friday’s Parva Liga Relegation Group clash against Lokomotiv Sofia, considering that they are unbeaten in their last 2 and Lokomotiv Sofia have failed to win in their last 2 away H2H encounters.
- This will be a closely fought game, so the Over 2.5 goals market is my pick at 1.73.
Prediction
I will take Spartak Varna to edge it by a narrow margin as they seem to be the hungrier team and the draw price of 3.9 for the visitors is a little on the low side, considering Lokomotiv are unbeaten in their last five matches.
