Levski Sofia and NEC Nijmegen draw 1-1 in Europa League

Levski Sofia secured their first point in the UEFA Europa League group stage following a 1-1 draw against NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Reynaldo scored for the Bulgarian champions in the 32nd minute after a quick counter-attack, but a mistake by goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov allowed Tjarron Cherry to equalize for the hosts in the 44th minute.

Following the match, NEC Nijmegen issued an official statement addressing the presence of Levski supporters in the home sections of the Goffertstadion. The Dutch club explained that they provided 200 first-category tickets to the visiting team as required by UEFA regulations, which are typically intended for club partners and guests. NEC expressed surprise that Levski Sofia distributed or sold these specific tickets to their supporters instead.

NEC manager Dick Schrijder described the result as fair, noting that while his team sought a win, Levski showed strong tactical organization and moments of quality.