Bulgaria’s Levski FC (blue) have made a huge step closer to the UEFA Cup’s next round. They beat 1-0 Artmedia Bratislava home on Wednesday. Photo by sportal.bg
The first knockout round first-leg match between Bulgaria's Levski FC and Artmedia ended in a crushing defeat for the Bratislava team.
Emil Angelov took full advantage of the new-look Slovaks as Levski Sofia secured a first-leg lead in their UEFA Cup last-32 clash. Only eight minutes in, Angelov fired home from just inside the area.
The most Artmedia could muster was a weak Branislav Fodrek free-kick midway through the half and another tame effort from long-range by Juraj Halenar shortly before the break.
Neither side had played a competitive match for more than two months due to winter breaks in Slovakia and Bulgaria.
The second leg of the tie is scheduled for February 23, where a win for the Bulgarians would open the gate for them to the next UEFA Cup round.