2016–17 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

The 2016–17 First Professional Football League is the 93rd season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 69th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid and also the inaugural season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season is the first with a new league structure and strict financial criteria where 14 clubs play each other home and away, until the league is split up in championship and relegation playoffs. The new league structure, inspired by the ones used by the Belgian First Division A and Danish Superliga, was approved by the Bulgarian Football Union on 6 June 2016.[8] The fixtures were announced on 8 July 2016.[9]

First Professional Football League
Season2016–17
Dates29 July 2016 – 4 June 2017
ChampionsLudogorets Razgrad (6th title)
RelegatedNeftochimic
Montana
Lokomotiv GO
Champions LeagueLudogorets Razgrad
Europa LeagueBotev Plovdiv
Levski Sofia
Dunav Ruse
Matches played240
Goals scored616 (2.57 per match)
Top goalscorerRomania Claudiu Keșerü (22)
Best goalkeeperBulgaria Georgi Kitanov
(18 clean sheets)
Biggest home winBotev Plovdiv 7–1 Montana
(7 April 2017)[1]
Biggest away winLokomotiv GO 0–5 Ludogorets Razgrad
(12 March 2017)[2]
Highest scoringDunav Ruse 3–5 Ludogorets Razgrad
(28 October 2016)[3]
Botev Plovdiv 7–1 Montana
(7 April 2017)[1]
Longest winning run13 games by Ludogorets Razgrad[4]
Longest unbeaten run24 games by Ludogorets Razgrad[4]
Longest winless run10 games by Lokomotiv GO[4]
Longest losing run7 games by Montana[4]
Highest attendance~21,000
CSKA Sofia 1–1 Levski Sofia
(15 October 2016)[5]
Levski Sofia 2–1 CSKA Sofia
(4 March 2017)[6]
Lowest attendance~20
Montana 1–1 Vereya
(10 May 2017)[7]
All statistics correct as of 31 May 2017.

On 5 May 2017, five rounds before the end of the championship, after winning the away match with Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Ludogorets Razgrad managed to secure the title for a sixth consecutive and overall time.[10] Ludogorets finished 16 points ahead of CSKA Sofia. Levski Sofia finished third.

Competition format

Starting from the 2016–17 season, a new league format was approved by the Bulgarian Football Union, in an attempt to improve each participating club's competitiveness, match attendance and performance in the league, alongside strict financial criteria. It involves 14 teams playing in two phases, a regular season and playoffs. The first phase includes each club competing against every other team twice in a double round-robin system, on a home-away basis at a total of 26 games per team, also played in 26 fixtures. Seven matches are played in every fixture at a total of 182 games during the first phase. In the second phase, the top six teams form a European qualifying table, while the bottom eight teams participate in a relegation group. The winner of the top group is declared as Champions of Bulgaria and is awarded with the title.

International qualification

The six top teams compete against each other on a home-away basis. Three matches are played in every fixture of the top six, with the results and points after the regular season also included. At the end of the stage, every team will have played a total of 36 games. The winner of the group is declared as Champions of Bulgaria and automatically secures participation in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. The team that ranks second is awarded with a place in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. The third team in the final standings would participate in a play-off match against a representative team from the bottom eight. Depending on the winner of the Bulgarian Cup final, a possible fourth team from the first six may compete in a play-off match for an UEFA Europa League spot instead of the third ranked team.

Note: If the Bulgarian Cup winner has secured its qualification for the European tournaments for the next season through results from Parva Liga, then the place in the UEFA Europa League play-off is awarded to the fourth ranked team in the final standings.

Relegation

The teams in the bottom eight are split in two sub-groups of four teams, Group A and Group B, depending on their final position after the regular season standings. The teams that enter Group A are the 7th, 10th, 11th and the 14th, and the teams that participate in Group B are the 8th, 9th, 12th and the 13th. Every participant plays twice against the other three teams in their group on a home-away basis. The teams from the bottom eight also compete with the results from the regular season. After the group stages, every team will have played a total number of 32 games. Depending on their final position in Group A and Group B, two sections will be formed, one for a play-off spot in next season's European competitions and one to avoid relegation. The first two teams from each group continue in the semi-finals, and the last two teams of each group continue to the semi-finals for a relegation match. After this phase, one team is directly relegated to the Second League and the remaining two teams will compete in two relegation matches against the second and the third ranked clubs from the Second League.[11]

Tiebreakers

In case of a tie on points between two or more clubs, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[12]

  1. Number of wins;
  2. Goal difference;
  3. Goals pro;
  4. Goals away;
  5. Fewer red cards;
  6. Fewest yellow cards;
  7. Draw

Teams

Prior to the start of the season, the Bulgarian Football Union announced that every Bulgarian professional football club's application would be considered for the upcoming season, as long as it fulfills the financial criteria. A total of 14 teams would be contesting the league, including the 9 sides from the previous season, plus five promoted clubs from the lower B Group, which would be issued a license by the Bulgarian Football Union. The five approved applications from the lower division were the B Group's last year champions Dunav Ruse, alongside Lokomotiv GO, Neftochimic, Vereya and CSKA Sofia respectively.

Dunav return after a 25-year absence from the top flight, Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa return after a 21-year absence, Neftochimic return after a two-year absence, Vereya made its debut in the top flight, while CSKA Sofia return after a one-year absence, having played in the third tier the previous season, but managing to administratively promote back to the elite.

Stadia and locations

Note: From the 2016–17 season onwards, all participating clubs are required to have electric floodlights and adequate pitch conditions under the BFU and TV broadcaster's new licensing criteria.[13] The following stadiums below have either obtained a license under UEFA's category ranking or fulfill the licensing criteria.

Location of teams in 2016–17 First League
Sofia 2016–17 First League football clubs
Team Location Stadium Capacity (seating)
Beroe Stara Zagora Beroe 12,128[14]
Botev Plovdiv Botev 1912 Football Complex 4,000
Cherno More Varna Stadion Kavarna, Kavarna[15] 5,000
CSKA Sofia Balgarska Armia 18,495[16]
Dunav Ruse Gradski 12,400[17]
Levski Sofia Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov 25,000[18]
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Lokomotiv 10,500
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv 13,000[19]
Ludogorets Razgrad Ludogorets Arena 8,808[20]
Montana Montana Gradski 6,000
Neftochimic Burgas Lazur 18,037[21]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Hristo Botev 7,000
Slavia Sofia Vasil Levski National Stadium 43,230
Vereya Stara Zagora Trace Arena 3,500[22]

Note: On June 15, 2016, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria granted 3 mln. BGN in total for stadium renovations to the following three clubs – Cherno More, Dunav and Lokomotiv GO.[23]

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Additional
Beroe Bulgaria Ferario Spasov Bulgaria Ivo Ivanov Germany Uhlsport — Refan
Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov Bulgaria Lachezar Baltanov Spain Joma efbet —
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Stamen Belchev Bulgaria Bozhidar Chorbadzhiyski Germany Adidas Mtel WinBet
Cherno More Bulgaria Georgi Ivanov Bulgaria Georgi Iliev Germany Uhlsport Armeets —
Dunav Ruse Bulgaria Veselin Velikov Bulgaria Diyan Dimov Spain Joma — —
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov Bulgaria Veselin Minev Spain Joma Vivacom Strabag, efbet, Spetema
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Bulgaria Aleksandar Dimitrov Bulgaria Atanas Fidanin Bulgaria Krasiko efbet Prity, Enel, Go Grill
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Voyn Voynov Bulgaria Martin Kamburov Germany Uhlsport efbet —
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria Georgi Dermendzhiev Bulgaria Svetoslav Dyakov Italy Macron bet365 Vivacom, Spetema
Montana Bulgaria Atanas Atanasov Bulgaria Ivan Mihov Germany Jako efbet —
Neftochimic Bulgaria Hristo Yanev Bulgaria Lyubomir Bozhinov Bulgaria Krasiko Masterhaus —
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Milen Radukanov Bulgaria Yuliyan Popev Italy Erreà — —
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Zlatomir Zagorčić Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Spain Joma bet365 —
Vereya Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Brazil Elias Italy Erreà Trace Group Spetema

Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised by UEFA in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations). Clubs in the domestic league can have more than one sponsorship per jersey which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area. Shorts also have space available for advertisement.

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Beroe Bulgaria Plamen Lipenski End of caretaker tenure 31 May 2016 Pre-season Bulgaria Aleksandar Dimitrov 31 May 2016[24]
Montana Bulgaria Emil Velev Sacked 31 May 2016 North Macedonia Stevica Kuzmanovski 10 June 2016[25]
Vereya Bulgaria Zhivko Zhelev End of contract 31 May 2016 Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash 10 June 2016[26]
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Sacked 8 June 2016 Bulgaria Angel Chervenkov 8 June 2016[27]
Cherno More Bulgaria Nikola Spasov Mutual consent 10 June 2016 Bulgaria Georgi Ivanov 21 June 2016[28]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Kosovo Naci Şensoy End of contract 20 June 2016 Bulgaria Stefan Genov 20 June 2016
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Hristo Yanev Resigned 21 August 2016 3rd Romania Edward Iordănescu 24 August 2016[29]
Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Nikolay Kostov 23 August 2016[30] 10th Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov 30 August 2016[31]
Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov 30 August 2016 8th Bulgaria Nikolay Kirova 1 September 2016[32]
Neftochimic Bulgaria Dimcho Nenov Sacked 17 September 2016[33] 13th Bulgaria Hristo Yanev 17 September 2016[34]
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Angel Chervenkov 28 September 2016[35] 14th Bulgaria Ivan Kolev 28 September 2016[36]
Montana North Macedonia Stevica Kuzmanovski 3 October 2016[37] 13th Bulgaria Atanas Dzhambazkib 4 October 2016[38]
Beroe Bulgaria Aleksandar Dimitrov Resigned 17 October 2016[39] 7th Bulgaria Plamen Lipenski (interim) 20 October 2016[40]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Ilian Iliev 17 October 2016[41] 9th Bulgaria Hristo Kolev (interim) 18 October 2016[42]
Levski Sofia Serbia Ljupko Petrović 22 October 2016[43] 1st Bulgaria Elin Topuzakovc 24 October 2016[44]
Beroe Bulgaria Plamen Lipenski End of caretaker tenure 26 October 2016 8th Bulgaria Ferario Spasov 26 October 2016[45]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Hristo Kolev 31 October 2016 7th Bulgaria Eduard Eranosyan 31 October 2016[46]
Slavia Sofia Russia Aleksandr Tarkhanov Signed by Russia Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast 2 November 2016[47] 10th Bulgaria Vladimir Ivanov 3 November 2016[48]
CSKA Sofia Romania Edward Iordănescu Resigned 27 November 2016[49] 5th Bulgaria Stamen Belchevd 27 November 2016[50]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Stefan Genov Signed by CSKA Sofia 9 January 2017[51] 11th Bulgaria Milen Radukanov 13 January 2017[52]
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Ivan Kolev Resigned 2 March 2017[53] 13th Bulgaria Milcho Sirmov (interim) 2 March 2017
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Elin Topuzakov Mutual consent 2 March 2017 2nd Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov 2 March 2017[54]
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Milcho Sirmov End of caretaker tenure 14 March 2017 13th Bulgaria Aleksandar Dimitrov 14 March 2017[55]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Eduard Eranosyan Resigned 9 April 2017[56] 5th Bulgaria Stoyan Kolev (interim) 12 April 2017[57]
Montana Bulgaria Atanas Dzhambazki 17 April 2017[58] 4th/Group A Bulgaria Dilyan Ivanov (interim) 17 April 2017
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Stoyan Kolev End of caretaker tenure 19 April 2017 6th Bulgaria Voyn Voynov 19 April 2017[59]
Montana Bulgaria Dilyan Ivanov 24 April 2017 4th/Group A Bulgaria Atanas Atanasov 24 April 2017[60]
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Vladimir Ivanov Demoted to assistant 11 May 2017 3rd/Group A Bulgaria Zlatomir Zagorčić 11 May 2017[61]

a.^ Initially interim, made permanent 19 January 2017.[62]
b.^ Initially interim, made permanent 16 December 2016.[63]
c.^ Initially interim, made permanent 16 November 2016.[64]
d.^ Initially interim, made permanent 3 January 2017.[65]

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ludogorets Razgrad 26 21 4 1 69 19 +50 67 Qualification for the championship round
2 Levski Sofia 26 15 6 5 38 17 +21 51
3 CSKA Sofia 26 13 7 6 35 16 +19 46
4 Cherno More 26 12 7 7 30 24 +6 43
5 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 26 10 9 7 35 30 +5 39
6 Dunav Ruse 26 10 8 8 32 31 +1 38
7 Botev Plovdiv 26 10 5 11 36 42 −6 35[lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the relegation round
8 Beroe 26 10 5 11 27 28 −1 35[lower-alpha 1]
9 Pirin Blagoevgrad 26 10 4 12 30 36 −6 34
10 Vereya 26 8 6 12 22 36 −14 30
11 Slavia Sofia 26 8 4 14 30 45 −15 28
12 Neftochimic 26 7 5 14 27 37 −10 26
13 Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 26 5 7 14 22 39 −17 22
14 Montana 26 3 3 20 16 49 −33 12
Source: Bulgarian Football Union, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[66]
Notes:
  1. Botev Plovdiv ahead of Beroe on head-to-head record; Beroe–Botev Plovdiv 3–4, Botev Plovdiv–Beroe 2–0.

Results
Home \ Away BSZ BOT CHM CSK DUN LEV LGO LPL LUD MON NEF PIR SLA VER
Beroe 3–4 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–2 0–2 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–0
Botev Plovdiv 2–0 2–3 0–0 0–2 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 2–1 3–2 3–2 2–1
Cherno More 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
CSKA Sofia 4–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–2 2–1 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–1
Dunav Ruse 0–4 1–2 3–0 2–0 2–2 1–0 1–1 3–5 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 0–0
Levski Sofia 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 4–0
Lokomotiv G. Oryahovitsa 0–1 0–1 2–2 0–0 0–2 0–1 2–1 0–5 0–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 5–0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–0 0–0 2–3 1–1 3–1
Ludogorets Razgrad 1–0 4–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 1–0 2–0 3–1 3–0 3–1 4–0
Montana 0–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–3 2–4 0–3 0–4 2–0 1–2 1–2 1–1
Neftochimic 1–0 4–0 1–3 0–2 1–2 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–0
Pirin Blagoevgrad 1–1 2–1 1–3 1–1 4–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–3 1–0 1–0 4–0 1–1
Slavia Sofia 1–2 3–2 2–1 0–1 0–2 0–4 3–1 5–2 0–2 2–0 0–3 3–1 3–1
Vereya 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–5 3–0 1–1 2–0 3–0
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Ludogorets Razgrad124966433222211111111111111
Levski Sofia68532211111122222222222222
CSKA Sofia26353644443453533333333333
Cherno More11114778664334346445545544
Lokomotiv Plovdiv3968911979910786654554454455
Dunav Ruse52221122335545465666666666
Botev Plovdiv4138108985556668888977787777
Beroe1154753567788799997888910988
Pirin Blagoevgrad13710910810988991010111010111110978899
Vereya1037475610111111119777789911109101010
Slavia Sofia141414141210111110107101111121111101011101111121111
Neftochimic911131111121313141312131213131313131313131212111212
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa710111213131414121213121312101212121212121313131313
Montana812121314141212131414141414141414141414141414141414
Source: en.bulgarian-football.com

Results by round
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
BeroeLWWLWWDLLLLWDLDLWDDWLLLWWW
Botev PlovdivDLWLWLWWDWLDLLLLWLWWLDWDLW
Cherno MoreWWDWLLLDWWWWLDWDLWDLLWDDWW
CSKA SofiaWLWDWLWWDDWLLWDWWDWWWDLWDL
Dunav RuseDWWWWWDLLDDLWLWLWLLLWDWDDD
MontanaDLLLLLWLLDLLWLLLLLDLLWLLLL
NeftohimicDLLWLLLLLWDLWDLLLWLWDDWWLL
Levski SofiaDDWWWWWWWDWDWWLLWWWLDDWLWL
Lokomotiv Gorna OryahovitsaDLDLLLLLWWLWLDWDLDDLDLLLLW
Lokomotiv PlovdivDDWLDLWWLLDWDWWWWLDWDLWDDL
LudogoretsWWLWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWDWWDWWDW
Pirin BlagievgradLWLDLWLWWLLDLDLWLDLWWWLWLW
Slavia SofiaLLLLWWLDWLWLLLDWLWDLWLLLWD
VereyaDWLWLWLLLLDDWWDWLLDLLWDLWL
Source: bulgarian-football.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Championship round

Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LUD CSK LEV DUN LPL CHM
1 Ludogorets Razgrad (C) 36 25 8 3 87 28 +59 83 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round — 1–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 4–0
2 CSKA Sofia[lower-alpha 1] 36 19 10 7 51 21 +30 67 1–1 — 3–0 2–0 0–0 3–1
3 Levski Sofia (O) 36 18 9 9 50 31 +19 63 Qualification for the European play-off final 1–3 0–3 — 1–1 5–0 2–2
4 Dunav Ruse[lower-alpha 1] 36 15 10 11 46 44 +2 55 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round 2–2 1–0 0–1 — 2–3 1–0
5 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 36 14 10 12 50 52 −2 52 0–3 1–2 2–1 3–4 — 2–1
6 Cherno More Varna 36 13 8 15 39 45 −6 47 1–3 0–1 0–1 1–2 3–2 —
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[72]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
  1. On 29 May 2017 a UEFA letter to the Bulgarian Football Union declared that CSKA Sofia were not allowed to compete in European tournaments for the following two seasons as they were considered to have been re-formed as a new club and thus did not pass the "three-year rule".[67] As this decision was appealed by CSKA Sofia, the Bulgarian Football Union granted a license to them subject to legal proceedings.[68][69][70] A few hours prior to the Europa League first qualifying round draw, UEFA replaced them by Dunav Ruse, the fourth-placed team of the league.[71]

Positions by round

Below the positions per round are shown. As teams did not all start with an equal number of points, the initial pre-playoffs positions are also given.

Team ╲ RoundInitial12345678910
Ludogorets Razgrad11111111111
CSKA Sofia33332222222
Levski Sofia22223333333
Dunav Ruse65455544544
Lokomotiv Plovdiv56666666455
Cherno More44544455666
Source: bulgarian-football.com

Relegation round

Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation VER BOT SLA MON
1 Vereya 32 13 6 13 31 40 −9 45 Qualification for the European play-off quarter-finals — 3–1 0–1 1–0
2 Botev Plovdiv 32 13 5 14 51 50 +1 44 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1] 0–1 — 3–1 7–1
3 Slavia Sofia (O) 32 11 4 17 37 55 −18 37 Qualification for the relegation play-offs 0–1 0–3 — 1–0
4 Montana (R) 32 4 3 25 24 66 −42 15 2–3 2–1 3–4 —
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[72]
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Botev Plovdiv qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 Bulgarian Cup.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation BSZ PIR NEF LGO
1 Beroe 32 12 8 12 35 33 +2 44 Qualification for the European play-off quarter-finals — 1–1 3–0 2–3
2 Pirin Blagoevgrad 32 12 7 13 41 44 −3 43 1–1 — 2–1 1–1
3 Neftochimic (R) 32 8 7 17 33 47 −14 31 Qualification for the relegation play-offs 0–0 0–3 — 4–1
4 Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa (R) 32 7 9 16 32 51 −19 30 0–1 4–3 1–1 —
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[72]
(R) Relegated

European play-offs

Bracket
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
                
16 and 20 May
Pirin Blagoevgrad101
Vereya11 2
 
15 and 19 May
 
Botev Plovdiv314
Beroe02 2
 
27 and 30 May
 
Vereya––—
Botev Plovdiv–– —
4 June
Levski Sofia1 (9)
Vereya1 (8)

European play-off quarter-finals
Botev Plovdiv3–0Beroe
  • Kossoko 14'
  • Viana 45'
  • Vutov 81'
 Report
Attendance: 1,700
Referee: Angel Angelov (Sofia)
Beroe2–1Botev Plovdiv
 Report Vutov 64'
Attendance: 850
Referee: Dragomir Draganov (Varna)
Pirin Blagoevgrad1–1Vereya
Tsvetkov 81' Report Bandalovski 90+3'
Attendance: 650
Referee: Stanislav Stavrov (Veliko Tarnovo)
Vereya1–0Pirin Blagoevgrad
Kaloyanov 44' Report
Attendance: 180
Referee: Vladimir Valkov (Plovdiv)

European play-off semi-finals
VereyaNot PlayedBotev Plovdiv
Botev PlovdivNot PlayedVereya

Since Botev Plovdiv qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 Bulgarian Cup, the semi-finals were not held and Vereya qualified automatically for the play-off final.

European play-off final
Levski Sofia1–1 (a.e.t.)Vereya
Kraev 44' Report Bandalovski 90+3'
Penalties
 9–8
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Stefan Apostolov (Simitli)

Relegation play-offs

Bracket
First roundSecond roundThird round
                      
Match 1
Montana112
Neftochimic32 5
 
Match 2
 
Lokomotiv GO011
Slavia Sofia31 4
 
Match 3
 
Neftochimic022
Slavia Sofia15 6
Match 4
Montana134
Lokomotiv GO10 1
Match 5
Neftochimic0
Vitosha Bistritsa1
 
Match 6
 
Montana1
Septemvri Sofia2
 
 
 
 
 
 

Winners of matches 3, 5 and 6 will play in the top division next season

First round
Montana1–3Neftochimic
Atanasov 90+3' Report Hazurov 16' (pen.), 55'
Romanov 21'
Attendance: 50
Neftochimic2–1Montana
Milanov 71'
Ivanov 80'		 Report Atanasov 24'
Attendance: 370
Referee: Stefan Apostolov (Simitli)
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa0–3Slavia Sofia
Report Dimitrov 45', 62'
Serderov 58'
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Nikola Popov (Sofia)
Slavia Sofia1–1Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
Omar 29' Report Kirev 38' (o.g.)
Attendance: 90
Referee: Ivaylo Stoyanov (Petrich)

Second round
Neftochimic0–1Slavia Sofia
Report Yomov 9'
Attendance: 700
Referee: Dragomir Draganov (Varna)
Slavia Sofia5–2Neftochimic
 Report
Attendance: 130
Referee: Nikola Popov (Sofia)
Montana1–1Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
Atanasov 17' Report Kifouéti 25'
Attendance: 170
Referee: Georgi Dimitrov (Sofia)
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa0–3Montana
Report
Attendance: 800
Referee: Ivaylo Stoyanov (Petrich)

Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa are relegated to the Second League.

Third round
Neftochimic0–1Vitosha Bistritsa
Report Otofe 58'
Attendance: 350
Montana1–2Septemvri Sofia
Iliev 67' Report
Attendance: 200
Referee: Nikola Popov (Sofia)

Neftochimic and Montana are relegated to the Second League.

Season statistics
Round Goal of the week Club Save of the week Club
1 Portugal Diogo Viana vs Slavia CSKA Sofia
2 Bulgaria Aleksandar Vasilev vs Slavia Beroe Bulgaria Hristo Ivanov vs Cherno More Montana
3 Portugal Diogo Viana vs Neftochimic CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Vladislav Stoyanov vs Levski Sofia Ludogorets
4 Bulgaria Georgi Kostadinov vs Slavia Levski Sofia Greece Antonis Stergiakis vs Levski Sofia Slavia
5 Bulgaria Bozhidar Kraev vs Vereya Levski Sofia Bulgaria Georgi Petkov vs Montana Slavia
6 Bulgaria Anton Ognyanov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav Bulgaria Martin Lukov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav
7 Bulgaria Dimitar Pirgov vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Levski Sofia Bulgaria Blagoy Makendzhiev vs Dunav Beroe
8 Bulgaria Ventsislav Hristov vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Neftohimic Bulgaria Martin Lukov vs Botev Plovdiv Dunav
9 Bulgaria Ivan Minchev vs Vereya Slavia Serbia Bojan Jorgačević vs Dunav Levski Sofia
10 Bulgaria Todor Nedelev vs Beroe Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Nikolay Bankov vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
11 Spain Añete vs Beroe Levski Sofia Bulgaria Hristo Ivanov vs CSKA Sofia Montana
12 Bulgaria Atanas Zehirov vs Montana Beroe Serbia Bojan Jorgačević vs Botev Plovdiv Levski Sofia
13 Ghana Carlos Ohene vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Beroe Bulgaria Blagoy Makendzhiev vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Beroe
14 Bulgaria Dimitar Pirgov vs Montana Levski Sofia Bulgaria Krasimir Kostov vs Cherno More Pirin Blagoevgrad
15 Brazil Gustavo Campanharo vs Botev Plovdiv Ludogorets Morocco Yassine El Kharroubi vs Levski Sofia Lokomotiv Plovdiv
16 Bulgaria Stanislav Kostov vs Dunav Pirin Blagoevgrad Serbia Bojan Jorgačević vs Ludogorets Levski Sofia
17 Morocco Mehdi Bourabia vs Slavia Levski Sofia Morocco Yassine El Kharroubi vs Cherno More Lokomotiv Plovdiv
18 Spain Añete vs Vereya Levski Sofia Bulgaria Nikolay Bankov vs CSKA Sofia Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
19 Bulgaria Vladislav Uzunov vs Beroe Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Bulgaria Martin Lukov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav
20 Bulgaria Anton Karachanakov vs Dunav Beroe Bulgaria Ivan Čvorović vs Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Botev Plovdiv
21 Bulgaria Ivan Minchev vs Cherno More Slavia
22 Bulgaria Marcelinho vs Neftohimic Ludogorets Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev vs Ludogorets Neftochimic
23 Czech Republic David Jablonský vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia Bulgaria Nikolay Krastev vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia
24 Bulgaria Martin Raynov vs Levski Sofia Beroe Slovakia Dušan Perniš vs Levski Sofia Beroe
25 Bulgaria Bircent Karagaren vs Ludogorets Dunav Bulgaria Stanislav Antonov vs Ludogorets Dunav
26 Brazil Fernando Viana vs Montana Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Neftochimic
27 Spain Añete vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Levski Sofia Bulgaria Stanislav Antonov vs Ludogorets Dunav
28 Bulgaria Miroslav Budinov vs Cherno More Dunav Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev vs Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Neftohimic
29 France Omar Kossoko vs Slavia Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Stanislav Antonov vs Levski Sofia Dunav
30 Brazil Fernando Karanga vs Levski Sofia CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Georgi Kitanov vs Levski Sofia CSKA Sofia
31 Bulgaria Stanislav Kostov vs Beroe Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Stanislav Antonov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav
32 Morocco Mehdi Bourabia vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Levski Sofia Bulgaria Stefano Kunchev vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
33 Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetkov vs Vereya Pirin Blagoevgrad
34 Bulgaria Nikolay Minkov vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Cherno More Bulgaria Stanislav Antonov vs Levski Sofia Dunav
35 Bulgaria Samir Ayass vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Dunav
36 Slovakia Roman Procházka vs Cherno More Levski Sofia

Top scorers
As of matches played on 31 May 2017[73]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Romania Claudiu Keșerü Ludogorets Razgrad 22
2 Bulgaria Martin Kamburov Lokomotiv Plovdiv 17
3 Bulgaria Marcelinho Ludogorets Razgrad 14
4 Brazil João Paulo[n 1] Ludogorets Razgrad 13
Brazil Wanderson Ludogorets Razgrad
6 Bulgaria Todor Nedelev Botev Plovdiv 11
Bulgaria Daniel Mladenov Pirin Blagoevgrad
Democratic Republic of the Congo Junior Mapuku Beroe
9 Brazil Jonathan Cafu Ludogorets Razgrad 10
Bulgaria Stanislav Kostov Pirin Blagoevgrad
Slovakia Marek Kuzma Cherno More
Bulgaria Miroslav Budinov Dunav Ruse
Russia Serder Serderov Slavia Sofia
Bulgaria Bozhidar Kraev Levski Sofia
15 Bulgaria Ivaylo Dimitrov Slavia Sofia 9
16 France Rahavi Kifouéti Lokomotiv GO 8
Slovakia Roman Procházka Levski Sofia
18 Nigeria Tunde Adeniji Levski Sofia 7
Bulgaria Steven Petkov Montana
Colombia Gustavo Culma CSKA Sofia
Bulgaria Branimir Kostadinov Dunav Ruse
Slovenia Dino Martinović Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Notes
  1. Including 12 goals for Botev Plovdiv.

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Brazil João PauloBotev PlovdivLokomotiv GO4–0[74]17 September 2016
Democratic Republic of the Congo Junior MapukuBeroeBotev Plovdiv3–4[75][76]16 October 2016
Romania Claudiu KeșerüLudogorets RazgradDunav Ruse5–3[3]28 October 2016
Romania Claudiu KeșerüLudogorets RazgradLokomotiv GO5–0[2]12 March 2017
Bulgaria Bozhidar Kraev4Levski SofiaLokomotiv Plovdiv5–0[77]9 April 2017
Note

4 Player scored 4 goals

Clean sheets
As of matches played on 31 May 2017[73]
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Bulgaria Georgi Kitanov CSKA Sofia 18
2 Serbia Bojan Jorgačević Levski Sofia 12
3 Bulgaria Martin Lukov Dunav Ruse 10
4 Bulgaria Blagoy Makendzhiev[nb 1] Pirin Blagoevgrad 9
Bulgaria Plamen Kolev Vereya
6 Bulgaria Vladislav Stoyanov Ludogorets Razgrad 8
Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev Neftochimic
8 Morocco Yassine El Kharroubi Lokomotiv Plovdiv 7
9 Czech Republic Přemysl Kovář Cherno More 5
Slovakia Dušan Perniš Beroe
Bulgaria Nikolay Krastev Levski Sofia
12 Bulgaria Ivan Karadzhov Vereya 4
Bulgaria Nikolay Bankov Lokomotiv GO
Bulgaria Ivan Čvorović Botev Plovdiv
Brazil Renan Ludogorets Razgrad
Bulgaria Stanislav Antonov Dunav Ruse
Notes
  1. Including 5 clean sheets for Beroe.

Transfers

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