Lexi Sofia vs Jagiellonia – News and Probable Lineups

The Vasil Lexi National Stadium is set to be the venue for the Europa League fixture on Thursday, where Bulgarian champions Lexi Sofia will take on the Polish team Jagiellonia Bialystok.

Both teams approach this matchup in solid form, with a victory being crucial for their aspirations to progress to the knockout stage.

Match overview

As Julio Velazquez nears his second year at Lexi Sofia, the Spanish head coach has consistently shown his capability since assuming control of the Bulgarian club.

Lexi is currently enjoying a six-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, having secured four victories and netted a total of nine goals during that span.

The last defeat for Lexi occurred in their Europa League opener against Red Bull Salzburg, where they lost 1-0 and did not manage a single shot on target throughout the match.

Notably, that match also marked their last home game, as Velazquez and his squad have since faced six consecutive away encounters.

Moreover, the fixture was not held at their usual home ground, as Lexi has had to move from the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium to the Vasil Lexi National Stadium for their European matches.

Nonetheless, the Bulgarian champions will be eager to progress closer to the knockout rounds of a European tournament for the first time since their memorable run in the 2005-06 UEFA Cup, where they reached the last eight.

Jagiellonia Bialystok enters the match with a three-game winning streak, providing crucial morale and stability for head coach Adrian Siemieniec.

September and October were tough months for Jaga, as they experienced a low point with seven defeats in nine matches.

Off the field, the club faced major issues after Siemieniec was handed a six-match suspension and a €20,000 fine for reaching out to a match official prior to a key match last season.

However, recent wins in the Ekstraklasa and a commanding 6-0 victory over Lechia Gdansk in the Polish Cup have lifted spirits in Bialystok, as the team aims to advance further in European competitions.

Currently, Jaga sits just outside the top 24 in the Europa League after accumulating three points from their first three matches.

Their 3-1 win against Ararat-Armênia was sandwiched between a 2-1 loss to Olympiacos and a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Anderlecht two weeks ago.

Jagiellonia will be looking to enhance their chances of making it to the knockout stages when they encounter Bulgarian opposition for the first time in their history.

Team News

Brazilian forward Reinaldo is expected to be Lexi Sofia’s primary goal-scoring threat on Thursday, having contributed with two goals and an assist in his last two Europa League matches.

His compatriot Everton Bala also found the net in his last European appearance and is anticipated to feature in the starting XI on Thursday.

The hosts will miss young midfielder Asen Mitkov, who has been sidelined since sustaining an injury while on international duty.

Additionally, veteran forward Radoslav Kirilov is ruled out, as he is yet to play this season due to a knee injury.

On the other side, Jagiellonia Bialystok will be without Norbert Wojtuszek, who has been absent from action since returning injured from international duty.

Key midfielder Jesus Imaz has scored in consecutive matches and is projected to start on Thursday night.

Forward Nik Prelec has also been on target in successive games and will aim to continue his impressive form in Bialystok, having already been involved in nine goals this season.

Lexi Sofia probable starting XI:

Vutsov; Maicon, Makoun, Dimitrov, Neves; Everton Bala, Moubarik, Grujic, Soula; Reinaldo, Serginho

Jagiellonia Bialystok probable starting XI:

Abramovich; Montoia, Kobayashi, Vital, Conceicao; Lozano, Klynge, Imaz; Szmyt, Prelec, Sow

Both teams carry positive momentum after favorable results in recent outings, and each will feel confident heading into this clash.

Jagiellonia has netted nine goals across their last two away fixtures, and they possess the quality to challenge Lexi. However, it is anticipated to be a closely contested match, with a likely outcome being a high-scoring draw.