Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria (15/10/2024)

DOMESTIC

• Sadly for Northern Ireland, there has not been a win over Bulgaria since. The two sides did not meet again for 22 years, with Sammy McIlroy’s side losing 4-3 in a World Cup qualifier in Sofia in 2001. A young Martin Petrov, later to join Manchester City, scored twice. • The next two games were both 1-0 home defeats for Northern Ireland - a World Cup qualifier in September 2001 and a friendly in February 2008. • When Bulgaria came to Windsor Park in March 2021 for a World Cup qualifier it was played behind closed doors amid the Covid pandemic and finished in a goalless draw, with Steven Davis breaking the British caps record as he earned his 126th cap. • The reverse fixture ended in a 2-1 defeat for Northern Ireland, with Todor Nedelev’s second half double ending any faint hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

• Bulgaria’s top flight is the First Professional Football League, more commonly known as the Parva Liga or Bulgarian First League, and is contested by 16 clubs. • The country’s first championship was established in 1924, but for many years was contested as a knock-out tournament and later as a round-robin. A league format has been used since 1948, although change has been a constant. • The modern-day version of the league was inaugurated in 2000, initially with 14 clubs, expanding to 16 for the 2022-23 season. • CSKA Sofia have a record 31 titles, putting them ahead of city rivals Levski Sofia’s 26. • Teams based in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, have claimed 70 titles between them. • However, Ludogorets Razgrad have emerged as the dominant force in recent years, and have won 13 straight titles, starting with their maiden season in the top flight in 2011-12. • CSKA have twice reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, most recently in 1982.

NORTHERN IRELAND LOST 1-0 AGAINST BULGARIA IN LEAGUE C GROUP 3 IN THE UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE LAST MONTH. THE GAME WAS PLAYED IN PLOVDIV

IRISHFA.COM

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