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Levski Sofia - Art. Petrzalka
Levski take stock of home comforts
PFC Levski Sofia will be looking to continue their formidable
UEFA Cup home form when they welcome FC Artmedia to the Vassil Levski stadium for the second leg of their Round of 32 tie. An early Emil Angelov strike proved enough to give Stanimir Stoilov's side their first away victory in this season's competition in the first leg, as Artmedia endured a difficult first outing in the
UEFA Cup after switching from the
UEFA Champions League. However, that impressive campaign saw the Slovakian side earn a memorable victory at FC Porto and they could provide a stiff test to Levski.
• Levski had a mixed run in
UEFA Cup Group F, winning both home fixtures and losing twice on their travels. A last-minute goal from substitute Emil Angelov ensured they opened their account with a 2-1 victory against FC Dinamo Bucuresti. Valeri Domovchiyski repeated the feat in added time at the end of their next match at reigning champions PFC CSKA Moskva, but that was not enough to avert a 2-1 defeat. Levski then beat Marseille at home, though the French side leapfrogged them at the top of the section when Levski lost their last game at SC Heerenveen.
• Artmedia kicked off their inaugural
UEFA Champions League group stage campaign against FC Internazionale Milano, losing 1-0. But they were soon off the mark in Group H, and in memorable fashion, as Peter Petráš, Ján Kozák and Balázs Borbély all scored as the Slovakian side came from two goals down away against 2003/04 European champions Porto. Back-to-back draws against Rangers FC followed and although they were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Inter on Matchday 5, a goalless draw with Porto secured a place in the
UEFA Cup - although victory would have sent the Slovakian side into the last 16 of the
UEFA Champions League.
• Still minnows on the European stage, Artmedia have never before faced a Bulgarian side in
UEFA competition, but Levski have encountered Slovakian opposition. The side were paired with ŠK Slovan Bratislava in the 1997/98
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, when a side that included Hristo Yovov went into the second leg having drawn the first encounter 1-1 draw at the Vassil Levski.
• Nikolai Todorov handed the visitors an early advantage in the Slovakian capital but Levski were undone by goals from Róbert Novák and Jozef Mužlay and were eliminated.