99th season of top-tier football league in Bulgaria
Football league season
The 2022–23 First Professional Football League , also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[ 1] was the 99th season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system , the 75th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 7th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season began on 8 July 2022. Due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup , the last round before the league's winter break was held on 11–12 November. The league resumed on 11 February 2023.
Ludogorets Razgrad were the 11-time defending champions. On 7 June 2023, they won their 12th straight title in a dramatic final matchday, winning 1–0 away at Cherno More and finishing one point above second-placed CSKA Sofia .[ 2]
Teams
From this season, the league was expanded from 14 to 16 teams, with 12 teams returning from last season, three teams promoted from the 2021–22 Second League , as well as the winner of the promotion/relegation playoff .
The first team to earn promotion from the Second League was Spartak Varna , who mathematically secured a top three finish after winning their game against Sozopol on May 5, coupled with Etar losing to CSKA 1948 II .[ 3] Spartak return to the top level after a 13-year absence.
The second team to earn promotion from the Second League was Septemvri Sofia , who mathematically secured a top three finish after drawing with Sportist Svoge on May 9. Septemvri Sofia return to the top level after a 3-year absence.[ 4]
The third team to earn promotion from the Second League was Hebar , who secured a top three finish in the very last round of the Second League, on May 21. Hebar return to the top level of Bulgarian football after a 21-year absence.[ 5]
Additionally, Botev Vratsa managed to defeat Etar with a score of 3–2 in the promotion/relegation playoff, thus maintaining its place in the First League.[ 6]
Stadia and locations
Arda
Beroe
Botev Plovdiv
Botev Vratsa
Arena Arda
Beroe
Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev
Capacity: 11,114
Capacity: 12,128
Capacity: 18,777
Capacity: 6,417
Cherno More
CSKA 1948
CSKA Sofia
Hebar
Ticha
Bistritsa
Balgarska Armia
Georgi Benkovski
Capacity: 6,250
Capacity: 2,500
Capacity: 22,995
Capacity: 13,128
Levski Sofia
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov
Lokomotiv
Capacity: 25,000
Capacity: 8,610
Lokomotiv Sofia
Ludogorets
Lokomotiv
Huvepharma Arena
Capacity: 22,000
Capacity: 10,422
Pirin Blagoevgrad
Septemvri Sofia
Slavia Sofia
Spartak Varna
Hristo Botev
Vasil Levski National Stadium
Aleksandar Shalamanov
Spartak
Capacity: 7,500
Capacity: 43,230
Capacity: 25,556
Capacity: 7,500
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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
Regular season
League table
Source:
soccerway ,
Bulgarian Football 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.
[ 67]
Results
Source:
Bulgarian Football Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Results by round
Championship round
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
Source:
Soccerway ,
Bulgarian Football 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.
[ 68] (C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners
Notes:
^ a b Head-to-head points: Lokomotiv Plovdiv 3, Cherno More 3. Head-to-head goal difference: Lokomotiv Plovdiv +2, Cherno More -2.
Europa Conference League round
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
Source:
Soccerway ,
Bulgarian Football 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.
[ 69] Notes:
^ a b Head-to-head points: Arda 7, Slavia Sofia 4.
Relegation round
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
Source:
Soccerway ,
Bulgarian Football 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.
[ 70] (O) Play-off winners;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ a b c Head-to-head points: Hebar 11, Botev Vratsa 10, Beroe 4.
Europa Conference League play-off
Season statistics
Top scorers
As of 11 June 2023 [ 71]
Clean sheets
As of 11 June 2023 [ 72]
Hat-tricks
As of 11 June 2023
Note
4 Player scored 4 goals
References
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2024–25 clubs Stadiums Former clubs* Former clubs (from Macedonia & Thrace ) Competition Associated competitions Seasons * In the brackets is the number of seasons in the league.
Domestic leagues Domestic cups League cups Supercups UEFA competitions International competitions