Match Previews

Looking for a win after holding on for a draw in the first leg ... No new worries as only fringe players Dimov (sp)(def), Benzouakane (sp)(def), Mitrev (sp)(gk) and Minev (sp)(def) remain sidelined ... Morale is high after a crucial league win against Litex ... Hristov (r)(att) back from a ban and is set to start ... Levski entertain Slovakian outfit Zilina on Thursday looking to claim a place in the group stage as they look to brush off the disappointment of the Champions League exit. The shameful defeat against BATE Borisov is still hanging on the shoulders of the players but they will make the fans forget at least a little bit if they defeat the Slovakians on Thursday. Levski battled hard to claim a favourable 1:1 draw in the first leg and now will definitely expect to claim a win at home. The response after falling behind in the first leg was an impressive one as the team really pushed on and scored a deserved equaliser through Joazinho. The team then suffered a poor 1:0 defeat at Lokomotiv Sofia in the league and talk of a crisis resurfaced yet again. However, the spirits ahead of the big game against Zilina are high thanks to a crucial 2:0 victory at home to Litex in the last league game. Levski needed that win to instill some confidence into the beleaguered players and now they will approach the game with much more confidence. The manager Emil Velev rang the changes for that game as Georgi Ivanov was left on the bench and Darko Tasevski was handed a recall. The Macedonian turned out to the hero of the game by scoring both goals and is now set to start again. Velev is expected to name the same 11 with Joazinho, Nikolay Dimtrov and Georgi Ivanov all sitting on the bench. Georgi Hristov missed the first leg because of a ban but is now set to occupy the place of the lone striker. There are no new injury worries for the team as they are missing only the fringe players Blagomir Mitrev, Martin Dimov, Chakibe Benzoukane and Veselin Minev. Youssef Rabeh has been struggling with a calf problem for the past two weeks that prevented him from training but he will play with pain-killing injections. The squad is in good shape and will aim to earn a win against the Slovakians that will settle the nerves around the club.