Levski blew a great chance to enter the UEFA Cup groups stage after suffering a shock 1:0 defeat at home to Slovakian outfit Zilina. After a 1:1 draw in the first leg, the hosts were expected to seal a safe passage but produced a dire display to bow out of Europe in shameful manner. Adauto D Silva scored the score for the visitors on the hour mark and now they will be anticipating their new challenges in the groups.

Emil Velev decided to shuffle the pack even though the team defeated Litex in the last league game. Yet, Georgi Ivanov was selected ahead of Georgi Hristov, who was back from a ban, while Joazinho came in for Ze Soares in midfield. The Slovakians were missing the suspended Robert Jez and Ondrej Sourek came in. Lukas Tesak also started as Adam Vladavic was only fit to make the bench.

The hosts pushed on early in the game despite having too many chances. Darko Tasevski fired just wide of the mark from 25 yards but apart from that Zilina were keeping things tight. Yet, they looked anonymous up front and it was the hosts who looked capable of scoring. Yet, Ivanov missed a glaring chance midway through the half after a low cross from Joazinho presented him with a clear chance but he scooped his effort well wide with the goal at his mercy. Levski looked disjointed and getting more and more edgy after that miss and a feeling of anxiety was coming after them. The only chance for the rest of the half was a Rachide Tiberkanine strike that sailed wide of the mark.

Levski started the second half in aggressive manner and Tasevski headed straight at the keeper from point-blank range after a Joazinho cross. However, the players were unable to really push on for a goal that will settle their nerves and the visitors grew in confidence. They had a couple of dangerous runs before actually taking the lead 15 minutes into the second half. A tame cross was half cleared by the home defence and the ball fell perfectly to Adauto who drilled a powerful rising drive into the left corner to stun the home fans and players. Levski rushed into attack and had a half chance soon after as Ivanov powered a shot straight at the keeper. As the hosts were throwing any caution to the wind, they became exposed at the back and Peter Styvar missed a great chance by drilling an effort wide when sent clear. Levski had their big chance seven minutes from time when a Tasevski strike was only parried by the keeper and the rebound fell to Jean Carlos who only needed to tap the ball into the empty net but he turned it awfully wide and the chance went begging. The hosts' hopes for a late equaliser were kept alive when Petkov denied Styvar when he was one-on-one with him, but the hosts were not able to construct a decent move and crashed to a dreadful defeat.

Levski played the better football for much of the game but looked too anxious and jittery and this cost them the place in the groups. There are some hard months coming for the team after a disastrous Euro campaign but they will aim to bounce back next season. Zilina secured an unlikely victory after holding on well at the back and now they will aim to produce some shocks in the groups as well.