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Levski catch CSKA in title race

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Monthly review: PFC Levski Sofia have overtaken PFC CSKA Sofia at the top of the Bulgarian Premier League thanks to a derby win over their city rivals.

UEFA Cup quarter-finalists PFC Levski Sofia are on the verge of a hugely impressive title comeback after leapfrogging PFC CSKA Sofia at the top of the Bulgarian Premier League with a 1-0 derby victory.

Penalty winner
Georgi Ivanov scored from the penalty spot early in the second half of the 2 April showdown at CSKA, part of Levski's run of six straight wins without conceding a goal. Such form has put Stanimir Stoilov's men on course for a 24th league championship.

Advantage gone
CSKA had started the second half of the season seven points clear of Levski, but a four-game winless streak reduced their advantage and Serbian coach Miodrag Ješić was sacked after the Levski defeat, making way for Plamen Markov.

Cup success
Markov, who led Bulgaria to the UEFA EURO 2004™ finals, began his second spell in charge with a 4-1 Bulgarian Cup quarter-final victory over PFC Beroe Stara Zagora and 2-0 league success against struggling PFC Pirin 1922. The cup seems to offer CSKA's best chance of silverware, with PFC Cherno More Varna, PFC Naftex Burgas and second-division PFC Shumen the other semi-finalists.

Battle for third
As Levski and CSKA contest the title, the race for third place and UEFA Cup qualification is also intensifying. PFC Lokomotiv Sofia, third for much the campaign, seem to have run out of steam, allowing PFC Litex Lovech to replace them. Litex's 3-1 home win against Lokomotiv on 9 April could prove crucial in the final reckoning.

Relegation fears
At the foot of the table, Naftex are struggling for survival after nine games without a victory. The seaside club have scored just once in five matches and, with eleven points altogether from 21 outings, lie six points from safety.

Slavkov exits
Apart from CSKA, one other team has changed coach as Angel Slavkov left PFC Rodopa Smolian last week. Former Bulgarian international Radoslav Zdravkov is tipped to get the job when a permanent successor is named.

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