Summary
The First Professional Football League (BUL1) is the top professional league in the Bulgarian football system. At completion of the 2018-2019 regular season, the top 6 teams participate in the BUL1 Championship Group phase. Championship Group results determine how the teams qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 1st place 2018-2019 BUL1 Championship Group team
- 2019-2020 UEFA Europa League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 2nd place 2018-2019 BUL1 Championship Group teams
- Winner of 2018-2019 BUL1 UEFA Europa League Playoffs
The winner of the 2018-2019 Bulgarian Cup, typically a BUL1 team, also receives a berth in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the 2019-2020 UEFA Europa League.
Leagues Pyramid - Bulgaria
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| BUL1 | First Professional Football League | 14 |
| BUL2 | Second Professional Football League | 16 |
| BUL3 | Third Amatuer Football League | 63 |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| Regular 20 Jul 2018 - 17 Mar 2019 | Champ/Releg Rounds 29 Mar 2019 - 24 May 2019 | UEFAEL Playoffs 7 May 2019 - 28 May 2019 | 14: BUL1 (12 minimum), BUL2 (2 maximum) |
Season Format
The 2018-2019 BUL1 consists of a double round robin format where each BUL1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 13 BUL1 teams, for a total of 26 regular season matches. At the end of regular season, the top 6 teams play in the Championship Round, while the bottom 8 teams play in the Relegation Round. In the Championship round, each team plays Home/Away matches against the other 5 teams for 10 more matches (36 total). In the Relegation Round, the 8 teams are split into 2 groups of 4 where they play Home/Away matches against the other 3 teams in their group for 6 more matches (32 total). Table ranking ties are broken by (1) head-to-head points, (2) head-to-head goal difference, (3) head-to-head goals scored, (4) head-to-head away goals scored, (5) goal difference, (6) total goals scored, (7) Fairplay ranking, then (8) a draw.
Playoffs
Upon completion of the 2018-2019 BUL1 Championship and Relegation Rounds, the 1st and 2nd place teams in each Relegation Round group play in the UEFA Europa League Playoffs. The winner of this playoff plays 1 match against the 3rd place team from the Championship Round.
Relegation
At the end of the 2018-2019 BUL1 Relegation Round, the 3rd and 4th place team in each group enter into a Relegation Playoff with the 2nd and 3rd place teams from BUL2. 3 winning teams from the Relegation Playoff are promoted to the 2019-2020 BUL1 and the 3 losing teams will be relegated to BUL2.
More Info...
UEFAEL Playoffs - Final
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
 | 10 | SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo | Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov |
UEFAEL Playoffs - 2nd Round
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | PFC Slavia Sofia | 12 | SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo |
| 20.05.19 |  | 10 | SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo | Slavia Stadium |
| 23.05.19 | | 20 | PFC Slavia Sofia | Stadion Ivaylo |
UEFAEL Playoffs - 1st Round
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | POFC Botev Vratsa | 01 | PFC Slavia Sofia |
| 07.05.19 |  | 00 | PFC Slavia Sofia | Stadion Hristo Botev (Vratsa) |
| 10.05.19 | | 10 | POFC Botev Vratsa | Slavia Stadium |
| Aggregate | PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 03 | SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo |
| 07.05.19 |  | 02 | SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo | Stadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) |
| 10.05.19 | | 10 | PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Stadion Ivaylo |
Relegation Playoffs - Round 3
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | PFC Septemvri Sofia (BUL1) | 01 | FK Arda Kardzhali (BUL2) |
| 29.05.19 |  | 01 | FK Arda Kardzhali | Stadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) | ||
| FK Arda Kardzhali is promoted to BUL1 | ||||||
| Aggregate | FK Vitosha Bistritsa (BUL1) | 30 | PFC Montana (BUL2) |
| 30.05.19 |  | 30 | PFC Montana | Stadion Vitosha (Bistritsa) | ||
| FK Vitosha Bistritsa stays in BUL1 | ||||||
Relegation Playoffs - Round 2
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | PFC Vereya Stara Zagora | 06 | FK Vitosha Bistritsa |
| 19.05.19 |  | 03 | FK Vitosha Bistritsa | Trace Arena (Stara Zagora) | ||
| Match awarded 3-0 to FK Vitosha Bistritsa by FA decision. | ||||||
| 22.05.19 | | 30 | PFC Vereya Stara Zagora | Stadion Vitosha (Bistritsa) | ||
| Match awarded 3-0 to FK Vitosha Bistritsa by FA decision. | ||||||
| Aggregate | FC Dunav Ruse | 33 | PFC Septemvri Sofia |
| 19.05.19 |  | 01 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | Gradski stadion (Ruse) |
| 22.05.19 | | 23 | FC Dunav Ruse | Stadion Vasil Levski |
Relegation Playoffs - Round 1
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | FC Dunav Ruse (BUL1) | 10 | FK Vitosha Bistritsa (BUL1) |
| 08.05.19 | | 00 | FK Vitosha Bistritsa | Gradski stadion (Ruse) |
| 13.05.19 | | 01 | FC Dunav Ruse | Stadion Vitosha (Bistritsa) |
| Aggregate | PFC Vereya Stara Zagora (BUL1) | 06 | PFC Septemvri Sofia (BUL1) |
| 09.05.19 | | 03 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | Trace Arena (Stara Zagora) | ||
| Match awarded 3-0 to PFC Septemvri Sofia by FA decision. | ||||||
| 14.05.19 | | 30 | PFC Vereya Stara Zagora | Stadion Vasil Levski | ||
| Match awarded 3-0 to PFC Septemvri Sofia by FA decision. | ||||||
2nd Stage
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | PFC Ludogorets Razgrad | 36 | 23 -10-3 | 79 | - | 67 | 19 | 48 | 18 | 13 -4-1 | 43 | 37 | 8 | 29 | 18 | 10 -6-2 | 36 | 30 | 11 | 19 |
| 2 | PFC CSKA Sofia | 36 | 24 -6-6 | 78 | - | 57 | 17 | 40 | 18 | 14 -3-1 | 45 | 36 | 7 | 29 | 18 | 10 -3-5 | 33 | 21 | 10 | 11 |
| 3 | PFC Levski Sofia | 36 | 20 -6-10 | 66 | - | 64 | 37 | 27 | 18 | 10 -3-5 | 33 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 10 -3-5 | 33 | 27 | 18 | 9 |
| 4 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | 36 | 16 -10-10 | 58 | - | 42 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 11 -4-3 | 37 | 29 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 5 -6-7 | 21 | 13 | 20 | -7 |
| 5 | PFC Cherno More Varna | 36 | 15 -7-14 | 52 | - | 44 | 51 | -7 | 18 | 11 -3-4 | 36 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 18 | 4 -4-10 | 16 | 21 | 34 | -13 |
| 6 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | 36 | 14 -8-14 | 50 | - | 44 | 36 | 8 | 18 | 9 -2-7 | 29 | 28 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 5 -6-7 | 21 | 16 | 19 | -3 |
| Relegation Group A | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 36 | 18 -6-12 | 60 | - | 44 | 32 | 12 | 18 | 12 -3-3 | 39 | 28 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 6 -3-9 | 21 | 16 | 20 | -4 |
| 2 | POFC Botev Vratsa | 34 | 13 -7-14 | 46 | - | 49 | 45 | 4 | 17 | 8 -3-6 | 27 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 17 | 5 -4-8 | 19 | 25 | 29 | -4 |
| 3 | PFC Slavia Sofia | 36 | 12 -10-14 | 46 | - | 39 | 44 | -5 | 18 | 7 -6-5 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 18 | 5 -4-9 | 19 | 17 | 25 | -8 |
| 4 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | 36 | 12 -6-18 | 42 | - | 41 | 61 | -20 | 18 | 7 -3-8 | 24 | 22 | 28 | -6 | 18 | 5 -3-10 | 18 | 19 | 33 | -14 |
| 5 | FK Vitosha Bistritsa | 36 | 12 -5-19 | 41 | - | 32 | 50 | -18 | 18 | 7 -3-8 | 21 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 18 | 5 -2-11 | 17 | 11 | 26 | -15 |
| 6 | PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 34 | 10 -8-16 | 38 | - | 37 | 40 | -3 | 17 | 6 -3-8 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 17 | 4 -5-8 | 17 | 14 | 19 | -5 |
| 7 | FC Dunav Ruse | 36 | 9 -9-18 | 36 | - | 40 | 58 | -18 | 18 | 6 -6-6 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 18 | 3 -3-12 | 12 | 19 | 39 | -20 |
| 8 | PFC Vereya Stara Zagora | 36 | 0 -6-30 | 6 | - | 13 | 93 | -80 | 18 | 0 -6-12 | 6 | 10 | 35 | -25 | 18 | 0 -0-18 | 0 | 3 | 58 | -55 |
UEFAEL Playoffs UEFACL UEFAEL Relegation Playoff | ||||||||||||||||||||
1st Stage
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | PFC Ludogorets Razgrad | 26 | 19 -5-2 | 62 | - | 53 | 14 | 39 | 13 | 11 -1-1 | 34 | 29 | 6 | 23 | 13 | 8 -4-1 | 28 | 24 | 8 | 16 |
| 2 | PFC CSKA Sofia | 26 | 18 -3-5 | 57 | - | 47 | 14 | 33 | 13 | 11 -1-1 | 34 | 32 | 7 | 25 | 13 | 7 -2-4 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 8 |
| 3 | PFC Levski Sofia | 26 | 17 -3-6 | 54 | - | 51 | 24 | 27 | 13 | 9 -2-2 | 29 | 30 | 11 | 19 | 13 | 8 -1-4 | 25 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| 4 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | 26 | 13 -6-7 | 45 | - | 39 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 8 -2-3 | 26 | 25 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 5 -4-4 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 2 |
| 5 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | 26 | 12 -6-8 | 42 | - | 32 | 23 | 9 | 13 | 9 -2-2 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 16 | 13 | 3 -4-6 | 13 | 10 | 17 | -7 |
| 6 | PFC Cherno More Varna | 26 | 12 -6-8 | 42 | - | 36 | 34 | 2 | 13 | 9 -2-2 | 29 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 3 -4-6 | 13 | 17 | 22 | -5 |
| 7 | SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 26 | 12 -4-10 | 40 | - | 30 | 27 | 3 | 13 | 8 -2-3 | 26 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 4 -2-7 | 14 | 10 | 15 | -5 |
| 8 | PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 26 | 10 -5-11 | 35 | - | 32 | 28 | 4 | 13 | 6 -1-6 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 4 -4-5 | 16 | 12 | 13 | -1 |
| 9 | PFC Slavia Sofia | 26 | 9 -6-11 | 33 | - | 28 | 31 | -3 | 13 | 5 -4-4 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 4 -2-7 | 14 | 13 | 19 | -6 |
| 10 | POFC Botev Vratsa | 26 | 9 -4-13 | 31 | - | 29 | 40 | -11 | 13 | 6 -1-6 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 13 | 3 -3-7 | 12 | 14 | 25 | -11 |
| 11 | FK Vitosha Bistritsa | 26 | 7 -4-15 | 25 | - | 17 | 39 | -22 | 13 | 4 -3-6 | 15 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 13 | 3 -1-9 | 10 | 6 | 21 | -15 |
| 12 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | 26 | 6 -3-17 | 21 | - | 23 | 52 | -29 | 13 | 4 -2-7 | 14 | 12 | 22 | -10 | 13 | 2 -1-10 | 7 | 11 | 30 | -19 |
| 13 | FC Dunav Ruse | 26 | 5 -5-16 | 20 | - | 25 | 47 | -22 | 13 | 5 -4-4 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 0 -1-12 | 1 | 8 | 32 | -24 |
| 14 | PFC Vereya Stara Zagora | 26 | 0 -6-20 | 6 | - | 12 | 60 | -48 | 13 | 0 -6-7 | 6 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 13 | 0 -0-13 | 0 | 3 | 42 | -39 |
Championship Round Relegation Round | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results
 | 41 | PFC Cherno More Varna | Ludogorets Arena |
 | 10 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | Balgarska Armia Stadium |
 | 31 | PFC Levski Sofia | Beroe Stadium |
| 00 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | Ticha Stadium |
| 02 | CSKA Sofia | Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov |
| 02 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Sporten kompleks Botev 1912 |
| 01 | CSKA Sofia | Beroe Stadium |
| 11 | PFC Levski Sofia | Ludogorets Arena |
| 10 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | Ticha Stadium |
| 51 | PFC Cherno More Varna | Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov |
| 00 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Balgarska Armia Stadium |
| 01 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | Sporten kompleks Botev 1912 |
| 13 | PFC Levski Sofia | Sporten kompleks Botev 1912 |
| 13 | CSKA Sofia | Ticha Stadium |
| 11 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Beroe Stadium |
| 01 | PFC Slavia Sofia | Gradski stadion (Ruse) |
| 12 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | Stadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) |
| 20 | FK Vitosha Bistritsa | Stadion Ivaylo |
| 16 | POFC Botev Vratsa | Trace Arena (Stara Zagora) |
| 20 | CSKA Sofia | Sporten kompleks Botev 1912 |