AP Sports Preview: Sportist Svoge vs. Hebar

SOFIA, Bulgaria (Interstat) — Sportist Svoge will host Hebar on Saturday, May 23, in a Bulgarian Second League match that carries playoff implications for both sides. The game is scheduled at Stadion Chavdar Tsvetkov in Svoge.

Hebar enters the contest with mixed form, having drawn 1-1 at home against Marek on May 15. That result extended a stretch of three matches without a win for the visitors, who have collected one victory in their last six outings. Hebar’s most recent win came May 10, a 1-0 decision at SFK Etar Veliko Tarnovo. Before that, they lost 2-1 at home to Ludogorets II on May 4 and fell 3-1 to Chernomorets on April 27. Hebar has struggled for consistency, posting a 0-2 loss at CSKA Sofia II on April 22, a scoreless draw at Dunav Ruse on April 4, and a 1-0 win over Vihren on March 28. Their other results include a 3-0 defeat at OFK Spartak Pleven (March 14), a 2-0 victory at FK Minyor Pernik (Feb. 21), a 3-2 win at Yantra 2019 (Feb. 15), and a 2-1 home loss to Ludogorets II on Dec. 12.

Sportist Svoge, meanwhile, are coming off a 1-0 loss at Chernomorets on May 15. That defeat snapped a brief upturn; they had beaten Pirin Blagoevgrad 2-0 at home on May 11. However, Svoge have been erratic, losing 3-0 at OFK Belasitsa Petrich on May 2 and falling 4-2 at Lokomotiv Sofia 1929 on April 19. Earlier results include a 1-0 home loss to FK Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa (March 29), a 1-0 win at FC Sevlievo (March 25), a 4-0 home defeat to FK Minyor Pernik (March 14), a 2-2 draw at Ludogorets II (Feb. 16), and a 3-1 home win over Marek on Dec. 7. Svoge also drew 0-0 at Pirin Blagoevgrad (Nov. 8) and lost 1-0 at home to OFK Belasitsa Petrich (Nov. 2).

Both teams sit in the middle of the Second League table and will be eager to gain momentum. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, a result that would reflect the clubs’ recent struggles to finish chances. Hebar has scored seven goals in their last six matches but has conceded 10, while Svoge have netted five and allowed 13 over the same span.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time. The referee assignment has not been announced.