NEC Nijmegen 1-1 Levski Sofia – a level-score draw in the UEFA Europa League.
The UEFA Europa League League Phase fixture took place on 15 October 2026 at the Goffertstadion in Nijmegen. Home side NEC Nijmegen hosted Bulgarian club Levski Sofia in front of a supportive local crowd, each team looking to secure a valuable point in the competition.
How it unfolded
The match opened with both sides probing for openings, but the first notable incident came in the 24th minute when NEC midfielder Noé Lebreton was shown a yellow card for a bad foul. The booking did not alter the flow of play, and the teams continued to create chances.
Levski Sofia broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. Reinaldo received a pass from Svetoslav Vutsov and unleashed a right-footed shot from the centre of the box that curled into the bottom right corner, putting the visitors ahead 1-0. The goal was a clear highlight and shifted the momentum towards Levski.
NEC Nijmegen responded after the break, and the equaliser arrived in the 64th minute. Tjaronn Chery struck with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box, directing the ball to the bottom left corner to level the score at 1-1. The goal restored balance and ensured the match finished in a draw.
Standout performers
- Reinaldo (Levski Sofia) – scored the opening goal with a well-timed strike from the centre of the box.
- Svetoslav Vutsov (Levski Sofia) – provided the decisive assist for Reinaldo’s goal.
- Tjaronn Chery (NEC Nijmegen) – netted the equaliser with a composed finish from the centre of the box.
Match facts
- Final score: NEC Nijmegen 1-1 Levski Sofia
- Scorers: Reinaldo (Levski Sofia) 35’, Tjaronn Chery (NEC Nijmegen) 64’
- Bookings: Noé Lebreton (NEC Nijmegen) – yellow card, 24’
- Venue: Goffertstadion, Nijmegen
What it means
The shared points mean both NEC Nijmegen and Levski Sofia leave the League Phase with one point each from this encounter, keeping their European campaigns alive as they look to build on the result in upcoming fixtures.
