The 2009-10 season of the Bulgarian A PFG (Professional Football Group) is the 86th season of top-tier football in Bulgaria. It began on 7 August 2009 with the game between Beroe and Lokomotiv Sofia. The last round will be on 30 May 2010. Levski Sofia are the defending champions.

[edit] Promotion and relegation from 2008–09

Belasitsa, Spartak Varna and Vihren were directly relegated for finishing in the bottom three places. Belasitsa ended a six-year stint in the Bulgarian top flight, while Spartak Varna were relegated for a record ninth time since the introduction of the A PFG, after three years. Vihren ended their four-year tenure in the A PFG, the club's first ever in the top division.

The relegated teams were replaced by Montana, champions of the West B PFG 2008-2009, and Beroe, champions of the East B PFG 2008-2009. Montana returned to the A PFG after twelve years, while Beroe won promotion for the ninth time in its history The club did this for ninth time, therefore equaling the record previously set by Minyor Pernik.

A further place in the league was decided through a one-legged play-off. Sportist Svoge as runner-up in West B PFG had to face Naftex Burgas, who second in East B PFG. Sportist Scoge won the game 6-4 after a penalty shootout. This will be Sporting Scoge's first participation in the Bulgarian top flight.

[edit] Team overview

CSKA
Levski
Loko Sofia
Slavia

Botev
Loko Plovdiv

Beroe

Cherno More

Chernomorets

Litex

Lok. Mezdra

Minyor

Montana

Pirin

Sliven

Sportist

Location of teams in A PFG 2009-10

Club	Location	Manager	Stadium	Capacity	Team captain
Beroe	Stara Zagora	Iliev, IlianIlian Iliev	Beroe	25,000[1]	Slavi Zhekov
Botev	Plovdiv	Piccioni, EnricoEnrico Piccioni	Hristo Botev (Plovdiv)	22,000[2]	Vasil Vasilev
Cherno More	Varna	Popov, VelizarVelizar Popov	Ticha	12,500	Georgi Iliev
Chernomorets	Burgas	Balakov, KrassimirKrassimir Balakov	Lazur	18,037[3]	Trayan Dyankov
CSKA	Sofia	Penev, LuboslavLuboslav Penev	Bulgarian Army	22,015[4]	Todor Yanchev
Levski	Sofia	Zdravkov, AntoniAntoni Zdravkov	Georgi Asparuhov	29,200[5]	Georgi Petkov
Litex	Lovech	Chervenkov, AngelAngel Chervenkov	Gradski Stadion	7,000[6]	Radostin Kishishev
Lokomotiv Mezdra	Mezdra	Voynov, VoynVoyn Voynov	Lokomotiv (Mezdra)	5,000	Nikolay Hristozov
Lokomotiv Plovdiv	Plovdiv	Sadakov, AyanAyan Sadakov	Lokomotiv (Plovdiv)	13,800	Dimitar Iliev
Lokomotiv Sofia	Sofia	Okuka, DragomirDragomir Okuka	Lokomotiv (Sofia)	22,000[7]	Georgi Markov
Minyor	Pernik	Velkov, AntonAnton Velkov	Minyor	8,000[8]	Hristo Gospodinov
Montana	Montana	Kuzmanovski, StevicaStevica Kuzmanovski	Ogosta	8,000	Ventsislav Ivanov
Sliven 2000	Sliven	Petkov, DianDian Petkov	Hadzhi Dimitar	15,000	Miroslav Mindev
Pirin	Blagoevgrad	Grozdanov, StefanStefan Grozdanov	Hristo Botev (Blagoevgrad)	11,000	Boris Galchev
Slavia	Sofia	Vutsov, VelislavVelislav Vutsov	Ovcha Kupel	32,000[9]	Yordan Petkov
Sportist	Svoge	Alexandrov, AlexandarAlexandar Alexandrov	Chavdar Cvetkov	3,000[10]	Lachezar Mladenov

[edit] League table

Updated to games played on 7 December 2009
Source:^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1^st points; 2^nd head-to-head points; 3^rd head-to-head goal difference; 4^th head-to-head goals scored; 5^th head-to-head away goals scored; 6^th goal difference; 7^th goals scored.
¹Winners of the Bulgarian Cup 2009–10 competition will qualify for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (Q) = Qualified to respective phase of tournament; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.

[edit] Results

Updated to games played on 7 December 2009
Source:^{[citation needed]
1}The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

[edit] European competitions

[edit] 2009–10 UEFA Champions League

• Second qualifying round

Sant Julia – Levski Sofia W (0–4, 0–5) 0–9 on aggregate

• Third qualifying round

FK Baku – Levski Sofia W (0–0, 0–2) 0–2 on aggregate

• Play-off round

Debrecen - Levski Sofia L (2–1, 2–0) 4–1 on aggregate

[edit] 2009–10 UEFA Europa League

• Second qualifying round

Iskra-Stal – Cherno More Varna W (0–1, 0–3) 0–4 on aggregate

• Third qualifying round

PSV Eindhoven – Cherno More Varna L (1–0, 1–0) 2–0 on aggregate

Derry City – CSKA Sofia W (1–0, 1–1) 1–2 on aggregate

• Play-off round

Dynamo Moscow – CSKA Sofia W (0–0, 1–2) 1–2 on aggregate

Bate Borisov – Litex Lovech L (0–1, 4–0 (aet)) 4–1 on aggregate

• Group stage

(Note: Bulgarian club scores are always listed first)

CSKA Sofia

Roma ( 0–3 , 0–2 )

Basel ( 0–2 , 1–3 )

Fulham (1–1, 0–1 )

Levski Sofia

Villarreal ( 0–2 , 0–1)

Lazio ( 0–4 , 1–0 )

Red Bull Salzburg ( 0–1 , 0–1 )

[edit] See also

• Bulgarian "B" Football group season 2009–10

[edit] References