Borac Banja Luka 1-1 Levski Sofia: Oko-Flex keeps the tie level

Match overview

Here we go: Borac Banja Luka and Levski Sofia drew 1-1 at Gradski stadion Banja Luka last night, leaving their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie wide open. M. Žižović watched his side seize control inside ten minutes. Nikola Serafimov had already been booked in the 7th minute when Luka Juričić stayed calm from the spot in the 9th minute to punish Levski’s uncertain start.

Julio Velázquez reacted at half-time, pulling David Kusso and sending on Armstrong Oko-Flex. The switch flipped the rhythm. In the 55th minute Sergio Miguel Lobo Araujo threaded the assist and Oko-Flex delivered the equaliser that Levski had been threatening. Mehdi Moubarik then replaced the cautioned Serafimov in the 57th minute, a necessary move to steady the back line.

Borac lost their grip in midfield once Sandi Ogrinec collected a yellow card for a foul in the 60th minute and Žižović moved quickly, introducing Ante Roguljić and Amar Milak for Matej Deket and Damir Hrelja at the 64-minute mark. Levski stretched the game with Juan Esteban Perea Sanchez for Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno in the 67th minute, then rebalanced in the 83rd minute when Christian Makoun and Álex Centelles replaced Sergio Miguel Lobo Araujo and Francisco Everton Mota de Castro. Žižović answered late, withdrawing Juričić and Stefan Savić for Daniel Romera and David Vuković in the 88th minute to protect energy ahead of the trip to Sofia.

Tactical snapshot

Both managers stayed faithful to 4-3-3. Žižović’s front trio. Matej Deket. Luka Juričić. Damir Hrelja. They looked for early penalties of pressure, and Milos Jojić linked play from the base. The structure produced the penalty but faded once Levski tilted the midfield. Velázquez’s midfield of Akram Bouras, Gašper Trdin, and Serginho took a while to settle, yet Serginho’s assist for the equaliser underscored why Levski value his passing lanes. Oko-Flex’s entry widened the attacking line and forced Viktor Rogan and Sebastian Herrera to defend deeper, reducing Borac’s counter threat.

Key events

• 7th minute: Nikola Serafimov booked.
• 9th minute: Luka Juričić scores a penalty for Borac Banja Luka.
• 43rd minute: Luka Juričić booked.
• 45th minute: Armstrong Oko-Flex on for David Kusso.
• 55th minute: Armstrong Oko-Flex equalises for Levski Sofia, assisted by Sergio Miguel Lobo Araujo.
• 57th minute: Mehdi Moubarik on for Nikola Serafimov.
• 60th minute: Sandi Ogrinec booked.
• 64th minute: Ante Roguljić and Amar Milak replace Matej Deket and Damir Hrelja.
• 67th minute: Juan Esteban Perea Sanchez on for Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno.
• 83rd minute: Christian Makoun and Álex Centelles on for Sergio Miguel Lobo Araujo and Francisco Everton Mota de Castro.
• 88th minute: Daniel Romera and David Vuković replace Luka Juričić and Stefan Savić.

Looking ahead

The aggregate is level and away goals are no longer a factor, so everything rides on the return leg at Georgi Asparuhov Stadium on 14 July. Borac must rediscover the vertical bursts that earned the early penalty while guarding against Oko-Flex’s pace from the bench or the start. Levski now hold momentum, Velázquez has proof that his squad can adjust mid-match, and the expectation in Sofia is a more assertive home performance. For more from this qualifying round, see how others fared in Match Report or revisit the narrow wins at KI Klaksvik vs Atert Bissen and Vikingur Reykjavik 1-0 Gyori ETO FC: stoppage-time payoff for Ottesen.