Botev Vratsa vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1-2: result & recap, November 7, 2026

Recap

Lokomotiv Plovdiv beat Botev Vratsa 2-1 in Bulgaria's First League, with Christ Longville opening the scoring in the 37th minute.

How it went

The match saw Lokomotiv Plovdiv take control before the interval when Christ Longville found the net. They extended their lead immediately after the restart as D. Mrankov converted a chance provided by Julien Lamy in the 46th minute to make it 2-0.

Botev Vratsa responded quickly in the 49th minute through Martin Smolenski, who was assisted by Filip gigov. Despite Botev Vratsa holding 57% of the possession and recording 15 total shots, they were unable to find an equalizer against the visitors, who maintained their slender advantage until the final whistle.

Match statistics

57%Possession43%
15Total shots4
2Shots on goal3

Turning points

Christ Longville scored the opening goal in the 37th minute to give Lokomotiv Plovdiv the lead.
D. Mrankov scored in the 46th minute off an assist from Julien Lamy to extend the lead to 2-0.
Martin Smolenski scored for Botev Vratsa in the 49th minute to bring the score to 2-1.

The table after this match

Botev Vratsa: 13th place, 10 points from 14 games
Lokomotiv Plovdiv: 11th place, 12 points from 14 games

AI preview

Written before the match

Botev Vratsa and Lokomotiv Plovdiv meet at Hristo Botev Stadium with both sides searching for a turnaround after winless runs in the First League.

Recent form

Botev Vratsa arrive having failed to win any of their six listed matches, a run that includes three draws and three defeats. Their recent league outings have been tight, with a goalless draw against Levski Sofia and a one-all stalemate at Lokomotiv Sofia, but they have struggled to find the net consistently. Lokomotiv Plovdiv also find themselves in a difficult patch, having recorded only one win in their last six matches across all competitions. That victory came in a friendly, and their league form has seen them held to draws by Lokomotiv Sofia and Slavia Sofia before a heavy home defeat against Ludogorets. Both sides have shown a tendency to concede in the first half of their recent matches, leaving them with much to do to secure points.

Previous meetings

The history between these two sides heavily favors Lokomotiv Plovdiv, who have won three of their last five meetings. Botev Vratsa managed a victory in May 2025, but their most recent encounter in March 2026 ended in a win for the visitors.

Key factors

Botev Vratsa have recorded only two wins in thirteen league matches this season.
Lokomotiv Plovdiv remain winless in their last five away league matches.
The visitors have struggled for goals, netting only six times in their thirteen league fixtures.
Botev Vratsa have conceded 22 league goals, the highest total of the two sides.

What to expect

With both sides struggling for consistency and sitting near the bottom of the table, this match carries significant weight for their respective seasons. Botev Vratsa have shown some defensive resilience at home, while Lokomotiv Plovdiv have found points hard to come by on their travels. Given the current form of both clubs, a closely fought contest where neither side is able to pull away seems a plausible outcome.

What our records do not hold

No absences were reported.

Data considered: