NEC Nijmegen host Levski Sofia at Goffertstadion on Thursday, October 15, with both teams seeking their first points of the Europa League league phase. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 local time. NEC opened with a 5-0 defeat to Juventus, while Levski lost 1-0 to Salzburg. Those results leave the hosts 36th and the visitors 27th in the competition rankings. Their domestic results since then offer a contrast: NEC drew at Ajax, whereas Levski returned to winning ways against Cherno More. For two sides beaten without scoring in their opening European fixtures, this meeting is an opportunity to change the direction of their campaigns.

NEC Nijmegen's Recent Form and Key Stats

NEC Nijmegen drew 1-1 away to Ajax on October 10, their second consecutive draw by that scoreline. A point on the road did not end their broader winless run, which now stretches to six competitive matches: three draws and three defeats. Across their last five games, NEC have recorded no wins, three draws and two losses, scoring an average of 0.8 goals per match and conceding 2.4. Their Europa League figures are shaped by the single game against Juventus: no points, no goals scored and five conceded.

Playing at Goffertstadion has not recently guaranteed NEC a result. They have gone six home matches without a win inside 90 minutes, drawing three and losing three. Their home scoring record tells a different story, however: NEC have found the net in each of their last 19 home matches. There have also been more than 1.5 total goals in each of their last 15 home fixtures, while both teams have scored in their last 10 at home.

Those scoring runs sit alongside a defensive concern. NEC have conceded at least once in each of their last 12 matches, all of which have featured more than 1.5 total goals. Although their opening Europa League defeat ended without a goal for them, their longer home record suggests Levski may face a different challenge from the one Juventus encountered.

Levski Sofia's Recent Form and Key Stats

Levski Sofia arrive after a 2-0 away win over Cherno More on October 11. That result ended a three-match winless spell comprising one draw and two defeats, including their 1-0 home loss to Salzburg in the Europa League. Over their last five matches, Levski have two wins, one draw and two losses. They have averaged one goal scored and one conceded per game during that span.

The visitors have had encouraging results on their recent travels, winning three of their last four away matches and drawing the other. Their European away-goal data provides a caution, though: Levski's last two away Europa League matches both finished with under 0.5 total goals. That is a narrower sample than their wider away record; only two of their last 10 away matches ended with under 0.5 total goals.

Levski have also avoided a half-time deficit in 32 of their last 35 matches. At least one team has failed to score before the interval in 30 of their last 32. Those figures point to a side capable of staying in a contest, but they do not by themselves settle what might happen after the break against a NEC team whose home games have regularly featured goals at both ends.

NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia Match Analysis

Both clubs have ground to recover after losing their Europa League openers, although their recent results make this a difficult match to judge solely by league-phase form. NEC have home advantage and a lengthy home scoring streak, yet have not won any of their last six matches there inside 90 minutes. Levski's victory at Cherno More, meanwhile, gives them a more positive immediate result to build on, as well as a run of three wins and one draw across their last four trips.

The clearest statistical question is whether NEC's home pattern continues. They have scored in 19 straight home matches, both teams have scored in their last 10 home games, and they have conceded in 12 consecutive matches overall. Levski did not score against Salzburg, but their latest outing brought two away goals. Conversely, NEC's 5-0 loss to Juventus and Levski's goalless recent Europa League away fixtures are reasons not to treat an open game as certain.

NEC's two successive 1-1 draws show how they can take something from matches without resolving their winless run. Levski's recent away results suggest they can make this a demanding test for the hosts. With neither side yet on the board in the competition, goals at both ends are a plausible reading of the supplied form, particularly NEC's persistent combination of home scoring and goals conceded.

NEC Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia prediction from BetMines: Both Teams To Score (Yes) with 53% probability.