2012–13 A Group
89th season of top-tier football league in Bulgaria
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The 2012–13 A Group was the 89th season of the Bulgarian national top football division, and the 65th of A Group as the top-tier football league in the country. The season began on 11 August 2012[1] and ended with the last games on 25 May 2013. Ludogorets Razgrad won the A Group title for a second consecutive season, after Levski were leading prior to the last round match, but made a draw with Slavia.[2][3][4][5]
| Season | 2012–13 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 August 2012 – 25 May 2013 |
| Champions | Ludogorets Razgrad (2nd title) |
| Relegated | Botev Vratsa Minyor Pernik Etar 1924 Montana |
| Champions League | Ludogorets Razgrad |
| Europa League | Levski Sofia Botev Beroe |
| Matches | 240 |
| Goals | 600 (2.5 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | (19 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Levski 7–1 Etar 1924 |
| Biggest away win | Pirin 0–5 CSKA Sofia |
| Highest scoring | Levski 7–1 Etar 1924 |
← 2011–12 2013–14 → | |
Teams
Vidima-Rakovski, Kaliakra and Svetkavitsa were relegated after finishing in the bottom three places of the table at the end of season 2011–12.[6][7][8] Vidima and Kaliakra return to the second tier after two-year spells in the elite, while Svetkavitsa return after just one season in the top tier.
The relegated teams were replaced by Pirin (Gotse Delchev), champions of West B Group, Etar 1924 (Veliko Tarnovo), champions of East B Group and promotion play-off winners Botev (Plovdiv). Botev returned to A Group after two years of absence, Pirin made their debut on the highest level of Bulgarian football, while Etar 1924 made its debut in the top level, although it’s unofficial predecessor, Etar Veliko Tarnovo played in the top level 14 years ago, season 1997–98.
Stadia and locations
As in the previous year, the league comprised the best thirteen teams of season 2011–12, the champions of the two B Groups and the winners of the promotion play-offs.
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.[9]
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beroe | Stara Zagora | Beroe | 12,300 |
| Botev | Plovdiv | Hristo Botev | 18,000 |
| Botev | Vratsa | Hristo Botev | 32,000 |
| Cherno More | Varna | Ticha | 8,250 |
| Chernomorets | Burgas | Lazur | 18,037 |
| CSKA | Sofia | Balgarska Armiya | 22,015 |
| Etar 1924 | Veliko Tarnovo | Ivaylo | 18,000 |
| Levski | Sofia | Georgi Asparuhov | 19,200 |
| Litex | Lovech | Lovech | 8,100 |
| Lokomotiv | Plovdiv | Lokomotiv | 10,000 |
| Lokomotiv | Sofia | Lokomotiv | 22,000 |
| Ludogorets | Razgrad | Ludogorets Arena | 6,000 |
| Minyor | Pernik | Minyor | 8,000 |
| Montana | Montana | Ogosta | 8,000 |
| Pirin | Gotse Delchev | Gradski | 5,000 |
| Slavia | Sofia | Ovcha Kupel | 15,992 |
Personnel and sponsoring
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ludogorets Razgrad (C) | 30 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 58 | 13 | +45 | 72 | Qualification for Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Levski Sofia | 30 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 59 | 20 | +39 | 71 | Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | CSKA Sofia | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 54 | 20 | +34 | 63 | Excluded from European competitions[a] |
| 4 | Botev Plovdiv | 30 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 51 | 21 | +30 | 60 | Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Litex Lovech | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 56 | 24 | +32 | 50 | |
| 6 | Chernomorets Burgas | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 47 | |
| 7 | Beroe | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 36 | 38 | −2 | 45 | Qualification for Europa League second qualifying round[b] |
| 8 | Slavia Sofia | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 42 | |
| 9 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 37 | 34 | +3 | 39 | |
| 10 | Cherno More | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 35 | |
| 11 | Pirin Gotse Delchev | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 27 | 57 | −30 | 34 | |
| 12 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 27 | 38 | −11 | 31[c] | |
| 13 | Botev Vratsa (R) | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 51 | −28 | 31[c] | Relegation to 2013–14 B Group |
| 14 | Minyor Pernik (R) | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 49 | −29 | 20 | |
| 15 | Montana (R) | 30 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 27 | 57 | −30 | 16 | |
| 16 | Etar (R) | 30 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 20 | 75 | −55 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th head-to-head goals scored; 5th head-to-head away goals scored; 6th goal difference; 7th goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- PFC CSKA Sofia were excluded from European competitions due to debts.
- Beroe Stara Zagora qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round by winning the 2012–13 Bulgarian Cup.
- Lokomotiv Sofia ahead of Botev Vratsa on head-to-head record; Lokomotiv Sofia–Botev Vratsa 3–0, Botev Vratsa–Lokomotiv Sofia 0–0.
Results
Champions
- Ludogorets Razgrad
| Goalkeepers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | (0) | |
| 21 | 14 | (0) | |
| 91 | 10 | (0) | |
| Defenders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | (0) | |
| 5 | 14 | (3) | |
| 20 | 6 | (0) | |
| 25 | 24 | (0) | |
| 27 | 21 | (1) | |
| 33 | 22 | (2) | |
| 77 | 4 | (0) | |
| 80 | 28 | (0) | |
| Midfielders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | (0) | |
| 7 | 15 | (5) | |
| 8 | 28 | (3) | |
| 10 | 9 | (0) | |
| 14 | 12 | (2) | |
| 15 | 6 | (0) | |
| 18 | 28 | (3) | |
| 19 | 15 | (4) | |
| 22 | 26 | (4) | |
| 84 | 25 | (6) | |
| 99 | 13 | (1) | |
| Forwards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 14 | (5) | |
| 11 | 17 | (3) | |
| 23 | 22 | (6) | |
| 73 | 28 | (9) | |
| Manager | |
|---|---|
- Guela left the club during a season.
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals[10] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Levski Sofia | 19 | |
| 2 | Botev Plovdiv | 17 | |
| 3 | Litex Lovech | 16 | |
| 4 | Beroe Stara Zagora | 12 | |
| 5 | Litex Lovech | 11 | |
| 6 | Botev Plovdiv | 9 | |
| Ludogorets Razgrad | 9 | ||
| Litex Lovech | 9 | ||
| 9 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 8 | |
| Beroe Stara Zagora / Chernomorets Burgas | 8 | ||
| CSKA Sofia | 8 |
Awards
Weekly awards
Player of the Round
| Round | Player of the Round | |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | |
| Round 1[11] | Botev Plovdiv | |
| Round 2[12] | Levski Sofia | |
| Round 3 | Ludogorets Razgrad | |
| Round 4[13] | Levski Sofia | |
| Round 5[14] | CSKA Sofia | |
| Round 6[15] | Ludogorets Razgrad | |
| Round 7[16] | Ludogorets Razgrad | |
| Round 8[17] | Botev Plovdiv | |
| Round 9[18] | CSKA Sofia | |
| Round 10[19] | Litex Lovech | |
| Round 11[20] | Litex Lovech | |
| Round 12 | Botev Plovdiv | |
| Round 13[21] | Ludogorets Razgrad | |
| Round 14[22] | Levski Sofia | |
| Round 15[23] | Levski Sofia | |
| Round 16[24] | Litex Lovech | |
| Round 17[25] | CSKA Sofia | |
| Round 18[26] | Litex Lovech | |
| Round 19[27] | Cherno More | |
| Round 20[28] | Cska Sofia | |
| Round 21[29] | Litex Lovech | |
| Round 22[30] | Slavia Sofia | |
| Round 23[31] | Levski Sofia | |
| Round 24[32] | Levski Sofia | |
| Round 25[33] | CSKA Sofia | |
| Round 26[34] | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | |
| Round 27[35] | Botev Plovdiv | |
| Round 28[36] | Levski Sofia | |
| Round 29[37] | Botev Vratsa | |
Transfers
Attendances
| No. | Club | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Botev | 8,071 |
| 2 | Levski | 5,510 |
| 3 | Beroe | 3,443 |
| 4 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 3,393 |
| 5 | CSKA Sofia | 3,327 |
| 6 | Ludogorets | 2,710 |
| 7 | Cherno More | 2,663 |
| 8 | Pirin | 2,363 |
| 9 | Botev | 2,033 |
| 10 | Montana | 1,503 |
| 11 | Chernomorets | 1,459 |
| 12 | Lovech | 1,427 |
| 13 | Etar | 1,262 |
| 14 | Minyor | 1,027 |
| 15 | Slavia Sofia | 800 |
| 16 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 767 |
Source:[38]