The 2020 Bulgarian Cup final was the final match of the 2019–20 Bulgarian Cup and the 80th final of the Bulgarian Cup. The final took place on 1 July 2020 at Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria. On 27 June the Bulgarian Football Union announced that it is allowed for the stadium to host up to 30% of its total capacity (i.e. 12,000 spectators) with up to 3,000 spectators per block in accordance with the health regulations issued by the Ministry of Health in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria.
The clubs contesting the final were CSKA Sofia and Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Both teams had met on multiple occasions in the competition but never in the final itself. This was CSKA's 33rd final and the first one since 2016, while Lokomotiv Plovdiv appeared in their 2nd consecutive and 6th overall final.
Lokomotiv Plovdiv won the game after penalties and lifted their 2nd consecutive cup. This victory ensured their qualification to the first qualifying round of the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League. This was the first occasion in the history of the Cup finals in which a team from Plovdiv managed to prevail against a Sofia-based club - in the 15 previous instances the teams from the capital city had emerged victorious. Momchil Tsvetanov joined Krasimir Bezinski and Elin Topuzakov in becoming the player with most cup wins in the history of the tournament. This was his 6th cup in total with a 4th different club after 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
Route to the final
CSKA SofiaRoundLokomotiv PlovdivOpponentResultLegsOpponentResultLegsLokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 3–0awayFirst roundBalkan Botevgrad3–0 awayArda Kardzhali1–0awaySecond roundLitex Lovech 2–1homeBotev Vratsa 2–1homeQuarter-finalsCSKA 1948 Sofia2–0homeBotev Plovdiv2–0 (agg.)0–0 away; 2–0 homeSemi-finalsLevski Sofia 2–0 (agg.)2–0 home; 0–0 away
Match Details
GK 13 Gustavo Busatto RB 19 Ivan TuritsovCB 26 Valentin Antov CB 11 Petar Zanev (c) LB 18 Bradley MazikouDM 15 Kristiyan Malinov DM 6 Rúben Pinto RM 8 Graham CareyAM 20 Tiago Rodrigues LM 10 Evandro CF 22 Ali Sowe Substitutes:GK 30 Vytautas ČerniauskasDF 3 Geferson DF 28 Plamen Galabov MF 17 Henrique , MF 21 Edwin GyasiMF 24 Stefano Beltrame FW 23 Ahmed AhmedovManager: Miloš Kruščić GK 71 Martin Lukov CB 61 Dinis Almeida CB 25 Lucas Masoero CB 20 Miloš PetrovićRM 9 Bircent Karagaren CM 10 Parvizdzhon Umarbayev CM 34 Petar Vitanov LM 50 Josip Tomašević AM 16 Lucas Salinas CF 14 Dimitar Iliev (c)CF 77 Ante Aralica Substitutes:GK 1 Ilko Pirgov DF 4 Akinshola AkinyemiMF 7 Momchil Tsvetanov MF 13 Mihovil Klapan MF 44 Nikolay Nikolaev FW 11 Kenan MuslimovićFW 23 Dominique Malonga Manager: Bruno Akrapović
Assistant referees: Martin Margaritov (Plovdiv) Diyan Valkov (Varna) Fourth official: Nikola Popov (Sofia)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Seven named substitutes. Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time.
References