Match Centre

The 1-1 draw slightly flattered Levski Sofia, who were outplayed in terms of chance creation, with NEC Nijmegen's 2.17 expected goals (xG) dwarfing the visitors' 1.28. Despite near-even possession (51%-49%), Nijmegen's attacking intent was clear: 18 total shots (9 on target) to Levski's 8 (2 on target) and 6 corners to 1. Reinaldo's 35th-minute opener for Levski against the run of play was clinically taken, but Tjaronn Chery's 64th-minute equaliser was overdue reward for Nijmegen's sustained pressure – their 11 shots inside the box (vs Levski's 7) underscoring their territorial dominance.

Levski's defensive resilience (8 saves from their goalkeeper) kept them level, but Nijmegen's inability to convert their superior xG into more goals – with Chery their only clinical finisher – proved decisive. The hosts' 1.28 xG underperformance highlights their wastefulness, particularly in the absence of a second goal despite 4.45 expected goal involvements across their forwards. Levski's compact 4-3-3 stifled Nijmegen's 3-4-3 in key moments, but the numbers show Nijmegen created enough (2.17 xG) to win comfortably.