2020–21 Bulgarian Cup Explained

Bulgarian Cup
Year:2020–21
Other Title:Купа на България
Country:Bulgaria
Num Teams:45
Champions:CSKA Sofia
Count:21
Runner-Up:Arda Kardzhali
Matches:47
Goals:148
Top Goal Scorer:eight players
(3 goals each)
Prevseason:2019–20
Nextseason:2021–22
Updated:19 May 2021

The 2020–21 Bulgarian Cup was the 39th official edition of the Bulgarian annual football knockout tournament. The competition began on 29 September 2020 with the preliminary round and finished with the final on 19 May 2021.[1] [2] Lokomotiv Plovdiv were the defending cup winners, but were eliminated after extra time by Ludogorets Razgrad in the quarter-finals. After CSKA Sofia missed out on the cup after losing last year's final, this time they won it against Arda Kardzhali for their 21st cup title and qualified for the second qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Participating clubs

The following 46 teams qualified for the competition:[3]

2020–21 First League
14 clubs
2020–21 Second League
16 non-reserve clubs
Winners of 4 regional competitions
16 clubs
Arda Kardzhali
Beroe Stara Zagora
Botev Plovdiv
Botev Vratsa
CSKA 1948 Sofia
CSKA Sofia
Cherno More Varna
Etar Veliko Tarnovo
Levski Sofia
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Ludogorets Razgrad
Montana
Slavia Sofia
Tsarsko Selo Sofia
Dobrudzha Dobrich
Hebar Pazardzhik
Kariana Erden
Litex Lovech
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
Lokomotiv Sofia
Minyor Pernik
Neftochimic Burgas
Pirin Blagoevgrad
Septemvri Simitli
Septemvri Sofia
Sozopol
Sportist Svoge
Strumska Slava Radomir
Vitosha Bistritsa
Yantra Gabrovo
from North-East zone:

from North-West zone:

from South-West zone:

from South-East zone:

Matches

Preliminary round

The draw was conducted on 16 September 2020.[4] The games were played between 29 September and 1 October 2020.[5] [6] In this stage the participants were the 16 winners from the regional amateur competitions and 15 non-reserve teams from Second League. During the draw, Partizan Cherven Bryag received a bye to the first round.

Originally set for 30 September 2020, the tie between Chernomorets Balchik and Vitosha Bistritsa was cancelled because on 28 September, Vitosha Bistritsa declared that it had disbanded its first team squad and cancelled its participation in the Second League and the Bulgarian Cup.[7] On 30 September, it was confirmed that Chernomorets Balchik had received a bye into the first round, due to Vitosha's inability to fulfill the fixture.[8]

Round of 32

The draw was conducted on 16 September 2020. The games were played between 20 October and 14 November 2020.[9] [10] In this stage the participants were the 15 winners from the preliminary round, the team which received a bye to this round (Partizan Cherven Bryag) as well as the 14 teams from First League and the remaining best-placed team from Second League (Septemvri Sofia). During the draw, the winner of the preliminary round game between Belasitsa Petrich and Litex Lovech received a bye to the second round.

Round of 16

The draw was conducted on 18 December 2020.[11] The games were played between 1 and 4 March 2021. In this stage the participants were the 15 winners from the previous round, as well as Belasitsa Petrich, which received a bye to this round.

Quarter-finals

The draw was conducted on 4 March 2021.[12] The games were played between 16 and 18 March 2021.[13] In this stage the participants were the 8 winners from the previous round.

Semi-finals

The draw was conducted on 18 March 2021.[14] The first legs were played on 6 and 7 April, while the second legs are scheduled for 13 and 14 April 2021.[15]

Second legs

Final

See main article: 2021 Bulgarian Cup final.

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1align=left Bismark Charlesalign=left CSKA Sofia3
align=left Georgi Yomovalign=left CSKA Sofia
align=left Jordy Caicedoalign=left CSKA Sofia
Nigel RoberthaLevski Sofia
align=left Kaloyan Krastevalign=left Slavia Sofia
align=left Preslav Yordanovalign=left Pirin Blagoevgrad
align=left Plamen Ivanovalign=left Zagorets Nova Zagora
align=left Dobrin Petrovalign=left Sevlievo
9eleven players2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Календар сезон 2020/2021 . . 16 September 2020 . bg .
  2. Web site: Решения след днешното заседание на Изпълнителния комитет на БФС . bg. bfunion.bg. 7 December 2020.
  3. Web site: Bulgarian Cup 2020–21 - Final Phase . bulgarian-football.com . 16 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Партизан чака Левски за Купата, ЦСКА срещу Ботев Ихтиман или Нефтохимик. bg. dsport.bg. 16 September 2019.
  5. Web site: Решение СТК 18.09.2020. bg. bfunion.bg. 23 September 2020.
  6. Web site: Решение СТК 24.09.2020. bg. bfunion.bg. 27 September 2020.
  7. Web site: Разпуснаха Витоша Бистрица! . bg. dsport.bg. 30 September 2020.
  8. Web site: Решение СТК 30.09.2020. bg. bfunion.bg. 30 September 2020.
  9. Web site: Решение СТК 07.10.2020. bg. bfunion.bg. 7 October 2020.
  10. Web site: Решение СТК 05.11.2020. bg. bfunion.bg. 5 November 2020.
  11. Web site: Левски - Берое и ЦСКА - Черно море на 1/8-финалите за Купата на България. bg. dsport.bg. 18 December 2020.
  12. Web site: Лудогорец срещу Локо Пд в Разград, Славия приема Левски за Купата. bg. dsport.bg. 4 March 2021.
  13. Web site: Решение СТК 05.03.2021. bg. bfunion.bg. 5 March 2021.
  14. Web site: ЦСКА - Лудогорец е големият сблъсък за Купата на България. bg. dsport.bg. 18 March 2021.
  15. Web site: Решение СТК 24.03.2021. bg. bfunion.bg. 24 March 2021.