2016–17 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

The 2016–17 First Professional Football League is the 93rd season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 68th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid and also the inaugural season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season is the first with a new league structure and strict financial criteria where 14 clubs play each other home and away, until the league is split up in championship and relegation playoffs. The new league structure, inspired by the ones used by the Belgian First Division A and Danish Superliga, was approved by the Bulgarian Football Union on 6 June 2016.[8] The fixtures were announced on 8 July 2016.[9]

First Professional Football League
Season2016–17
Dates29 July 2016 – 4 June 2017
ChampionsLudogorets Razgrad (6th title)
RelegatedNeftochimic
Montana
Lokomotiv GO
Champions LeagueLudogorets Razgrad
Europa LeagueBotev Plovdiv
Levski Sofia
Dunav Ruse
Matches played240
Goals scored616 (2.57 per match)
Top goalscorer Claudiu Keșerü (22)
Best goalkeeperGeorgi Kitanov
(18 clean sheets)
Biggest home winBotev Plovdiv 7–1 Montana
(7 April 2017)[1]
Biggest away winLokomotiv GO 0–5 Ludogorets Razgrad
(12 March 2017)[2]
Highest scoringDunav Ruse 3–5 Ludogorets Razgrad
(28 October 2016)[3]
Botev Plovdiv 7–1 Montana
(7 April 2017)[1]
Longest winning run13 games by Ludogorets Razgrad[4]
Longest unbeaten run24 games by Ludogorets Razgrad[4]
Longest winless run10 games by Lokomotiv GO[4]
Longest losing run7 games by Montana[4]
Highest attendance~21,000
CSKA Sofia 1–1 Levski Sofia
(15 October 2016)[5]
Levski Sofia 2–1 CSKA Sofia
(4 March 2017)[6]
Lowest attendance~20
Montana 1–1 Vereya
(10 May 2017)[7]
All statistics correct as of 31 May 2017.

On 5 May 2017, five rounds before the end of the championship, after winning the away match with Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Ludogorets Razgrad managed to secure the title for a sixth consecutive and overall time.[10] Ludogorets finished 16 points ahead of CSKA Sofia. Levski Sofia finished third.

Competition format

Starting from the 2016–17 season, a new league format was approved by the Bulgarian Football Union, in an attempt to improve each participating club's competitiveness, match attendance and performance in the league, alongside strict financial criteria. It involves 14 teams playing in two phases, a regular season and playoffs. The first phase includes each club competing against every other team twice in a double round-robin system, on a home-away basis at a total of 26 games per team, also played in 26 fixtures. Seven matches are played in every fixture at a total of 182 games during the first phase. In the second phase, the top six teams form a European qualifying table, while the bottom eight teams participate in a relegation group. The winner of the top group is declared as Champions of Bulgaria and is awarded with the title.

International qualification

The six top teams compete against each other on a home-away basis. Three matches are played in every fixture of the top six, with the results and points after the regular season also included. At the end of the stage, every team will have played a total of 36 games. The winner of the group is declared as Champions of Bulgaria and automatically secures participation in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. The team that ranks second is awarded with a place in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. The third team in the final standings would participate in a play-off match against a representative team from the bottom eight. Depending on the winner of the Bulgarian Cup final, a possible fourth team from the first six may compete in a play-off match for an UEFA Europa League spot instead of the third ranked team.

Note: If the Bulgarian Cup winner has secured its qualification for the European tournaments for the next season through results from Parva Liga, then the place in the UEFA Europa League play-off is awarded to the fourth ranked team in the final standings.

Relegation

The teams in the bottom eight are split in two sub-groups of four teams, Group A and Group B, depending on their final position after the regular season standings. The teams that enter Group A are the 7th, 10th, 11th and the 14th, and the teams that participate in Group B are the 8th, 9th, 12th and the 13th. Every participant plays twice against the other three teams in their group on a home-away basis. The teams from the bottom eight also compete with the results from the regular season. After the group stages, every team will have played a total number of 32 games. Depending on their final position in Group A and Group B, two sections will be formed, one for a play-off spot in next season's European competitions and one to avoid relegation. The first two teams from each group continue in the semi-finals, and the last two teams of each group continue to the semi-finals for a relegation match. After this phase, one team is directly relegated to the Second League and the remaining two teams will compete in two relegation matches against the second and the third ranked clubs from the Second League.[11]

Tiebreakers

In case of a tie on points between two or more clubs, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[12]

  1. Number of wins;
  2. Goal difference;
  3. Goals pro;
  4. Goals away;
  5. Fewer red cards;
  6. Fewest yellow cards;
  7. Draw

Teams

Prior to the start of the season, the Bulgarian Football Union announced that every Bulgarian professional football club's application would be considered for the upcoming season, as long as it fulfills the financial criteria. A total of 14 teams would be contesting the league, including the 9 sides from the previous season, plus five promoted clubs from the lower B Group, which would be issued a license by the Bulgarian Football Union. The five approved applications from the lower division were the B Group's last year champions Dunav Ruse, alongside Lokomotiv GO, Neftochimic, Vereya and CSKA Sofia respectively.

Dunav return after a 25-year absence from the top flight, Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa return after a 21-year absence, Neftochimic made its debut in its current entity, although previous clubs under similar names have played in the top tier, Vereya also made its debut in the top flight, while CSKA Sofia return after a one-year absence, having played in the third tier the previous season, but managing to administratively promote back to the elite.

Stadia and locations

Note: From the 2016–17 season onwards, all participating clubs are required to have electric floodlights and adequate pitch conditions under the BFU and TV broadcaster's new licensing criteria.[13] The following stadiums below have either obtained a license under UEFA's category ranking or fulfill the licensing criteria.

Location of teams in 2016–17 First League
Sofia 2016–17 First League football clubs
Team Location Stadium Capacity (seating)
Beroe Stara Zagora Beroe 12,128[14]
Botev Plovdiv Botev 1912 Football Complex 4,000
Cherno More Varna Kavarna Stadium, Kavarna[15] 5,000
CSKA Sofia Balgarska Armiya 18,495[16]
Dunav Ruse Gradski, Ruse 12,400[17]
Levski Sofia Vivacom Arena – Georgi Asparuhov 25,000[18]
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Lokomotiv 10,500
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv 13,000[19]
Ludogorets Razgrad Ludogorets Arena 8,808[20]
Montana Montana Gradski, Lovech 6,000
Neftochimic Burgas Lazur 18,037[21]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Hristo Botev 7,000
Slavia Sofia Vasil Levski National Stadium 43,230
Vereya Stara Zagora Trace Arena 3,500[22]

Note: On June 15, 2016, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria granted 3 mln. BGN in total for stadium renovations to the following three clubs – Cherno More, Dunav and Lokomotiv GO.[23]

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Additional
Beroe Ferario Spasov Ivo Ivanov Uhlsport — Refan
Botev Plovdiv Nikolay Kirov Lachezar Baltanov Joma Efbet —
CSKA Sofia Stamen Belchev Bozhidar Chorbadzhiyski adidas Mtel WinBet
Cherno More Georgi Ivanov Georgi Iliev Uhlsport Armeets —
Dunav Ruse Veselin Velikov Diyan Dimov Joma — —
Levski Sofia Nikolay Mitov Veselin Minev Joma Vivacom Strabag, Efbet, Spetema
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Aleksandar Dimitrov Atanas Fidanin KRASIKO Efbet Prity, Enel, Go Grill
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Voyn Voynov Martin Kamburov Uhlsport Efbet —
Ludogorets Razgrad Georgi Dermendzhiev Svetoslav Dyakov Macron bet365 Vivacom, Spetema
Montana Atanas Atanasov Ivan Mihov Jako Efbet —
Neftochimic Hristo Yanev Lyubomir Bozhinov KRASIKO Masterhaus —
Pirin Blagoevgrad Milen Radukanov Yulian Popev Erreà — —
Slavia Sofia Zlatomir Zagorčić Georgi Petkov Joma bet365 —
Vereya Aleksandar Tomash Elias Erreà Trace Group Spetema

Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised by UEFA in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations). Clubs in the domestic league can have more than one sponsorship per jersey which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area. Shorts also have space available for advertisement.

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Beroe Plamen Lipenski End of caretaker tenure 31 May 2016 Pre-season Aleksandar Dimitrov 31 May 2016[24]
Montana Emil Velev Sacked 31 May 2016 Stevica Kuzmanovski 10 June 2016[25]
Vereya Zhivko Zhelev End of contract 31 May 2016 Aleksandar Tomash 10 June 2016[26]
Lokomotiv GO Aleksandar Tomash Sacked 8 June 2016 Angel Chervenkov 8 June 2016[27]
Cherno More Nikola Spasov Mutual consent 10 June 2016 Georgi Ivanov 21 June 2016[28]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Naci Şensoy End of contract 20 June 2016 Stefan Genov 20 June 2016
CSKA Sofia Hristo Yanev Resigned 21 August 2016 3rd Edward Iordănescu 24 August 2016[29]
Botev Plovdiv Nikolay Kostov 23 August 2016[30] 10th Nikolay Mitov 30 August 2016[31]
Nikolay Mitov 30 August 2016 8th Nikolay Kirova 1 September 2016[32]
Neftochimic Dimcho Nenov Sacked 17 September 2016[33] 13th Hristo Yanev 17 September 2016[34]
Lokomotiv GO Angel Chervenkov 28 September 2016[35] 14th Ivan Kolev 28 September 2016[36]
Montana Stevica Kuzmanovski 3 October 2016[37] 13th Atanas Dzhambazkib 4 October 2016[38]
Beroe Aleksandar Dimitrov Resigned 17 October 2016[39] 7th Plamen Lipenski (interim) 20 October 2016[40]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Ilian Iliev 17 October 2016[41] 9th Hristo Kolev (interim) 18 October 2016[42]
Levski Sofia Ljupko Petrović 22 October 2016[43] 1st Elin Topuzakovc 24 October 2016[44]
Beroe Plamen Lipenski End of caretaker tenure 26 October 2016 8th Ferario Spasov 26 October 2016[45]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Hristo Kolev 31 October 2016 7th Eduard Eranosyan 31 October 2016[46]
Slavia Sofia Aleksandr Tarkhanov Signed by Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast 2 November 2016[47] 10th Vladimir Ivanov 3 November 2016[48]
CSKA Sofia Edward Iordănescu Resigned 27 November 2016[49] 5th Stamen Belchevd 27 November 2016[50]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Stefan Genov Signed by CSKA Sofia 9 January 2017[51] 11th Milen Radukanov 13 January 2017[52]
Lokomotiv GO Ivan Kolev Resigned 2 March 2017[53] 13th Milcho Sirmov (interim) 2 March 2017
Levski Sofia Elin Topuzakov Mutual consent 2 March 2017 2nd Nikolay Mitov 2 March 2017[54]
Lokomotiv GO Milcho Sirmov End of caretaker tenure 14 March 2017 13th Aleksandar Dimitrov 14 March 2017[55]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Eduard Eranosyan Resigned 9 April 2017[56] 5th Stoyan Kolev (interim) 12 April 2017[57]
Montana Atanas Dzhambazki 17 April 2017[58] 4th/Group A Dilyan Ivanov (interim) 17 April 2017
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Stoyan Kolev End of caretaker tenure 19 April 2017 6th Voyn Voynov 19 April 2017[59]
Montana Dilyan Ivanov 24 April 2017 4th/Group A Atanas Atanasov 24 April 2017[60]
Slavia Sofia Vladimir Ivanov Demoted to assistant 11 May 2017 3rd/Group A Zlatomir Zagorčić 11 May 2017[61]

a.^ Initially interim, made permanent 19 January 2017.[62]
b.^ Initially interim, made permanent 16 December 2016.[63]
c.^ Initially interim, made permanent 16 November 2016.[64]
d.^ Initially interim, made permanent 3 January 2017.[65]

Regular season

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ludogorets Razgrad 26 21 4 1 69 19 +50 67 Qualification for the championship round
2 Levski Sofia 26 15 6 5 38 17 +21 51
3 CSKA Sofia 26 13 7 6 35 16 +19 46
4 Cherno More 26 12 7 7 30 24 +6 43
5 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 26 10 9 7 35 30 +5 39
6 Dunav Ruse 26 10 8 8 32 31 +1 38
7 Botev Plovdiv 26 10 5 11 36 42 −6 35[lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the relegation round
8 Beroe 26 10 5 11 27 28 −1 35[lower-alpha 1]
9 Pirin Blagoevgrad 26 10 4 12 30 36 −6 34
10 Vereya 26 8 6 12 22 36 −14 30
11 Slavia Sofia 26 8 4 14 30 45 −15 28
12 Neftochimic 26 7 5 14 27 37 −10 26
13 Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 26 5 7 14 22 39 −17 22
14 Montana 26 3 3 20 16 49 −33 12
Source: Bulgarian Football Union, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[66]
Notes:
  1. Botev Plovdiv ahead of Beroe on head-to-head record; Beroe–Botev Plovdiv 3–4, Botev Plovdiv–Beroe 2–0.

Results
Home \ Away BSZ BOT CHM CSK DUN LEV LGO LPL LUD MON NEF PIR SLA VER
Beroe 3–4 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–2 0–2 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–0
Botev Plovdiv 2–0 2–3 0–0 0–2 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 2–1 3–2 3–2 2–1
Cherno More 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
CSKA Sofia 4–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–2 2–1 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–1
Dunav Ruse 0–4 1–2 3–0 2–0 2–2 1–0 1–1 3–5 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 0–0
Levski Sofia 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 4–0
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 0–1 0–1 2–2 0–0 0–2 0–1 2–1 0–5 0–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 5–0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–0 0–0 2–3 1–1 3–1
Ludogorets Razgrad 1–0 4–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 1–0 2–0 3–1 3–0 3–1 4–0
Montana 0–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–3 2–4 0–3 0–4 2–0 1–2 1–2 1–1
Neftochimic 1–0 4–0 1–3 0–2 1–2 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–0
Pirin Blagoevgrad 1–1 2–1 1–3 1–1 4–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–3 1–0 1–0 4–0 1–1
Slavia Sofia 1–2 3–2 2–1 0–1 0–2 0–4 3–1 5–2 0–2 2–0 0–3 3–1 3–1
Vereya 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–5 3–0 1–1 2–0 3–0
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Beroe1154753567788799997888910988
Botev Plovdiv4138108985556668888977787777
Cherno More11114778664334346445545544
CSKA Sofia26353644443453533333333333
Dunav Ruse52221122335545465666666666
Levski Sofia68532211111122222222222222
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa710111213131414121213121312101212121212121313131313
Lokomotiv Plovdiv3968911979910786654554454455
Ludogorets Razgrad124966433222211111111111111
Montana812121314141212131414141414141414141414141414141414
Neftochimic911131111121313141312131213131313131313131212111212
Pirin Blagoevgrad13710910810988991010111010111110978899
Slavia Sofia141414141210111110107101111121111101011101111121111
Vereya1037475610111111119777789911109101010
Source: en.bulgarian-football.com

Results by round
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
BeroeLWWLWWDLLLLWDLDLWDDWLLLWWW
Botev PlovdivDLWLWLWWDWLDLLLLWLWWLDWDLW
Cherno MoreWWDWLLLDWWWWLDWDLWDLLWDDWW
CSKA SofiaWLWDWLWWDDWLLWDWWDWWWDLWDL
Dunav RuseDWWWWWDLLDDLWLWLWLLLWDWDDD
MontanaDLLLLLWLLDLLWLLLLLDLLWLLLL
NeftohimicDLLWLLLLLWDLWDLLLWLWDDWWLL
Levski SofiaDDWWWWWWWDWDWWLLWWWLDDWLWL
Lokomotiv Gorna OryahovitsaDLDLLLLLWWLWLDWDLDDLDLLLLW
Lokomotiv PlovdivDDWLDLWWLLDWDWWWWLDWDLWDDL
LudogoretsWWLWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWDWWDWWDW
Pirin BlagievgradLWLDLWLWWLLDLDLWLDLWWWLWLW
Slavia SofiaLLLLWWLDWLWLLLDWLWDLWLLLWD
VereyaDWLWLWLLLLDDWWDWLLDLLWDLWL
Source: bulgarian-football.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss


Championship round

Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LUD CSK LEV DUN LPL CHM
1 Ludogorets Razgrad (C) 36 25 8 3 87 28 +59 83 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round — 1–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 4–0
2 CSKA Sofia[lower-alpha 1] 36 19 10 7 51 21 +30 67 1–1 — 3–0 2–0 0–0 3–1
3 Levski Sofia (O) 36 18 9 9 50 31 +19 63 Qualification for the European play-off final 1–3 0–3 — 1–1 5–0 2–2
4 Dunav Ruse[lower-alpha 1] 36 15 10 11 46 44 +2 55 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round 2–2 1–0 0–1 — 2–3 1–0
5 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 36 14 10 12 50 52 −2 52 0–3 1–2 2–1 3–4 — 2–1
6 Cherno More Varna 36 13 8 15 39 45 −6 47 1–3 0–1 0–1 1–2 3–2 —
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[72]
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner.
Notes:
  1. On 29 May 2017 a UEFA letter to the Bulgarian Football Union declared that CSKA Sofia were not allowed to compete in European tournaments for the following two seasons as they were considered to have been re-formed as a new club and thus did not pass the "three-year rule".[67] As this decision was appealed by CSKA Sofia, the Bulgarian Football Union granted a license to them subject to legal proceedings.[68][69][70] A few hours prior to the Europa League first qualifying round draw, UEFA replaced them by Dunav Ruse, the fourth-placed team of the league.[71]

Positions by round

Below the positions per round are shown. As teams did not all start with an equal number of points, the initial pre-playoffs positions are also given.

Team ╲ RoundInitial12345678910
Cherno More44544455666
CSKA Sofia33332222222
Dunav Ruse65455544544
Levski Sofia22223333333
Lokomotiv Plovdiv56666666455
Ludogorets Razgrad11111111111
Source: bulgarian-football.com

Relegation round

Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation VER BOT SLA MON
1 Vereya 32 13 6 13 31 40 −9 45 Qualification for the European play-off quarter-finals — 3–1 0–1 1–0
2 Botev Plovdiv 32 13 5 14 51 50 +1 44 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1] 0–1 — 3–1 7–1
3 Slavia Sofia (O) 32 11 4 17 37 55 −18 37 Qualification for the relegation play-offs 0–1 0–3 — 1–0
4 Montana (R) 32 4 3 25 24 66 −42 15 2–3 2–1 3–4 —
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[72]
(O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Botev Plovdiv qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 Bulgarian Cup.

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation BSZ PIR NEF LGO
1 Beroe 32 12 8 12 35 33 +2 44 Qualification for the European play-off quarter-finals — 1–1 3–0 2–3
2 Pirin Blagoevgrad 32 12 7 13 41 44 −3 43 1–1 — 2–1 1–1
3 Neftochimic (R) 32 8 7 17 33 47 −14 31 Qualification for the relegation play-offs 0–0 0–3 — 4–1
4 Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa (R) 32 7 9 16 32 51 −19 30 0–1 4–3 1–1 —
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[72]
(R) Relegated.

European play-offs

Bracket
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
                
16 and 20 May
Pirin Blagoevgrad101
Vereya11 2
 
15 and 19 May
 
Botev Plovdiv314
Beroe02 2
 
27 and 30 May
 
Vereya––—
Botev Plovdiv–– —
4 June
Levski Sofia1 (9)
Vereya1 (8)

European play-off quarter-finals
Botev Plovdiv3–0Beroe
 Report
Attendance: 1,700
Referee: Angel Angelov (Sofia)
Beroe2–1Botev Plovdiv
 Report Vutov  64'
Attendance: 850
Referee: Dragomir Draganov (Varna)
Pirin Blagoevgrad1–1Vereya
Tsvetkov  81' Report Bandalovski  90+3'
Attendance: 650
Referee: Stanislav Stavrov (Veliko Tarnovo)
Vereya1–0Pirin Blagoevgrad
Kaloyanov  44' Report
Attendance: 180
Referee: Vladimir Valkov (Plovdiv)

European play-off semi-finals
VereyaNot PlayedBotev Plovdiv
Botev PlovdivNot PlayedVereya

Since Botev Plovdiv qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 Bulgarian Cup, the semi-finals were not held and Vereya qualified automatically for the play-off final.

European play-off final
Levski Sofia1–1 (a.e.t.)Vereya
Kraev  44' Report Bandalovski  90+3'
Penalties
 9–8
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Stefan Apostolov (Simitli)

Relegation play-offs

Bracket
First roundSecond roundThird round
                      
Match 1
Montana112
Neftochimic32 5
 
Match 2
 
Lokomotiv GO011
Slavia Sofia31 4
 
Match 3
 
Neftochimic022
Slavia Sofia15 6
Match 4
Montana134
Lokomotiv GO10 1
Match 5
Neftochimic0
Vitosha Bistritsa1
 
Match 6
 
Montana1
Septemvri Sofia2
 
 
 
 
 
 

Winners of matches 3, 5 and 6 will play in the top division next season

First round
Montana1–3Neftochimic
Atanasov  90+3' Report Hazurov  16' (pen.), 55'
Romanov  21'
Gradski, Lovech
Attendance: 50
Neftochimic2–1Montana
Milanov  71'
Ivanov  80'		 Report Atanasov  24'
Attendance: 370
Referee: Stefan Apostolov (Simitli)
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa0–3Slavia Sofia
Report Dimitrov  45', 62'
Serderov  58'
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Nikola Popov (Sofia)
Slavia Sofia1–1Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
Omar  29' Report Kirev  38' (o.g.)
Attendance: 90
Referee: Ivaylo Stoyanov (Petrich)

Second round
Neftochimic0–1Slavia Sofia
Report Yomov  9'
Attendance: 700
Referee: Dragomir Draganov (Varna)
Slavia Sofia5–2Neftochimic
 Report
Attendance: 130
Referee: Nikola Popov (Sofia)
Montana1–1Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
Atanasov  17' Report Kifouéti  25'
Gradski, Lovech
Attendance: 170
Referee: Georgi Dimitrov (Sofia)
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa0–3Montana
Report
Attendance: 800
Referee: Ivaylo Stoyanov (Petrich)

Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa are relegated to the Second League.

Third round
Neftochimic0–1Vitosha Bistritsa
Report Otofe  58'
Attendance: 350
Montana1–2Septemvri Sofia
Iliev  67' Report
Attendance: 200
Referee: Nikola Popov (Sofia)

Neftochimic and Montana are relegated to the Second League.

Season statistics
Round Goal of the week Club Save of the week Club
1 Diogo Viana vs Slavia CSKA Sofia
2 Aleksandar Vasilev vs Slavia Beroe Hristo Ivanov vs Cherno More Montana
3 Diogo Viana vs Neftochimic CSKA Sofia Vladislav Stoyanov vs Levski Sofia Ludogorets
4 Georgi Kostadinov vs Slavia Levski Sofia Antonis Stergiakis vs Levski Sofia Slavia
5 Bozhidar Kraev vs Vereya Levski Sofia Georgi Petkov vs Montana Slavia
6 Anton Ognyanov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav Martin Lukov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav
7 Dimitar Pirgov vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Levski Sofia Blagoy Makendzhiev vs Dunav Beroe
8 Ventsislav Hristov vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Neftohimic Martin Lukov vs Botev Plovdiv Dunav
9 Ivan Minchev vs Vereya Slavia Bojan Jorgačević vs Dunav Levski Sofia
10 Todor Nedelev vs Beroe Botev Plovdiv Nikolay Bankov vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
11 Añete vs Beroe Levski Sofia Hristo Ivanov vs CSKA Sofia Montana
12 Atanas Zehirov vs Montana Beroe Bojan Jorgačević vs Botev Plovdiv Levski Sofia
13 Carlos Ohene vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Beroe Blagoy Makendzhiev vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Beroe
14 Dimitar Pirgov vs Montana Levski Sofia Krasimir Kostov vs Cherno More Pirin Blagoevgrad
15 Gustavo Campanharo vs Botev Plovdiv Ludogorets Yassine El Kharroubi vs Levski Sofia Lokomotiv Plovdiv
16 Stanislav Kostov vs Dunav Pirin Blagoevgrad Bojan Jorgačević vs Ludogorets Levski Sofia
17 Mehdi Bourabia vs Slavia Levski Sofia Yassine El Kharroubi vs Cherno More Lokomotiv Plovdiv
18 Añete vs Vereya Levski Sofia Nikolay Bankov vs CSKA Sofia Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
19 Vladislav Uzunov vs Beroe Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Martin Lukov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav
20 Anton Karachanakov vs Dunav Beroe Ivan Čvorović vs Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Botev Plovdiv
21 Ivan Minchev vs Cherno More Slavia
22 Marcelinho vs Neftohimic Ludogorets Yanko Georgiev vs Ludogorets Neftochimic
23 David Jablonský vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia Nikolay Krastev vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia
24 Martin Raynov vs Levski Sofia Beroe Dušan Perniš vs Levski Sofia Beroe
25 Bircent Karagaren vs Ludogorets Dunav Stanislav Antonov vs Ludogorets Dunav
26 Fernando Viana vs Montana Botev Plovdiv Yanko Georgiev vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Neftochimic
27 Añete vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Levski Sofia Stanislav Antonov vs Ludogorets Dunav
28 Miroslav Budinov vs Cherno More Dunav Yanko Georgiev vs Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Neftohimic
29 Omar Kossoko vs Slavia Botev Plovdiv Stanislav Antonov vs Levski Sofia Dunav
30 Fernando Karanga vs Levski Sofia CSKA Sofia Georgi Kitanov vs Levski Sofia CSKA Sofia
31 Stanislav Kostov vs Beroe Pirin Blagoevgrad Stanislav Antonov vs CSKA Sofia Dunav
32 Mehdi Bourabia vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Levski Sofia Stefano Kunchev vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
33 Ivan Tsvetkov vs Vereya Pirin Blagoevgrad
34 Nikolay Minkov vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Cherno More Stanislav Antonov vs Levski Sofia Dunav
35 Samir Ayass vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Dunav
36 Roman Procházka vs Cherno More Levski Sofia

Top scorers
As of matches played on 31 May 2017[73]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Claudiu Keșerü Ludogorets Razgrad 22
2 Martin Kamburov Lokomotiv Plovdiv 17
3 Marcelinho Ludogorets Razgrad 14
4 João Paulo[n 1] Ludogorets Razgrad 13
Wanderson Ludogorets Razgrad
6 Todor Nedelev Botev Plovdiv 11
Daniel Mladenov Pirin Blagoevgrad
Junior Mapuku Beroe
9 Jonathan Cafu Ludogorets Razgrad 10
Stanislav Kostov Pirin Blagoevgrad
Marek Kuzma Cherno More
Miroslav Budinov Dunav Ruse
Serder Serderov Slavia Sofia
Bozhidar Kraev Levski Sofia
15 Ivaylo Dimitrov Slavia Sofia 9
16 Rahavi Kifouéti Lokomotiv GO 8
Roman Procházka Levski Sofia
18 Tunde Adeniji Levski Sofia 7
Steven Petkov Montana
Gustavo Culma CSKA Sofia
Branimir Kostadinov Dunav Ruse
Dino Martinović Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Notes
  1. Including 12 goals for Botev Plovdiv.

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
João PauloBotev PlovdivLokomotiv GO4–0[74]17 September 2016
Junior MapukuBeroeBotev Plovdiv3–4[75][76]16 October 2016
Claudiu KeșerüLudogorets RazgradDunav Ruse5–3[3]28 October 2016
Claudiu KeșerüLudogorets RazgradLokomotiv GO5–0[2]12 March 2017
Bozhidar Kraev4Levski SofiaLokomotiv Plovdiv5–0[77]9 April 2017
Note

4 Player scored 4 goals

Clean sheets
As of matches played on 31 May 2017[73]
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Georgi Kitanov CSKA Sofia 18
2 Bojan Jorgačević Levski Sofia 12
3 Martin Lukov Dunav Ruse 10
4 Blagoy Makendzhiev[nb 1] Pirin Blagoevgrad 9
Plamen Kolev Vereya
6 Vladislav Stoyanov Ludogorets Razgrad 8
Yanko Georgiev Neftochimic
8 Yassine El Kharroubi Lokomotiv Plovdiv 7
9 Přemysl Kovář Cherno More 5
Dušan Perniš Beroe
Nikolay Krastev Levski Sofia
12 Ivan Karadzhov Vereya 4
Nikolay Bankov Lokomotiv GO
Ivan Čvorović Botev Plovdiv
Renan Ludogorets Razgrad
Stanislav Antonov Dunav Ruse
Notes
  1. Including 5 clean sheets for Beroe.

Transfers

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