Botev Vratsa vs Spartak Varna

Botev Vratsa vs Spartak Varna prediction: home edge?

If you’re looking for a clear, practical Botev Vratsa vs Spartak Varna prediction for the Parva Liga Relegation Round, the calendar says Saturday, 2026-05-02 at 14:30 GMT (Hristo Botev Stadium, Vratsa). The table pressure says “don’t blink,” and the recent red cards say “maybe don’t tackle like that in minute four.” In this Botev Vratsa vs Spartak Varna prediction, we’ll start with what the teams are bringing tactically and mentally, then move into the numbers, odds, and betting tips.

Relegation round context, form, and the “cards” theme

Both sides arrive from dramatic late-April games where discipline was almost as important as passing. Botev Vratsa’s recent run (D-W-L-D-L) includes a gritty 1-1 away draw at Slavia Sofia on April 26, earned despite playing with 10 men for more than 50 minutes. They needed an 89th-minute twist (an own goal) to rescue the point, and it felt like the kind of moment that can keep a dressing room believing. Just before that, Vratsa also produced a memorable 3-2 comeback win over Lokomotiv Sofia, showing they can flip a match when the crowd gets involved.

Spartak Varna (L-D-W-L-L) had the opposite kind of gut punch on April 24: a 2-1 loss to Beroe after going down to 10 men in the 4th minute. They still went ahead through Jota Lopes, then conceded late (82’, 86’)—the sort of finish that makes coaches age in fast-forward. Spartak ended the regular season 12th with 27 points, while Vratsa were 10th with 38, so the urgency is higher on the away bench.

Tactical notes and who carries the attack

Vratsa’s big issue is a key absence. Star midfielder Radoslav Tsonev is suspended after a straight red (VAR review, 37’) versus Slavia. That changes how Vratsa progress the ball: expect more direct play into the forwards and a bigger creative burden on wide runners and set pieces.

• Botev Vratsa attacking focus: Martin Petkov (team top scorer, 6) becomes even more central, with Daniel Genov (3) offering support. Petkov also looked lively recently, even hitting the post off the bench.
• Spartak Varna attacking focus: Bernardo Couto leads with 6 goals, while Jota Lopes brings momentum after scoring in the Beroe match.

Spartak’s suspensions reshape them too. Center-back Boris Ivanov is out after a red card in the 4th minute last time, and playmaker Damyan Yordanov remains sidelined to finish a multi-match ban. The good news is right-back Deyan Lozev is back and available, but losing a center-back and a creator can pull a team in two directions: defend deeper, and hope your counters are sharp.

Head to head and confidence signals

The most recent head to head meeting (2025-12-04) favors Vratsa: they won 2-0, and those details matter in relegation groups where margins are thin. Vratsa have also shown they can surprise away from home—like the 1-3 win at Botev Plovdiv on 2026-03-14 as a huge underdog (4.9). Spartak have their own “we can do this” evidence too, such as the 1-1 draw away at Lokomotiv Plovdiv (odds 7.5) on 2026-02-21.

AI odds and betting tips for smarter picks

The market leans to the hosts, and the models agree. Current 1X2 odds are 1.75 home, 3.8 draw, 4.9 away. NerdyTips’ best tip is 1 (Botev Vratsa to win) with a trust rating of 7.4/10 at odds 1.75. Our AI 1X2 also lands on home win, confidence 7.5, odds 1.75—a tidy alignment between pricing and prediction.

Main pick

• Home win (1) at 1.75–1.75 looks like the value anchor, especially with Spartak missing Ivanov and Yordanov.

Goals market lean

For totals, the model prefers Under 3.5 goals (confidence 4.6, odds 1.30). The confidence is moderate rather than loud, but it matches the expected match script: Vratsa controlling territory without turning it into a shot festival, and Spartak trying to survive and counter.

• Projected final score: 2-0
• Half-time score call: 0-0 (a slower first half, then Vratsa pull away)

Match stats that support the story

• Possession: 60% Vratsa vs 40% Spartak
• Shots: 9 vs 7, with shots on target 2 vs 2 (efficiency matters)
• Corners: 4-2 Vratsa (6 total)
• Cards: 0 Vratsa, 1 Spartak (after recent chaos, everyone will try to behave… probably)

One final angle: squad value is close (€5.93m Vratsa vs €5.36m Spartak), so this isn’t a mismatch on paper. But home advantage, the cleaner tactical structure, and Spartak’s key suspensions tilt the Botev Vratsa vs Spartak Varna Prediction toward the hosts. If you want a simple bet: take Vratsa to win. If you want a safer companion: consider under 3.5 goals as a low-volatility add-on for your betting tips list.