Bad news came from the CSKA camp just hours before one of the most important derbies at the end of the regular season. The Australian opposite hitter of the "Reds", Hamish Hazelden, sustained an ankle injury during training and will certainly miss the remaining two matches of the regular season in the Superliga. This was announced by the "red" club.
This means that Hazelden will not be available to the coaching staff for the home game against Levski, as well as for the final match against Pirin. CSKA hopes that their main scorer will be fully recovered in time for the start of the playoffs.
The club wished their opposite hitter a speedy recovery and expects him to return even stronger in the decisive phase of the season.
The derby comes at a crucial moment for the season.
The injury comes at an extremely delicate moment, as CSKA hosts Levski in one of the key matches of the 21st round.
March 11, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Hristo Botev Hall, Sofia
CSKA – Levski Sofia
Head Referees: Simeon Ivanov, Atanas Varbanov
The schedule for the penultimate round before the playoffs
| Round 21 |
|---|
| Dunav – Neftochimic 2010 |
| CSKA – Levski Sofia |
| Cherno More – Pirin |
| Slavia – Montana |
| Lokomotiv Avia – Beroe 2016 |
The results of these matches could significantly rearrange the top of the standings and the positions immediately before the playoffs.
The battle for first place
The intrigue for the top position remains extremely serious. Levski and Lokomotiv Avia have equal points, and the schedule suggests that the outcome will be decided literally in the final round.
Levski has a difficult away game against CSKA, after which they host Dunav. In theory, the last match seems more favorable for the "Blues", but the derby in Sofia itself could prove to be the key to first place.
Lokomotiv Avia, for their part, hosts Beroe, and then visits Neftochimik – a match that also has the potential to become a direct clash for the top spot.
Possible scenarios
Should Levski defeat CSKA, the 'Blues' will hold the initiative in their hands before the final round.
If Levski loses, and Lokomotiv Avia wins against Beroe, the Plovdiv team will have an advantage before their away game in Burgas.
If both teams make a mistake in the 21st round, everything will be decided on the last day of the regular season.
CSKA and Neftochimik – direct battle for third place
The fight for third position also remains completely open. CSKA and Neftochimik are close to each other, and their schedules differ in difficulty.
CSKA first hosts Levski, then visits Pirin. This means one extremely tough match and a seemingly more comfortable end to the regular season.
Neftochimik visits Dunav, where they are favorites, and in the last round hosts Lokomotiv Avia – a potentially decisive clash.
What could happen
If CSKA defeats Levski, the 'Reds' will not only maintain their lead over Neftochimik but could also directly intervene in the battle for first place.
Should CSKA lose and Neftochimik secure an expected win against Dunav, the Burgas team could find themselves in a better position before the final round.
Against this backdrop, the absence of Hamish Hazelden certainly complicates CSKA's task just before one of the most important matches at the end of the regular season. The derby against Levski could prove crucial not only for the standings but also for the psychological advantage before the start of the playoffs.
