Struggling both domestically and in Europe, Bulgarian football champions Levski Sofia face a tough test on October 22 against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in what will be the first match in charge for the club's new coaching staff.

Levski are currently bottom of Europa League group G, with zero points from two games, while their opponents are top with six points and will look forward to extending their lead over second- and third-placed Lazio and Villarreal.

Levski travel to Austria on a back of a humiliating 1-0 away defeat at the hands of mid-table side Beroe Stara Zagora, which effectively ended their title challenge this season and resulted in the resignation of head coach Ratko Dostanic. Sporting director Georgi "Gonzo" Ivanov will run the team until the winter break, when a full-time replacement will be sought, but the nominal head coach will be erstwhile assistant Antoni Zdravkov, because Ivanov does not have the required Uefa coaching badges.

Lying in ninth place in the 16-strong Bulgarian league, Levski are now on their worst winless streak in four decades and morale is reported to be at an all time low, Red Bull Salzburg might prove to be a task too big for the current side.

It would be the first time Red Bull Salzburg face a Bulgarian team in European competitions. Levski face an Austrian team for the third time in their history,  having played, and having lost, on their travels to both FK Austria Wien and SK Sturm Graz without scoring an away goal.

And if this statistic is disheartening for the Bulgarian champions, Red Bull Salzburg can take comfort in another one - Levski have not scored in three European away games since dismantling Andorra's Sant Julia 5-0 in this season's Uuefa Champions League second qualifying round.

Ivanov, who won five league titles in three separate spells as a Levski forward, before injury put an end to his career last season, will have the arduous, if not impossible, task of salvaging what is left of the Blues' season. Qualification for the knock-out stage of the Europa League looks unlikely and even European qualification for next season is far from certain on current form.