The current Bulgarian football season will be remembered for a disappointing Levski Sofia, both domestically and in Europe, which could ultimately cost the club European football in the near future; a CSKA Sofia drowning in an endless series of scandals; the unassuming Beroe Stara Zagora playing the Bulgarian Cup final against second-tier Chernomorets Pomorie; and Litex Lovech winning their third Bulgarian league title.

Litex were crowned champions with two matches to spare after a decisive 3-0 away thumping of Lokomotiv Plovdiv, which resulted in Lokomotiv sacking coach Naci Sensoy and appointing Hristo Bonev in his place.

CSKA Sofia, meanwhile, secured a place in the UEFA Europa League after a ruthless 5-1 demolition of Lokomotiv Sofia, who no longer appear a certain lock for European football themselves. Former champions Levski stumbled once again to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Cherno More Varna, missing their chance to leapfrog Lokomotiv Sofia into third, but are only one point behind and still have a chance to qualify for Europa League.

Litex last won the league in 1999 and despite the occasional title push, rarely troubled the duopoly of CSKA and Levski. However, presented with a golden opportunity to capitalise on the Sofia heavyweights’ poor seasons, the Lovech club did not stumble this time.

With two matches remaining, the "oranges" are unreachable at the summit with 64 points, with CSKA Sofia seven points back. Litex play Beroe Stara Zagora on May 9 at home and will close the season with a trip to Sportist Svoge on May 16.

"It was not easy to win the league, but the credit goes to the players," head coach Angel Chervenkov said after the victory over Lokomotiv Sofia, which won him his first domestic honour.

To get a more realistic perspective of the status of Bulgarian football, however, one has to read the official statement posted by Litex Lovech on their website after securing the title.

Not being particularly on the diplomatic side, or honouring their adversaries in any way or form, it simply reads: "We conquered the summit, again, relentlessly, with pride. With professionalism. In spite of the hatred, and the envy. Bulgaria has never seen a more deserving champion in its history. The Orange annihilated the opposition on their way to gold. We did it like a great team, without cheating. A season that started miserably, finished in glory. And in July, [club owner] Grisha Ganchev and his boys will be where they deserve to be – the Champions League".

Should their performance in the Champions League next season be half as bombastic as this statement, Litex are sure to reach the semi-finals. Their long road, however, starts with the second qualifying round and the club will have to play three ties to become only the second Bulgarian team to reach the Champions League group stage.

To date, Levski’s appearance in the 2006/07 season, with six defeats, one goal scored and 17 allowed, is the only time a Bulgarian club reached such heights in the tournament.
"Every man in Litex did his duty, but the highest credit for this third title must go to Grisha Ganchev," head coach Chervenkov told website sportal.bg. "He made sure that we have everything we need to work successfully and to accomplish results. We have a fantastic training ground and a great academy".

And so it is. Litex are Bulgaria’s top dogs, while CSKA Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia are in the two Europa League spots. Levski Sofia will hope for Lokomotiv to spill points against Chernomorets Bourgas or Lokomotiv Plovdiv to stand any chance of European football themselves.