PFC Levski Sofia vs AEK Athens

The winner of this playoff tie books a spot in the lucrative Champions League league phase; the loser drops into the Europa League — as big as qualifying football gets. Levski Sofia arrive full of confidence, top of the Bulgarian First League after a flying start, having finished runners-up to Ludogorets last season. AEK Athens come in as reigning Greek champions, having won last season's Super League title under coach Marko Nikolić by edging out Panathinaikos in the playoffs. Levski are unbeaten in six, winning four of their last five, and just eliminated Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty 2-0 on aggregate — Serginho struck late in the first leg before Reinaldo settled things early in the return, with keeper Svetoslav Vutsov excellent throughout. AEK's attack leans on striker Luka Jović, who top-scored domestically last season with 17 league goals. The clubs have met only once before, in the 1961 Balkans Cup, when AEK won 3-1. Our prediction: 1-1.