NK Varteks Varazdin 1–0 CSKA 1948 Sofia: Hosts Hold On for Narrow Friendly Victory

NK Varteks Varazdin edged CSKA 1948 Sofia 1–0 in an International Club Friendly on 5 July 2026. A solitary first-half goal proved enough for the Croatian side as they defended resolutely to keep a clean sheet against their Bulgarian opponents.

The match was a tightly contested affair, with both teams fielding strong line-ups to test their pre-season fitness. Varteks scored the only goal in the 25th minute, a close-range finish after a corner caused chaos in the CSKA box. The visitors pushed hard for an equalizer in the second half but found the home defense well-organized and determined.

Match Overview

NK Varteks Varazdin, a historic club in Croatian football, used this friendly to sharpen their defensive shape and transition play. CSKA 1948 Sofia, a rising force in Bulgarian football, showed plenty of possession but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. The result gave Varteks a morale-boosting win as they prepare for the new season.

Key Moments

• 25' – Goal Varteks: A scramble from a corner saw the ball fall to a Varteks midfielder, who fired home from six yards.
• 53' – Great save: CSKA 1948 Sofia’s striker was denied by a reflex stop from the Varteks goalkeeper.
• 68' – Missed header: A CSKA forward directed a free header wide from close range.
• 89' – Blocked effort: Varteks almost doubled the lead, but a last-ditch tackle prevented a tap-in.

Standout Players

Varteks’ goalkeeper was named man of the match for his crucial saves, while the center-back partnership kept CSKA’s attack quiet. For the visitors, the midfield duo worked hard but could not unlock the home defense. The clean sheet will please Varteks’ manager as they continue their pre-season preparations.