Tonight, Bulgaria somehow managed to become one again . People who are not interested in sport listened to the sports news. Men who do not watch football /oh yeah, sure there are some/ switched the TV channel to watch the football match between Ludogorets – Lazio in Sofia. Was it all energy we put in the desire to win over the Italians, the definite football skills of the Ludogorets Razgrad football team players, or perhaps the blend of all these brought the victory!
For years we haven’t watched such sport spirit which Ludogorets Razgrad showed tonight. They were loosing by 0-2 at home, and they managed to catch up, score and turn the total score in their favor . And there, just seven minutes before the end of the match the our goalkeeper received a 3rd goal in his net. Even this final minutes cold shower didn’t scared or disbelieved the Bulgarian team. Ludogorets Razgrad players found the courage, the strength and the will to fight until the end. They dared and they scored and equalizing goal and by thus the Ludogorets team won the right to be a part of 2014 Europe League 1/8 finals. We know Lazio as a very good team, but for years the Italian team is one of the mediocre football teams in the Serie A. Lazio came to Sofia, Bulgaria with the advantage of being strong team, with many years of all kind of international football competitions. But although all the Lazio’s high played class football players on the field, the team failed to show us more than just an ordinary game with no sings of fair play.
So the Italians in Sofia – Lazio team and managers, fans and supporters were forced to pack up quietly the bags and go home with unpleasant memories. What about the Bulgarians – our joy and euphoria can not be described with words. The only thing that can make our happiness more to somehow wave the beautiful earned Bulgarian win in front the faces of all the Italians in Burgas. We imagined ourselves smiling widely to the Italians in BarBossa, nodding our head toward the TV. Hey, did you hear that Ludogorets Razgrad eliminated Lazio Rome from the finals of the Europe League? And then we remembered that these Italians in Burgas are not very interested in football.
And we have always been fans of Neftohimic Burgas, Chernomorets Burgas, CSKA. And yet Ludogorets won our hearts! So we will be with the Bulgarian team in two weeks when facing Valencia. Valencia is a beautiful city. Very beautiful. But we promise not to step there, nor in Sofia for the next stage of Europe League matches. We will stay in front of the TV in order to continue the winning row. Guess we are somehow superstitious.
But our promise is in the days around matches between Ludogorets Razgrad – Valencia to visit our favorite Spanish restaurants in Varna and bars serving Spanish cuisine in Burgas.
The first game for the Europa League 1/8 finals is between Ludogorets Razgrad – Valencia on 13th March, Thursday in Sofia. So we think the previous weekend to visit Bar’celona Cafe & Bar Burgas tapas night and eat delicious tapas. And after the second game when we’ll know the final score – will Ludogorets Razgrad continue towards the ¼ final of the Europe League we’ll take a culinary trip weekend and will definitely visit Bodega Restaurant Varna.