Both sides were previously in action in June, with the hosts playing out a 1-1 Euro 2024 qualification-draw against Serbia, while Team Melli secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the CAFA Nations Cup final.
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Bulgaria will host Iran in an international friendly at Hristo Botev Stadium on Thursday. Both sides were previously in action in June, with the hosts playing out a 1-1 Euro 2024 qualification-draw against Serbia, while Team Melli secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the CAFA Nations Cup final. The Lions will be looking to build some confidence ahead of their Euro qualifier against Montenegro on Sunday, while the visitors are preparing for the World Cup qualifiers beginning on November.
🇧🇬🆚🇮🇷 България – Иран
📍 Пловдив
🏟️ “Христо Ботев”
⏰ Днес, 19:00 ч.
📺 Пряко по БНТ 3
#️⃣ #БългарияИграе pic.twitter.com/8fAXkepNcf— Team Bulgaria (@Team_Bulgaria) September 7, 2023
Bulgaria have been going through a tough spell, having not tasted victory in their last four Euro qualifiers, leaving them under pressure in Group G. the Lions are currently sitting at the fourth spot in the five-team table, with just two points to their name, five points adrift of the top two, who have a game in hand. Mladen Krastajic’s side would consider themselves unlucky not to have taken all three points against Serbia last time out, having taken the lead through Kiril Despodov’s 47th-minute effort. But the Eagles scored a last-ditch equaliser through Darko Lazovic’s 96th-minute effort.
Iran, on the other hand, are in strong form, having won each of their last four outings across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and conceding just three in the process. Team Melli edged past Uzbekistan in the CAFA final last time out thanks to Sardar Azmoun’s lone goal mid-way through the second-half. Meanwhile, the Persian Stars had a decent World Cup finals in Qatar last year, recording one win and two defeats from three league-games, and thereby finishing third in Group B, behind England and USA.
Bulgaria probable starting lineup: Dyulgerov, Hristov, Antov, Gruev, Popov, Chochev, Shopov, Petkov, Minchev, Rusev, Despodov
Iran probable starting lineup: H Hosseini, Rezaeian, M Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Mohammadi, Ali Gholizadeh, Nourollahi, Ezatolahi, Hajsafi, Taremi, Azmoun
Bulgaria
| Opponents | Score |
| Serbia | 1-1 (D) |
| Lithuania | 1-1 (D) |
| Hungary | 3-0 (L) |
| Montenegro | 0-1 (L) |
| Luxembourg | 0-0 (D) |
Iran
| Opponents | Score |
| Uzbekistan | 0-1 (W) |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1-5 (W) |
| Afghanistan | 6-1 (W) |
| Kenya | 2-1 (W) |
| Russia | 1-1 (D) |
The International friendly between Bulgaria and Iran will take place at Hristo Botev Stadium on Thursday at 9:30 pm IST.
| Bulgaria vs Iran | Key details |
| Date | September 7 |
| Venue | Hristo Botev Stadium |
| Kickoff time in Bulgaria | 7:00 pm |
| Kickoff time in Iran | 7:30 pm |
| Kickoff time in India | 9:30 pm |
football fans in Bulgaria can catch the live action via BNT network. Meanwhile, those in Iran can live stream the match through IRIB Varzesh.
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