Arda secured their playoff chances by thrashing Lokomotiv Plovdiv 4-0 in a crucial EFBet Liga match. This victory, coupled with Chernomorets' defeat to Botvina, keeps the playoff race alive. Antonio Vutov, the hero of the match, scored a hat-trick before the 25th minute and assisted Djelal Husseinov for the fourth goal after the break.

In the round before the end of the season, Arda, currently in seventh place under coach Alexander Tuncov, is now just three points away from Chernomorets. The latter, currently sixth, will face the "canaries" in a city derby to conclude their season.

Chernomorets still has a chance to participate in European competitions through a victory in the Bulgarian Cup final against CSKA on May 20. Coach Dusan Kosic made ten changes to the starting lineup and gave most of the regulars a rest, retaining only Julien Lami in the starting eleven.

This was the fourth clash between the two teams in the last month, and Arda finally managed to defeat their rivals. The "sky blues" took partial revenge for their 0-4 loss earlier in the season.