The two biggest clubs in the Balkan country - CSKA Sofia and fierce city rivals Levski - meet on the opening weekend of the campaign for the first time in the league's existence.
Both teams are eager to forget last season's disappointment when Litex Lovech clinched the title to become only the second club to upset the balance of power this century.
"No doubt, it's the biggest game in Bulgarian football," Pavel Dotchev, coach of 31-times Bulgarian champions CSKA, told Reuters. "It's like a cup final.
"There's always a unique atmosphere, everybody is talking about this game - the fans, the media - and they're doing this not only in Sofia. You can't compare it to any other sports event in Bulgaria.
"I took part in this derby on several occasions as a player and I still have great memories. Now I'm looking forward to tasting it as a coach," said former Bulgaria defender Dotchev, who played for CSKA in the early 1990s.
"We know it'll be only the first match of the season but still we realise that the winners will get a huge psychological boost."
The "eternal derby" - as the meeting between CSKA and Levski is dubbed - has long been known for its highly-charged atmosphere.
After three months with little to interest them in football - Bulgaria failed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa - local supporters are eagerly anticipating Sunday's clash.
"It's been a long summer," CSKA fan Boris Parushev told Reuters. "We watched the World Cup on TV and it was fun but there's nothing better than being at the stadium and singing your favourite songs with your mates."
"The team are not very strong nowadays but CSKA still have some of the most passionate fans on the continent," said Parushev. "I can assure you that we'll make our mark against Levski. It'll be a night to remember."
"We're tough opponents in the Bulgarian league but it's always good to see that our teams have a decent chance to be successful in European competitions," said Dotchev.
"I think we still have many talented and quality players in Bulgaria but the biggest problem is that many of them are not m
