Winning group A of UEFA World Cup qualifying should have been a straight forward exercise for France, with manager Didier Deschamps boasting arguably one of the most talented group of players assembled in recent years.
In reality, however, the campaign has been far from simple; while Les Bleus sit one point clear at the top of the table, their place at Russia next summer is not yet guaranteed.
The nadir of what has been a deeply inconsistent campaign came last month with a 0-0 draw at home to Luxembourg, although there have been other disappointing results including a 2-1 defeat in Sweden and a 0-0 draw in Belarus.
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One of their best results of the campaign came when they faced Saturday's opponents at home, with France beating Bulgaria 4-1 a year ago to the day of this weekend's clash. Bet365 offer France at 2/11 (1.18) to record another win while the draw can be backed at 13/2 (7.50).
Bulgaria, meanwhile, are offered at 12/1 (13.00) and the hosts still have an outside chance of claiming the runners up spot in the group and with it a place in the play-offs.
That they are in the running at all is down entirely to their home form, with Bulgaria having picked up all 12 of their points on home soil thanks to successive wins over Luxembourg, Belarus, Netherlands and Sweden.
Pete Hubchev's side, therefore, could prove stubborn opponents for the French and they look over-priced at 6/5 (2.20) to find the back of the net; Bulgaria have scored in seven of their eight qualifiers in the current campaign, including against France, and at home they put two past Netherlands and three past Sweden.
France, for their part, have conceded in their last two away qualifiers, in Luxembourg and Sweden respectively, and while they will feel they can win in Sofia the odds for them to concede look too good to turn down.
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