CSKA Sofia on the Brink of Europa League Qualification After 3-0 First-Leg Triumph

CSKA Sofia Carry 3-0 Edge Into Sofia Return

CSKA Sofia take a commanding 3-0 advantage into Thursday’s second leg against Maccabi Tel Aviv at the National Stadium Vasil Levski. With qualification within reach for the Bulgarian side, Maccabi must produce a fast and forceful response while avoiding the kind of defensive openings that decided the first meeting.

Match Context and Qualification Stakes

The UEFA Europa League third qualifying-round second leg takes place on Thursday, August 13, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 UTC. D. Schlager will referee the match in Sofia, where CSKA will be aiming to complete the job after their excellent away victory in the opening leg.

No conventional standings data is available for either team at this qualifying stage, so the immediate European objective defines the occasion. CSKA can approach the match with a substantial cushion, while Maccabi Tel Aviv need an early goal and a near-perfect performance to overturn the deficit and keep their campaign alive.

Form and Momentum

CSKA Sofia arrive with strong momentum, having won four and drawn one of their last five matches. Their sequence includes the 3-0 success over Maccabi, a 3-0 win against Septemvri Sofia, victories over Dunav Ruse and Botev Plovdiv, plus a goalless draw with Qarabag, showing both attacking confidence and defensive resilience.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s recent record features two wins followed by the defeat to CSKA, including a 5-0 away victory over Sheriff Tiraspol and a 1-0 home success against the same opponent. Their away numbers remain an important source of encouragement, with five goals scored and none conceded in their only listed away match, although they now face a much more demanding recovery task.

Tactical Matchup

CSKA have used a wide range of systems, including 4-3-1-2, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-1-4-1 and 4-3-3. That flexibility should help them tailor their approach to the scoreline, with a compact shape and quick transitions likely to be more valuable than committing too many players forward.

Maccabi have alternated between 3-5-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1, giving them several ways to add attacking width and numbers. Their challenge will be to press high enough to find an early breakthrough without leaving space behind the defence for CSKA to exploit, particularly if the hosts counter into open areas.

Prediction and What to Expect

CSKA Sofia’s home record is perfect in the available data, with two wins from two matches, four goals scored and two conceded. That record, combined with the first-leg advantage, suggests they can prioritize control, defensive discipline and efficient use of possession rather than chasing a decisive victory.

Prediction: CSKA Sofia 1-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi’s need to attack should create opportunities, but CSKA’s three-goal cushion, unbeaten form and home momentum point to a controlled draw that sends the Bulgarian side through.