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CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: Europa League second-leg tactical analysis. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
CSKA Sofia enter this second-leg fixture unbeaten in 11 matches, with strong home form including three consecutive clean sheets in the Europa League and an average of 56% possession and 12.78 shots per game. Their midfield quality and tactical control position them well to secure another victory against a Maccabi side needing to attack aggressively.
A 2-1 scoreline fits CSKA Sofia's recent home scoring form and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s attacking threat. Both teams average nearly identical shot volumes, and Maccabi’s need to chase the tie should yield a goal, while CSKA’s defensive solidity and attacking options suggest they can score twice at home.
Compare form, H2H, goals trends and key data for CSKA Sofia v Maccabi Tel Aviv.
CSKA Sofia return to Stadion Vasil Levski on Thursday carrying a commanding 3-0 advantage into the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying-round tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
CSKA Sofia’s strong home form contrasts with Maccabi’s need to overturn a three-goal deficit.
CSKA Sofia’s recent scoring form supports an attacking game, while Maccabi’s urgency may increase goal chances.
CSKA’s home scoring and Maccabi’s ability to breach defences suggest a narrow win with goals at both ends.
CSKA Sofia and Maccabi Tel Aviv average nearly identical shots per game, reflecting balanced attacking pressure.
Three Punchy Stats
- CSKA Sofia are unbeaten in their last 11 matches, recording nine wins and two draws across that sequence.
- CSKA have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Europa League, including their 3-0 first-leg victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- Maccabi won 5-0 away to Sheriff Tiraspol earlier in qualifying, a reminder that a side chasing three goals cannot simply be written off.
Attacking Efficiency Comparison
CSKA Sofia’s recent scoring form edges Maccabi’s goal threat
CSKA Sofia’s blunt recent output leaves Maccabi Tel Aviv with the stronger attacking edge.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s stronger recent results provide a firmer platform than CSKA Sofia.
Defensive Solidity Contrast
CSKA Sofia’s clean sheets highlight defensive strength over Maccabi’s vulnerabilities
CSKA Sofia’s lack of defensive control gives Maccabi Tel Aviv a clear route to chances.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s defensive discipline could force CSKA Sofia into lower-quality chances.
CSKA hold the cards in Sofia
Hristo Yanev’s side built that cushion in Batumi through Max Ebong’s ninth-minute opener and further goals from Leandro Godoy and Joel Zwarts. They have since beaten Septemvri Sofia 3-0, extending an unbeaten run that stretches across 11 matches.
Maccabi arrive in the uncomfortable position of needing to attack without losing control. Kenny Miller’s team had opened their Europa League campaign by eliminating Sheriff Tiraspol 6-0 on aggregate, including a 5-0 away win, so their attacking capacity is obvious. The problem is equally obvious: one more careless spell could turn a difficult comeback into an impossible one.
The tactical battle: control versus urgency
The central question is not whether Maccabi need goals, but how aggressively they pursue them.
CSKA can afford to defend the tie rather than merely the match. That does not necessarily mean retreating. Their recent numbers suggest a side comfortable generating pressure: across nine matches they average 12.78 shots, 56% possession, 116.44 attacks and 96.33 dangerous attacks per game. They have also kept clean sheets in their last three Europa League fixtures.
That combination gives Yanev options. CSKA can compress midfield, encourage Maccabi to commit players forward and then attack the spaces left behind. With Bruno Jordao, Ebong and Stefano Sensi available through the middle, the hosts possess several routes for controlling possession and disrupting Maccabi’s attempts to build momentum.
Maccabi cannot simply throw bodies forward from kick-off. That would be brave, dramatic and possibly football’s tactical equivalent of leaving the front door open because you are expecting visitors.
Their better route is controlled aggression. Dor Peretz brings significant European experience, with 17 goals in 90 UEFA appearances, while Abu Farchi has scored four times in four competitive matches this season. With Ion Nicolaescu sidelined by an ACL injury, their attacking responsibility becomes even more concentrated around those available forwards.
Farchi in particular could be crucial. His contribution helped Maccabi dismantle Sheriff 5-0 away, demonstrating that Miller’s side can produce forceful attacking performances on the road. Their wider figures also show an average of 12.83 shots per game, almost identical to CSKA’s 12.78.
The difference may therefore come down to shot quality, field position and game state rather than raw volume.
Why the first goal matters so much
CSKA’s first-leg breakthrough arrived after nine minutes, and another early goal in Sofia would transform the psychology of the contest. Maccabi would then require an extraordinary response while exposing even more space.
Equally, a quick Maccabi goal would introduce the one ingredient CSKA will desperately want to avoid: doubt.
The hosts have won three and drawn one of their four recent home matches, scoring eight goals across those competitive fixtures. They have also collected 10 points from the first 12 available in the Parva Liga, while their European path has already included a 5-3 aggregate win over Derry City and a penalty shootout success against Qarabag.
There is resilience here as well as attacking form.
Personnel could still influence the shape. Angelo Martino limped out of the win over Septemvri, potentially opening the door for Andrey Yordanov at left-back. In attack, Zwarts has scored in two of his last three appearances but faces competition from Godoy and Ioannis Pittas.
Maccabi, meanwhile, are coming off a 3-1 Super Cup win over Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Their season has already shown that the first-leg defeat was an exception to otherwise strong results, making complacency CSKA’s most dangerous opponent.
📊 Market Explainer
Match Result Market
Selection: CSKA Sofia to win. Choose the home win, draw or away win after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties are excluded from settlement.
Correct Score Market
Selection: CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
⚔️ Pick 1: CSKA Sofia to win @ 13/10
CSKA Sofia enter this second-leg fixture in exceptional form, holding an 11-match unbeaten run containing nine victories and two draws across all competitions. Hristo Yanev’s side have built strong domestic and European rhythm, gathering 10 points from their opening 12 in the Parva Liga while taking three wins and a draw from their last four home games, scoring eight goals during that span. Their European campaign highlights firm defensive stability, reflected in three consecutive clean sheets in Europa League play, including their 3-0 first-leg win against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Batumi.
In terms of match control, CSKA maintain consistent overall pressure, averaging 56% possession, 12.78 shots, and 96.33 dangerous attacks per fixture. The presence of Bruno Jordao, Max Ebong, and Stefano Sensi across central midfield gives the hosts technical quality to dictate terms and manage tempo. Because Maccabi Tel Aviv must attack aggressively to overcome a three-goal deficit, CSKA possess the midfield passing capabilities required to bypass forward pressure and exploit space in transition. Operating with home advantage at Stadion Vasil Levski, CSKA retain all key ingredients to record another victory.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- CSKA Sofia remain unbeaten in their last 11 matches, recording nine wins and two draws.
- Hristo Yanev's team average 56% possession and 12.78 shots per match.
- The Bulgarian club have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Europa League.
Risk Factor: Left-back Angelo Martino limped off recently, potentially opening a starting place for Andrey Yordanov in defence.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Unbeaten in 11 matches with 56% average possession and high central quality through Jordao, Ebong, and Sensi.
Trailing 3-0 on aggregate forces defensive risk, opening central transition zones for CSKA forward attackers.
🎯 Pick 2: CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 @ 8/1
A 2-1 scoreline directly aligns with CSKA Sofia’s home form and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s inherent goalscoring capacity. CSKA have netted eight goals across their past four home matches, driven by an active frontline containing Joel Zwarts—who has scored in two of his last three outings—alongside Leandro Godoy and Ioannis Pittas. First-leg goalscorers Ebong and Godoy demonstrated how CSKA slice through Maccabi’s backline, and returning home provides optimal conditions to score twice.
Concurrently, Maccabi Tel Aviv hold sufficient firepower to breach CSKA’s defence despite the hosts’ three consecutive European clean sheets. Kenny Miller’s side average 12.83 shots per match—virtually identical to CSKA’s 12.78—and previously earned a 5-0 away win against Sheriff Tiraspol. Forward Abu Farchi carries sharp form with four goals in four competitive matches this season, while Dor Peretz brings European experience with 17 goals in 90 UEFA appearances. With Maccabi forced to press forward to overturn their deficit, urgency should yield a goal, but overcommitting leaves gaps for CSKA to seal a 2-1 outcome.
Risk Factor: Forward Ion Nicolaescu remains sidelined with an ACL injury, increasing goalscoring reliance on Abu Farchi and Dor Peretz.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Match Result market in football betting?
The Match Result market predicts the full-time winner or draw outcome of a football match. Wagers settle strictly based on results achieved during 90 minutes of regular play plus injury time.
How does the Correct Score market function?
The Correct Score market requires selecting the precise final scoreline of a fixture at full-time. Payouts require an exact match to the official score standard at the final whistle.
What happens to a Match Result selection if the game finishes tied?
If the game finishes tied, standard team win bets settle as losses, while Draw selections win. Bettors seeking protection against level scorelines often evaluate Double Chance or Draw No Bet options.
Why is CSKA Sofia selected to win the second leg?
CSKA Sofia hold an 11-match unbeaten streak and have recorded three wins and a draw in their past four home fixtures, scoring eight goals. Their 56% average possession and recent 3-0 first-leg win underline clear form momentum.
How do Both Teams To Score and Match Result markets differ?
Both Teams To Score depends strictly on both clubs finding the net, regardless of who wins the game. Match Result focuses exclusively on which side wins or whether the contest finishes tied.
Can Maccabi Tel Aviv score in Sofia despite trailing 3-0 on aggregate?
Maccabi Tel Aviv maintain strong goalscoring capacity, averaging 12.83 shots per match and winning 5-0 away at Sheriff Tiraspol earlier in qualifying. Forward Abu Farchi has scored four goals in four competitive matches this season.
How does an early goal influence betting markets?
An early goal immediately alters live match prices and team tactics. A quick CSKA goal increases Maccabi's urgent positional opening, while an early Maccabi goal introduces immediate pressure to CSKA's defensive shape.
What factors support a 2-1 scoreline prediction for CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv?
CSKA Sofia average 12.78 shots per match and scored eight goals across four recent home games, while Maccabi Tel Aviv average 12.83 shots per match. Maccabi's need to chase the tie supports a goal for both sides while CSKA's overall form points to a home victory.
