CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round Preview

CSKA Sofia host Maccabi Tel Aviv at the National Stadium Vasil Levski in Sofia in the second leg of a UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round tie, with the Bulgarian side carrying a commanding 3–0 advantage from the neutral-venue first leg and standing on the brink of a place in the play-off round, while Maccabi need an exceptional turnaround to keep their European campaign alive.

Head-to-Head Tactical Summary

The only recent meeting in the data came on 6 August 2026 at Batumi Arena in the same UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round, where Maccabi Tel Aviv were the designated home team and CSKA Sofia the away side. CSKA led 2–0 at half-time and closed out a 3–0 win in regular time, underlining their ability to strike early and then control the game.

Global Season Picture

• League Phase Performance: There is no group stage or domestic league standings data provided for either CSKA Sofia or Maccabi Tel Aviv in this context, so their current rank, goals for and against, and points within their domestic leagues or a Europa League group cannot be quantified here.
• Season Metrics: In the Europa League qualifying phase, CSKA Sofia have played 5 matches, winning 4 and drawing 1, scoring 9 goals and conceding 3. They have been flexible tactically, using multiple formations (including 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2 and others) and have kept 3 clean sheets, suggesting a balanced side that can adapt to game state. Maccabi Tel Aviv have played 3 Europa League qualifiers, winning 2 and losing 1, with 6 goals scored and 3 conceded; they have produced a very strong away attacking output (5 goals in 1 away match) and kept 2 clean sheets overall, but their single home defeat (0–3) to CSKA exposes defensive vulnerability when chasing a tie.
• Form Trajectory: CSKA Sofia’s form line in Europa League qualifiers reads WWDWW, indicating they are unbeaten with four wins from five and have built momentum through the rounds, tightening defensively as they go (3 clean sheets). Maccabi Tel Aviv’s form string is WWL, showing they opened this European run with back-to-back wins before the heavy loss to CSKA; that defeat breaks an otherwise positive trajectory and places psychological pressure on their response in Sofia.

Tactical Efficiency

CSKA Sofia’s qualifying campaign points to high tactical efficiency at both ends: 9 goals in 5 matches with only 3 conceded and 3 clean sheets, plus varied formations, suggest they can adjust between more expansive and more controlled structures depending on the scoreline. Their ability to build a 3–0 away lead in the first leg reflects an effective pressing and transition plan against Maccabi. Maccabi Tel Aviv, by contrast, have shown explosive attacking capacity away from home (a 5–0 away win in their biggest result) and a generally solid defensive record in qualifiers (3 conceded in 3 games, 2 clean sheets), but the 0–3 home loss to CSKA highlights that when their structure is stretched, particularly when they must attack, their back line can be exposed. Over two legs, CSKA’s consistency and defensive solidity have so far outperformed Maccabi’s more volatile, high-ceiling profile.

The Verdict: Seasonal Impact

This second leg is season-defining for both clubs’ European ambitions. For CSKA Sofia, successfully managing a three-goal cushion at home would secure progression to the Europa League play-off round, bringing them within one tie of the group stage and the financial and sporting benefits that entails; it would also reinforce a narrative of a mature, adaptable side capable of handling knockout pressure. For Maccabi Tel Aviv, elimination at this stage would represent a sharp halt after a promising start to qualifying, increasing reliance on domestic success to salvage their 2026 campaign. Only a remarkable comeback in Sofia would keep their Europa League path open and restore momentum, but the scale of the deficit means that, in forward-looking terms, CSKA hold a strong position to shape their season around a deep European run, while Maccabi are fighting to avoid an early reset toward domestic priorities.