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CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction: Key Stats and Tips

CSKA Sofia welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv to National Stadium Vasil Levski in Sofia on 13 August 2026 for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round tie. After a dominant 3-0 win in the first leg at Batumi Arena, the Bulgarian side are firmly in control of the matchup and now look to finish the job in front of their home supporters.

For CSKA Sofia, the objective is clear: manage the advantage intelligently, avoid early nerves, and use their strong recent Europa League form to secure progression to the play-off round. Maccabi Tel Aviv, meanwhile, face an uphill task. They must overturn a three-goal deficit away from home against a side that has yet to lose in this European campaign, making this a high-risk, high-reward scenario for the Israeli club.

Stats suggest CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv will again hinge on CSKA’s defensive solidity and balanced attack against Maccabi’s more volatile profile – capable of big wins but also vulnerable at the back. With qualification and valuable UEFA prize money on the line, this second leg has significant stakes despite the one-sided first-leg scoreline.

CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Key Stats

  • CSKA Sofia are unbeaten in the 2026 UEFA Europa League so far, with 4 wins and 1 draw across 5 matches, scoring 9 and conceding just 3.
  • The only previous meeting between these sides came on 6 August 2026, when CSKA Sofia beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-0 at Batumi Arena in the first leg of this tie.
  • In Europa League 2026 tournament statistics, CSKA Sofia have kept 3 clean sheets in 5 matches, while Maccabi Tel Aviv have 2 clean sheets in 3 matches.

CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv — Tale of the Tape

  • Position: Not available vs Not available
  • Points: Not available vs Not available
  • Goals For: 9 (CSKA Sofia, 5 matches) vs 6 (Maccabi Tel Aviv, 3 matches) in current Europa League campaign
  • Goals Against: 3 (CSKA Sofia) vs 3 (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
  • Clean Sheets: CSKA Sofia 3, Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 (tournament statistics)

There is no traditional league table context here, but the Europa League statistics paint a clear picture. Across 5 matches, CSKA Sofia have averaged 1.8 goals scored and just 0.6 conceded per game, with no defeats. Their biggest wins include a 3-2 home victory and a 3-0 away success, underlining both attacking threat and defensive control.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Europa League run has been shorter but more extreme: 3 matches, 2 wins and 1 loss, with 6 goals scored and 3 conceded. Their 5-0 away win and 1-0 home win show they can dominate weaker opposition, but the 0-3 home defeat to CSKA in the first leg exposed defensive frailties when the level of opponent rises. Over 3 games, they average 2.0 goals scored and 1.0 conceded, but that defensive average is heavily skewed by the CSKA loss.

CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Key Matchups

CSKA Sofia defence vs Maccabi Tel Aviv attack

Without individual scorer data, the key battle is structural: CSKA Sofia’s back line, which has allowed just 3 goals in 5 Europa League matches, against a Maccabi Tel Aviv attack that has produced 6 goals in only 3 games. CSKA concede on average 0.6 goals per match, with their goals against distribution suggesting they are generally solid but can be caught late – a significant share of goals conceded has come in the 76–90 minute window.

Maccabi’s attack is capable of explosive performances, as shown by a 5-0 away win earlier in qualifying, and they average 2.0 goals per match. However, they failed to score in the first leg and have already had one match in which they drew a blank. To have any chance of turning this tie around, Maccabi must find ways to disrupt a CSKA unit that has already kept 3 clean sheets in the competition.

Midfield control and tactical flexibility

Another decisive area is midfield control and tactical adaptability. CSKA Sofia have used five different formations in their Europa League campaign so far (4-3-1-2, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3), each at least once. That flexibility allows them to switch between more conservative and more expansive shapes depending on the game state, which is ideal when protecting a first-leg lead.

Maccabi Tel Aviv have also shown variety, lining up in 3-5-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 across their three matches. To chase a three-goal deficit, they are likely to lean towards their more attacking systems. The risk is that pushing numbers forward could expose a defence that has already conceded 3 goals in 2 home matches and was opened up repeatedly by CSKA in Batumi.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

These sides have only just begun their head-to-head history, with the first leg in Batumi providing an emphatic opening chapter. That result shapes much of the narrative heading into the return match in Sofia.

  • 6 August 2026: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-3 CSKA Sofia (UEFA Europa League)

CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction

Stats and context point strongly towards CSKA Sofia managing this second leg professionally. They come in with excellent recent form: 4 wins and 1 draw in Europa League, 9 goals scored and just 3 conceded, and 3 clean sheets. Their last-five performance indices underline that edge, with a form rating of 87 out of 100, attack 69 and defence 77.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s last-five profile (over 3 matches) is more mixed: form 67, attack 46, defence 77. They are solid at the back in general but struggled badly in the first leg, conceding 3 and failing to score. The prediction model gives CSKA Sofia a 45% chance of winning the match, with a 45% probability of a draw and only 10% for a Maccabi away win. That, combined with the three-goal aggregate cushion and home advantage, suggests CSKA can afford to be pragmatic.

Expect CSKA Sofia to prioritise control and risk management rather than all-out attack. Maccabi Tel Aviv will need to chase the game, which could open space for CSKA on the break. A low- to medium-scoring contest, with CSKA avoiding defeat, looks the likeliest scenario.

Predicted Score: CSKA Sofia 1-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv

CSKA Sofia Recent Form

CSKA Sofia are in excellent recent Europa League form. Across 5 matches in this campaign they have 4 wins and 1 draw, with no defeats. They average 1.8 goals scored and only 0.6 conceded per game, and have kept 3 clean sheets. Their biggest victories include a 3-2 home win and a 3-0 away win, underlining their ability to perform both in Sofia and on neutral/away grounds.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Recent Form

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s recent Europa League form is more uneven but still respectable: 2 wins and 1 defeat from 3 matches. They average 2.0 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game, with 2 clean sheets and one match in which they failed to score. Their high point was a 5-0 away win, but the 0-3 home loss to CSKA Sofia in the first leg raises questions about their consistency against stronger opposition.

CSKA Sofia Possible Starting Lineup

GK: D. Evtimov; Defenders: J. Gbamin, Adrián Lapeña, Á. Martino, Pastor, Facundo Santiago Rodríguez, A. Yordanov; Midfielders: M. Ebong, Bruno Jordão, S. Sensi, M. Brahimi, I. Solet Bomawoko, Lé o Pereira, J. Iliev; Forwards: S. Godoy, I. Pittas, R. Zhivkov, J. Zwarts, K. Dodaj.

CSKA Sofia have rotated systems frequently in this Europa League campaign, using variations of back fours and back threes, as well as both double-striker and single-striker setups. With a three-goal aggregate lead, they are likely to opt for a balanced shape, perhaps a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1, prioritising midfield control and defensive stability while leaving enough pace and presence up front to exploit counter-attacking opportunities.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Possible Starting Lineup

GK: R. Mishpati; Defenders: M. Camara, R. Revivo, R. Shlomo, S. Rosen, S. Yehezkel, T. Asante; Midfielders: D. Glazer, Dor Peretz, K. Belić, I. Shahar, I. Sissokho, O. N. Azo, K. Andrade; Forwards: E. Sokler, Y. Malede, Hélio Varela, Orel Baaia, E. Madmon, S. Farhi, O. Davida.

Maccabi Tel Aviv have alternated between 3-5-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 in their three Europa League matches. Chasing a three-goal deficit, they are likely to lean towards a more attacking configuration, perhaps a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 that allows them to field multiple forwards and attacking midfielders. The challenge will be finding the right balance so that pushing for goals does not leave them fatally exposed to CSKA’s transitions.

CSKA Sofia Team News

No significant absences reported.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

CSKA Sofia:

  • None reported.

Maccabi Tel Aviv:

  • None reported.

Betting Tips: CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

  • Result Tip: CSKA Sofia Draw No Bet or Double Chance (Home or Draw). The prediction model gives CSKA Sofia a 45% chance to win and 45% for the draw, with only 10% on a Maccabi victory. The market also makes CSKA favourites: home odds range from 1.98 to 2.14 (implied probability roughly 46.7% to 50.5%), while away odds range from 3.40 to 4.05 (about 24.7% to 29.4%). Backing CSKA on the safer side of the result market is supported by their unbeaten Europa League run and 3-0 first-leg win.
  • Goals Tip: Under 3.5 total goals. CSKA Sofia matches in this Europa League campaign have generally been controlled, with an average of 2.4 total goals per game (1.8 for, 0.6 against) and only 2 of 5 going over 2.5. Maccabi average 3.0 total goals per match (2.0 for, 1.0 against), but with CSKA protecting a lead, a more measured tempo is likely. While specific under/over odds are not provided, the statistical profile leans towards a game that stays below the higher goal lines.
  • Value Tip: Draw at attractive odds. The draw is priced between 3.10 and 3.25 across bookmakers (implied probability roughly 30.8% to 32.3%), while the prediction model assigns a 45% chance to a stalemate. With CSKA able to settle for a low-risk, controlled performance and Maccabi needing to attack but facing a strong defence, a draw – especially something like 1-1 – offers potential value given the discrepancy between model probability and market price.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.

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