Maccabi Tel Aviv arrive into this third-round qualifier with two clean sheets and a perfect record, demonstrating a defensively sound setup under new coach Kenny Miller. CSKA Sofia have been more battle-tested across four qualifying matches and remain unbeaten, yet their away…
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Sign inMaccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA Sofia begin their two-legged tussle for a place in the UEFA Europa League play-off round on Thursday 6 August, with the first leg of their 3rd qualifying round tie scheduled for 18:00 CET. Bulgarian Cup holders CSKA are guaranteed at least UEFA Conference League football, but both sides enter this neutral-venue fixture hunting European progress.
No fresh injury concerns have surfaced for either Maccabi Tel Aviv or CSKA Sofia in published team news ahead of the first leg. Both managers are expected to name settled line-ups built around the cores that navigated the previous qualifying round. CSKA relied heavily on the resilience that carried them through 120 goalless minutes and a 5-4 penalty shootout victory against Qarabağ in the last stage, while Maccabi rotated in the second leg of their stroll past Sheriff Tiraspol after a commanding 5-0 first-leg win and a 1-0 follow-up victory.
Comfort defined Maccabi Tel Aviv’s second qualifying round. The Israeli side dismantled Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol 5-0 in the opening leg, then cruised through the return fixture 1-0 to seal a 6-0 aggregate win. The tie was effectively over at half-time in the first game, allowing the squad to conserve energy. Israeli clubs continue to play home matches at neutral venues, with Maccabi hosting Sheriff in Batumi, Georgia in the previous round — a logistical wrinkle that adds another layer to their European campaign.
CSKA Sofia’s most recent European outing was a 0-0 stalemate against Qarabağ that required settling from the penalty spot. The Bulgarian side netted five of their six spot-kicks to edge the Azerbaijani champions 5-4 on penalties, a shootout that secured not only a place in this round but also a safety net in the Conference League play-offs. Prior to that, CSKA navigated a tie against Derry City, winning 2-1 at home and 3-2 away to underline their scoring ability on the road.
Maccabi hit five goals past Sheriff in a single leg, signalling an attack that can overwhelm opponents early. CSKA, meanwhile, held Qarabağ scoreless for more than two hours of football and proved mentally robust when the tie went to penalties. The first leg’s outcome may hinge on whether CSKA’s defensive organisation can withstand Maccabi’s firepower on neutral ground before the return leg swings to Sofia on 13 August.
The winners of this tie will advance to the UEFA Europa League play-off round, where a spot in the revamped league phase is up for grabs. The losers drop into the UEFA Conference League play-offs, a parachute CSKA already guaranteed by beating Qarabağ. With the first leg technically a Maccabi Tel Aviv home fixture but taking place at a venue yet to be confirmed in accessible sources, the Bulgarian side may sense an opportunity to grab a foothold before welcoming their opponents to Sofia a week later.
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34Maccabi Tel Aviv
Coach: Kenny Miller
CSKA Sofia
Coach: Hristo Yanev
