CSKA Sofia enter the tie unbeaten in qualifying, having conceded just three goals across five matches and keeping three clean sheets. Maccabi Tel Aviv's away form grabbed headlines with a 5-0 rout, but their three-game sample reveals a Jekyll-and-Hyde pattern: two clean sheets…
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Sign inCSKA Sofia welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv to their Stadion Bâlgarska Armija home in Sofia on Thursday evening for the decisive second leg of their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie. The winners progress to a playoff meeting with OFI Crete, who host the first leg on August 20, making this a winner-takes-all clash in the Bulgarian capital.
CSKA boss Yanev is expected to keep faith with the settled side that has carried the team through an unbeaten start to the season. Goalkeeper Fedor Lapoukhov should continue behind a back five of David Pastor, Teodor Ivanov, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Facundo Rodriguez and Angelo Martino. In midfield, captain Bruno Jordao will pull the strings alongside Maks Ebong, while former Inter Milan man Stefano Sensi and Cameroon international James Eto'o are pushing for starts. The attacking trident is likely to feature Leandro Godoy, Ioannis Pittas and Dutch striker Joel Zwarts, who scored the opener in their last domestic outing.
For Maccabi Tel Aviv, the headline absentee remains Moldovan forward Ion Nicolaescu. The striker is still recovering from an ACL injury, meaning Abu Farchi will once again partner captain Dor Peretz in attack. Farchi has been in red-hot form, netting four times in his first three competitive appearances this term after recording 10 goal involvements in the Israeli top-flight last season. The visitors are likely to set up with Ofek Melika in goal, shielded by Raz Shlomo and Mohamed Ali Kamara in central defence.
The tie carries an unusual backstory. UEFA ordered Maccabi to play their next home European fixture behind closed doors as punishment for fans lighting fireworks during a recent qualifier. That sanction took effect in the first leg, which was staged in neutral Batumi, Georgia — the same Batumi Arena where Maccabi edged Sheriff Tiraspol 1-0 in the previous round in front of just 1,012 spectators. Thursday’s return fixture in Sofia is unaffected, but the Israeli side arrive knowing the entire tie could hinge on how they handle a hostile, full-throated away crowd.
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrive in fine fettle, having won four of their last five competitive matches (WWWLW). Their only blip was a narrow defeat, while attack-minded performances have seen them score freely. CSKA Sofia’s recent form sheet reads WDWDD, highlighting a team that is tough to beat but has drawn three of its last five. The Bulgarian hosts have shown resilience rather than explosiveness, something they will need to alter if they are to overturn any deficit from the first leg.
With Nicolaescu sidelined, the goalscoring burden falls squarely on the shoulders of Abu Farchi. The Israeli forward’s movement and confidence in front of goal pose a major test for CSKA’s backline. Ex-Everton defender Jean-Philippe Gbamin, who has brought top-level pedigree to the Bulgarian rearguard, will be tasked with marshalling a defence that must stay alert to Farchi’s poaching instincts. If Gbamin can smother the danger early, CSKA’s path to the playoff round becomes far clearer.
The prize for the winner is a two-legged showdown with OFI Crete, whose home leg is already locked in for August 20. An away trip to Greece awaits, but first one of these sides must navigate 90 minutes — and possibly more — in Sofia.
CSKA Sofia
Coach: Hristo Yanev
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Coach: Kenny Miller
