CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: hosts defend a three-goal advantage in Sofia
CSKA Sofia welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv with a significant aggregate advantage from the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round. The Bulgarian team won 3-0 in Batumi, where Maccabi were the hosts behind closed doors. Maks Ebong opened the scoring in the ninth minute, Leandro Godoy found the net before the half-hour mark, and Joël Zwarts finished the job in the 90th minute.
For supporters planning a trip to Sofia, the most important thing is one correction to the event information. The supplied date of 11 August at 20:00 does not match the current schedule for the tie. Maccabi Tel Aviv list the return leg away to PFC CSKA Sofia for Thursday, 13 August, and the same third qualifying round schedule has the first legs on 6 August and the return legs on 13 August. For that reason, anyone organising travel should plan for 13 August and additionally confirm the kick-off time.
There is also an important discrepancy regarding the location. Vasil Levski National Stadium is located in Sofia, at 38 Evlogi i Hristo Georgievi Blvd. The "4301 Karlovo" information attached to the event does not match the verified stadium address.
From a sporting perspective, the situation is much clearer. CSKA have a three-goal advantage, home-field advantage and a team that showed in Batumi how dangerous it can be when the opponent loses the ball. Maccabi have to attack, but that very scenario could open up space for Godoy, Zwarts and the other CSKA players.
It is worth securing tickets in good time, especially for supporters who also need to coordinate transport and accommodation in Sofia around the match.
What is at stake for CSKA Sofia and Maccabi Tel Aviv
This is not an ordinary match in which both teams start from the same position. After a 3-0 win in the first leg, CSKA can build their path to qualification around controlling risk. Maccabi, on the other hand, have no room to wait for long. The Israeli team need to score several goals while also avoiding conceding another one, because every additional CSKA goal would make the comeback even more demanding.
The winner of the tie advances to the final Europa League qualifying play-off. The losing team continues its European season in the play-off of the lower-tier continental competition. The stakes are therefore high both for the sporting result and for the remainder of the European autumn.
CSKA have already come through one extremely tough tie. There were no goals either away or in Sofia against Qarabağ, and the Bulgarian team secured qualification after a penalty shoot-out. That experience fits the situation before Maccabi well: the team knows how to play a match in which the result needs to be protected rather than constantly seeking an open exchange of attacks.
Maccabi reached this round by defeating Sheriff. They won the first leg in Tiraspol 5-0 and then the return leg in Batumi 1-0. Saied Abu Farchi scored twice in the first match, while Dor Peretz, Sagiv Jehezkel and Issouf Sissokho were also among the scorers. That result shows how dangerous Maccabi can be when they manage to impose their tempo and attacking width.
The picture changed completely against CSKA. Kenny Miller's team had early chances but failed to turn them into a goal, while CSKA punished mistakes and quickly steered the game towards a scenario that suited them.
- Maccabi Tel Aviv - CSKA Sofia 0-3 in the first leg of this tie.
- CSKA advanced past Qarabağ in the previous round after two goalless matches.
- Maccabi recorded 5-0 and 1-0 victories against Sheriff.
- CSKA defeated Botev Plovdiv 3-2 in the domestic league at the end of July.
- The first match between Maccabi and CSKA was played in Batumi behind closed doors.
Why CSKA were so dangerous in Batumi
The first goal explains Maccabi's biggest problem from the opening match very well. After a misplaced pass by the home side, Godoy drove the attack forward and found Maks Ebong, who finished precisely to make it 1-0. No long combination or extended spell of possession was required - CSKA recognised the moment, accelerated and punished the mistake.
Godoy was again at the centre of the action for the second goal. After Maccabi failed to clear the situation following a corner, the CSKA forward struck powerfully to double the lead. The third goal came right at the end. Zwarts was given space in front of the penalty area and scored with his left foot for 3-0.
After the match, Kenny Miller particularly highlighted his team's problems after losing possession. CSKA dropped deeper in the second half, waited for transition opportunities and found another one late in the game. That is an important tactical detail for the return leg as well.
Because of the score, Maccabi will have to take the initiative. The more players they commit forward, the more important their protection behind the ball becomes. CSKA do not have to chase a fourth goal, but the space that appears after Maccabi lose possession could be their greatest opportunity.
Players who can decide the return leg
Leandro Godoy was the central figure in the first match. He was involved in the move for the opening goal and then scored the second himself. His movement into the space behind Maccabi's defence is particularly important in a match in which the visitors will probably have to push their defensive line higher.
Joël Zwarts provides another source of goals. Before the European match against Maccabi, he scored twice in CSKA's 3-2 league victory over Botev Plovdiv and then found the net in Batumi to make the final score 3-0. His late goal may be the most important detail of the entire first leg because it left Maccabi three goals behind for the return match instead of two.
Ioannis Pittas did not score in Batumi, but he had an opportunity before half-time and remains a forward whom the visiting defence must monitor. Against Botev Plovdiv, he scored in stoppage time, immediately after Zwarts' second goal.
On the other side, Dor Peretz carries major responsibility. The Maccabi captain plays high enough to get into finishing positions and was among the scorers against Sheriff. In the first match against CSKA, a very good early opportunity opened up for him after a run by Helio Varela, but the attack did not end with a goal.
Saied Abu Farchi showed against Sheriff that he can punish a defence inside the penalty area. Maccabi will need exactly that kind of efficiency in Sofia because a three-goal deficit leaves very little room for missed chances.
Absences make Kenny Miller's situation more difficult. Kristijan Belić underwent surgery at the beginning of August after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot and began rehabilitation. Sagiv Jehezkel and Roy Revivo, two players who had been important for the team's width against Sheriff, did not travel for the first match against CSKA. In Batumi, Miller therefore changed his defensive structure and played with a back four.
Maccabi's tactical problem: how to attack without opening up to counterattacks
Against Sheriff, Maccabi used three central defenders, with Jehezkel and Revivo as wide players providing width. Issouf Sissokho and Itamar Noy operated in midfield, while Peretz and Ido Shahar were given somewhat more attacking roles behind Abu Farchi.
Against CSKA, the line-up changed. Itai Ben Hamo played at right-back, Shahar Rosen on the left, with Raz Shlomo and Ali Camara as the central defenders. Sissokho, Noy and Shahar remained in midfield, Peretz again played closer to the attack, Helio Varela provided width and Abu Farchi led the line.
The result from Batumi now complicates the choice even further. If Maccabi push both full-backs high very early and commit a large number of players ahead of the ball, CSKA will get space to transition. If the visitors are more cautious, time will work in the hosts' favour.
CSKA therefore do not have to change what has already worked. A compact block, disciplined protection of the centre and a quick vertical pass after regaining possession can force Maccabi constantly to choose between risk and patience. The first goal of the return leg will be especially important: a Maccabi goal would restore tension, while a CSKA goal would leave the visitors with an almost extreme task.
Vasil Levski National Stadium: what supporters need to know
Vasil Levski National Stadium is located in the Sredets area of Sofia. The verified address is 38 Evlogi i Hristo Georgievi Blvd., and the stadium has a capacity of 43,358. This matters for travellers because the location listed as "4301 Karlovo" does not correspond to the stadium where CSKA play in Sofia.
CSKA have already experienced a dramatic European night there against Qarabağ. The match remained goalless after regulation time and extra time, and the home team secured a place in the next round after penalties. The return leg against Maccabi comes in a different situation - this time CSKA are not the team that has to find a way through, but the one defending a substantial advantage on home soil.
The first match in Batumi was played without spectators. The return leg in Sofia therefore brings a completely different atmosphere. The home crowd can watch a team that is only one disciplined performance away from the next qualifying stage, while Maccabi must try to change the mood in the stands and the direction of the tie very early.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters. For visitors travelling from outside Sofia, it is more practical to organise their arrival based on the verified stadium address than to rely on the incorrect Karlovo information.
- Stadium: Vasil Levski National Stadium.
- Location: Sredets area in Sofia.
- Address: 38 Evlogi i Hristo Georgievi Blvd.
- Capacity: 43,358.
- The nearest metro station is called Vasil Levski Stadium.
How to get to the stadium
For a supporter unfamiliar with Sofia, the metro has a clear advantage: Vasil Levski Stadium station is located next to the stadium area and removes the need to navigate by car through the central part of the city.
Tram lines 10, 12 and 18 also serve the stadium area. Among the bus routes listed for the stadium by the city's tourism service are 72, 76, 84, 94, 184, 204, 304 and 604. It is worth checking the timetable and any traffic changes on matchday shortly before departure.
Those arriving by car should allow extra time. The stadium is located in a busy urban area, and it is not sensible to plan the journey so that the car has to reach the immediate entrance shortly before kick-off. Parking availability may change depending on traffic arrangements and other events, so parking farther away from the stadium and continuing by public transport is the safer option for anyone unfamiliar with the city.
The opening time of the stadium entrances has not yet been confirmed in the available announcements for this return leg. Rather than assuming a specific time, visitors should check that information shortly before the match and leave enough time for security checks.
Sofia on matchday
The location of Vasil Levski National Stadium makes this match more practical for visitors staying in the city than an event at a remote stadium outside the urban centre. The metro and several tram and bus routes make it possible to arrive without a car, which is particularly useful after the match when a large number of people leave the stadium area at the same time.
For a traveller coming only for the football, the simplest plan is to choose accommodation connected to the metro network and complete the final part of the journey via Vasil Levski Stadium station. This reduces dependence on road traffic and the need to search for parking.
It is wise to arrive in Sofia early enough that a possible change of entrance, security screening or crowds around the stadium do not become a problem. This is particularly important for visiting supporters, who may receive separate instructions for access to a specific section. Exact entrances and movement arrangements should be checked once they are published.
What to expect from the atmosphere
The aggregate situation will give the stands a very clear narrative. CSKA supporters arrive with a 3-0 advantage and the prospect of watching their team confirm qualification. Maccabi's players enter the match knowing that an ordinary victory is not enough unless they overturn the entire deficit.
That can create two completely different phases of the match. If Maccabi threaten or score early, the pressure on the hosts will rise sharply. If CSKA survive the opening surge without serious damage, every subsequent minute becomes their ally. The home crowd can then react to every won duel and every successful transition as another step towards qualification.
Zwarts' goal in the 90th minute of the first match therefore carries greater weight than an ordinary goal. Instead of returning with a two-goal deficit, Maccabi must try to overturn three in Sofia. After the defeat, Miller stressed that his team must be better in individual duels, react faster after losing the ball and use their chances more efficiently.
Practical things to check before travelling
The biggest mistake for a traveller would be to rely only on the original event details. Maccabi's current schedule shows the away match against PFC CSKA Sofia on Thursday, 13 August, while 11 August appears in the supplied description. Likewise, the stadium is in Sofia on Evlogi i Hristo Georgievi Blvd., not at an address in Karlovo.
- Confirm the final kick-off time of the return leg before booking same-day transport.
- For navigation, use Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia and the address 38 Evlogi i Hristo Georgievi Blvd.
- Check the opening time of the entrances as soon as it is announced.
- For arrival by public transport, plan around Vasil Levski Stadium station as the main reference point.
- If travelling by car, allow additional time and do not count on parking immediately next to the entrance.
- Check the section and entry rules stated on the specific ticket.
For Maccabi, the sporting calculation is unforgiving: they must attack, create chances and at the same time prevent CSKA from once again punishing the open space. The hosts have a different task - maintain the discipline that carried them past Qarabağ and that they turned into a three-goal advantage in Batumi.
It is worth securing tickets in good time and confirming the date once more before travelling, because the current schedule for the tie clearly points to the return leg on 13 August rather than the date stated in the original event information.
Sources:
- Maccabi Tel Aviv FC - current schedule for the tie with CSKA Sofia, report from the first match, line-ups, tactical details, Kenny Miller's statements and results against Sheriff.
- Maccabi Tel Aviv FC - information about Kristijan Belić's surgery and rehabilitation.
- Visit Sofia - address, capacity and public transport information for Vasil Levski National Stadium.
- Sky Sports - CSKA's results against Qarabağ and earlier European results for CSKA.
- Sofascore - result of CSKA Sofia - Botev Plovdiv and goalscorers Joël Zwarts and Ioannis Pittas.