Can both attacks make the breakthrough in Farum? Nordsjælland vs CSKA Sofia prediction – 22.10.2026
Nordsjælland and CSKA Sofia meet at Right to Dream Park in Farum on Thursday, October 22, in the second matchday of the UEFA Conference League league phase. The Danish side opened their European campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Hearts, while CSKA were beaten 2-1 at home by Monaco, meaning both teams have an obvious incentive to attack rather than settle for another cautious night.
Nordsjælland: plenty of possession, but the final touch remains inconsistent
Jens Fønsskov Olsen's team showed both sides of their game in Edinburgh. Nordsjælland had 57% possession and spent plenty of time around the Hearts penalty area, recording 38 touches in the opposition box, but generated only 1.00 xG. They eventually rescued a point in the 86th minute when Nicklas Røjkjær converted after a pass from Juho Lähteenmäki.
The concern is that their recent attacking output has not always matched the amount of football they play. Before the European opener, Nordsjælland were held to a goalless draw by OB and had suffered a 4-1 league defeat against Viborg. Still, at home they have enough technical quality to cause CSKA problems, with Alexander Lind providing a central threat after scoring six times in the Danish league, while Ibrahim Adel and Prince Junior add mobility around him.
Personnel-wise, Souleymane Alio and Araphat Mohammed are currently listed as unavailable through injury. Otherwise, Olsen has the core of the side that started against Hearts available, which should allow Nordsjælland to retain their aggressive wing-back structure and try to control the ball from the opening stages.
CSKA Sofia: Gisdol has inherited an attack capable of hurting opponents
CSKA arrive in Denmark in the early stages of a new chapter. Markus Gisdol took charge on October 5 and inherited a team enjoying an excellent domestic campaign: after 11 Bulgarian league matches, CSKA had eight wins, three draws and no defeats, with 27 goals scored and only nine conceded.
Their Conference League opener ended in defeat, but the 1-2 scoreline against Monaco does not tell the whole story. CSKA produced 20 attempts, finished with an xG figure of 1.18 compared with Monaco's 1.20 and repeatedly threatened the visitors before substitute Joel Zwarts scored in the second half. That performance suggests Gisdol's side will not travel to Farum simply to defend.
The attacking numbers are encouraging as well. CSKA have scored in each of their last five completed matches, with both teams finding the net in four of those five games. Zwarts has six league goals, while Ioannis Pittas has five, giving the Bulgarian side several routes to goal. Mohamed Brahimi, however, is suspended for the trip to Denmark.
Probable lineups
- Nordsjælland: Hansen – Nelsson, Salquist, Markmann – Norheim, Janssen, Brink, Lähteenmäki – Ibrahim Adel, Lind, Prince Junior.
- CSKA Sofia: Lapoukhov – Pastor, Dinis Almeida, Facundo Rodríguez, Martino – Bruno Jordão – Pittas, Ebong, Sensi, Léo Pereira – Godoy.
Match facts
- Nordsjælland drew 1-1 with Hearts in their opening Conference League match.
- CSKA Sofia lost 2-1 to Monaco but registered 20 shots.
- Both teams have scored in four of CSKA's last five completed matches.
- CSKA have scored 27 goals in their opening 11 Bulgarian league games.
- This will be the clubs' first meeting in European competition.
Both sides have good reasons to believe they can score
Nordsjælland should have more of the ball and their home surroundings, including the familiar artificial surface in Farum, should help them play at the tempo they prefer. Lind, Adel and the runners arriving from wide areas give the Danes enough variety to create opportunities against a CSKA defence that has just been tested heavily by Monaco.
At the same time, backing the hosts to dominate completely looks risky. CSKA's domestic scoring record is excellent, they created plenty against Monaco, and Gisdol has attacking options in Pittas, Godoy and Zwarts who can punish Nordsjælland if the Danish side leave space behind their wing-backs. With both teams still searching for their first Conference League victory and neither defence looking untouchable, goals at both ends appear the most convincing scenario.
Prediction: Both teams to score — Yes.
