CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: are the 'Army Men' already one foot in the playoffs? - 13.08.2026
On August 13 in Sofia, the second leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round will see CSKA take on Maccabi Tel Aviv.
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After the first encounter, the intrigue in this tie has, to put it mildly, dropped significantly. The Bulgarian side delivered an almost flawless performance away in Batumi, crushing the Israelis 3-0. Now, Maccabi need nothing short of a football miracle to overturn the deficit.
In the first leg, CSKA struck three times before halftime. Godoy opened the scoring in the 9th minute, before Ioannis Pittas sealed a brace—first in the 18th minute, then again in the 29th. Statistically, the match wasn't a complete blowout: possession was nearly even at 49% to 51%, but CSKA fired off far more shots and created enough chances to bring home a commanding result from Georgia.
Now the tables have turned. This time, CSKA will play at home, while Maccabi must push forward from the very first whistle. Simply winning won't be enough for the Israelis—they need to score at least three goals just to level the aggregate. And if CSKA score even once, the visitors' task will become almost impossible.
The situation couldn't be more comfortable for the Bulgarian outfit. They don't need to rush forward, can calmly control the space, and force their opponents to grow nervous. The longer Maccabi fail to find the net, the greater the pressure on the Israeli side. And CSKA have already proven they can exploit open spaces—the first match was a perfect demonstration.
That said, it's too early to completely write off Maccabi. In the previous Europa League round, Kenny Miller's squad demolished Sheriff: 5-0 in the first leg and 1-0 in the second, for an aggregate 6-0. So, the Israelis definitely have attacking firepower. The problem is different this time—they must attack almost flawlessly, with no room for error.
CSKA's European campaign, meanwhile, is shaping up nicely. In the first qualifying round, the Army Men saw off Derry City 5-3 on aggregate, then played out a goalless draw with Qarabag at home before achieving the needed result away. The 3-0 win over Maccabi is yet another strong argument in favor of the Bulgarians.
CSKA also have the added bonus of a strong domestic start. As of August 8, the team boasts two wins and a draw from the opening three rounds of the Bulgarian league, sitting among the leaders. However, with a packed schedule between European fixtures, the coaching staff will need to manage their resources wisely.
Maccabi, on the other hand, haven't even started the new Israeli league season—the national championship is set to kick off at the end of August. That means the team is fully focused on European competition. On the one hand, this allows them to conserve energy; on the other, the lack of regular competitive matches could take its toll.
The main question heading into the return leg is simple: will Maccabi take risks and attack from the start? I think they will. The Israelis have nothing to lose. With a 0-3 deficit, caution is pointless, so we may well be in for some open, attacking football. CSKA will surely look to pounce on mistakes and launch quick counters.
But therein lies the real danger for the visitors. Maccabi are obliged to score, but CSKA have no reason to open up. The Bulgarians have the perfect scenario for the second leg: a huge advantage from the first game and home support. If the hosts score first, the tie is effectively over.
So, I wouldn't expect another rout. CSKA are likely to play more pragmatically than they did in Batumi, while Maccabi will be forced to take risks. The visitors are capable of scoring, but overcoming a three-goal deficit against a team that's already shown such discipline is an extremely tall order.
My prediction: both teams to score – yes.
