CSKA Sofia Secures 3-0 Victory Over Maccabi Tel Aviv in UEFA Europa League

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-3 CSKA Sofia at Batumi Arena leaves the Israelis with a heavy first-leg deficit in the UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round, as CSKA’s greater cutting edge in both boxes turned a relatively balanced contest into a commanding away victory.

Match Report

The tone was set early. In the 9th minute CSKA Sofia struck first: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-1 CSKA Sofia — M. Ebong finished clinically from close range after a low delivery from the right, with Max Ebong (assisted by L. Godoy) converting the visitors’ first clear opening.

CSKA then picked up the game’s first booking in the 18th minute when Bruno Jordão (CSKA Sofia) received a yellow card (Holding) for halting a Maccabi transition with a tug in midfield.

The Bulgarian side doubled their lead before the half-hour. In the 29th minute CSKA Sofia goal — L. Godoy (assisted by I. Pittas) — as Leandro Godoy peeled off the shoulder of the last defender to meet a through ball from Ioannis Pittas and finished low across the goalkeeper, making it Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-2 CSKA Sofia.

Maccabi’s frustration began to show. In the 31st minute Saied Abu Farkhi (Maccabi Tel Aviv) was shown a yellow card (Holding) after grappling with his marker to prevent a counter. Just before the interval, in the 43rd minute, Mohamed Camara (Maccabi Tel Aviv) also went into the book with a yellow card (Holding) for another cynical stop on a CSKA break, leaving the hosts with two defenders cautioned by half-time.

Maccabi Tel Aviv made a double change at the break to try to shift momentum. In the 46th minute N. Ben Harush replaced S. Rosen (Maccabi Tel Aviv), and moments later T. Asante replaced I. Ben Hamo (Maccabi Tel Aviv), signalling a more aggressive approach down both flanks.

CSKA, however, managed the restart well and continued to disrupt Maccabi’s rhythm. In the 54th minute Ioannis Pittas (CSKA Sofia) received a yellow card (Holding) after dragging back a Maccabi midfielder to halt a developing attack.

The hour mark brought a flurry of substitutions as both coaches adjusted. In the 66th minute J. Eto'o replaced B. Jordao (CSKA Sofia), refreshing the visitors’ midfield legs, while J. Zwarts replaced I. Pittas (CSKA Sofia) to offer fresh running in the front line. At the same minute, Maccabi responded with two attacking changes of their own: O. Davida replaced I. Shahar (Maccabi Tel Aviv) to add creativity between the lines, and E. Sokler replaced S. Abu Farkhi (Maccabi Tel Aviv) to provide a different profile at centre-forward.

Still chasing the game, Maccabi introduced further energy in the 77th minute when E. Madmon replaced H. Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv), looking for more vertical threat from midfield. CSKA countered that by reinforcing their wide threat in the 78th minute as M. Brahimi replaced L. Godoy (CSKA Sofia), with the goalscorer withdrawn after a decisive shift.

Tempers flared late on. In the 85th minute J. Zwarts (CSKA Sofia) was booked with a yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct) after a confrontation, and in the same minute R. Shlomo (Maccabi Tel Aviv) also received a yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct) as both sides clashed following a challenge.

CSKA then put the tie close to beyond doubt in regulation time. In the 90th minute CSKA Sofia goal — J. Zwarts (assisted by Pastor) — as the substitute forward latched onto a precise pass from right-back Pastor, drove into the area and finished low, extending the lead to Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-3 CSKA Sofia.

Immediately after that goal, CSKA made a late defensive adjustment. In the 90+1' minute Leo Pereira replaced Pastor (CSKA Sofia), with the full-back who had just provided the assist withdrawn to lock down the result. The final booking of the night arrived in stoppage time when, in the 90+4' minute, Stefano Sensi (CSKA Sofia) received a yellow card (Tripping) for a late challenge as Maccabi tried to break.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: not available vs not available
• Possession: 49% vs 51%
• Shots on Target: 2 vs 7
• Goalkeeper Saves: not available vs not available
• Blocked Shots: 0 vs 6

The numbers underline how CSKA Sofia turned marginal territorial control into far superior shot quality. With possession almost even (49% vs 51%), the visitors generated more than three times as many shots on target (7 vs 2), consistently finding better positions in and around the box. CSKA’s six blocked shots also show how frequently they worked shooting lanes compared to Maccabi’s sterile pressure, whose attempts were limited and rarely forced sustained defensive scrambling. The 0-3 scoreline aligns with that pattern: Maccabi rarely tested Fedor Lapoukhov, while CSKA repeatedly created clear openings and punished defensive lapses.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

Standings data for both Maccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA Sofia in this UEFA Europa League qualifying phase is not available, but the scale of a 0-3 home defeat in a two-legged tie is clear: Maccabi face an uphill task in the return leg, needing a three-goal win just to force extra time. CSKA, by contrast, carry a commanding advantage back home, with their away performance putting them in a strong position to progress to the play-off round.

Lineups & Personnel

Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI

• GK: Ofek Melika
• DF: Itai Ben Hamo, Mohamed Camara, Raz Shlomo, Shahar Rosen
• MF: Itamar Noy, Ido Shahar, Issouf Sissokho, Dor Peretz, Hélio Varela
• FW: Saied Abu Farchi

CSKA Sofia Starting XI

• GK: Fedor Lapoukhov
• DF: Pastor, Teodor Ivanov, Facundo Rodríguez, Ángelo Martino
• MF: Max Ebong, Bruno Jordão, Stefano Sensi
• FW: Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Leandro Godoy, Ioannis Pittas

Post-Match Verdict

CSKA Sofia delivered a clinical display in the final third (7 shots on target to 2) built on disciplined off-ball work and sharp vertical attacks. Their front line repeatedly exploited gaps between Maccabi’s centre-backs and full-backs, with early goals from Ebong and Godoy giving them the platform to manage the game. Defensively, CSKA were compact and aggressive, limiting Maccabi to just two efforts on target despite conceding almost half of the ball (49% possession for Maccabi), and registering six blocked shots as they protected their box.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, by contrast, produced a blunt attacking performance (only 2 shots on target) and showed defensive vulnerability in transition, conceding three times from well-constructed CSKA moves. Frequent fouls (21 vs 17) and three yellow cards for holding or unsportsmanlike conduct reflected their struggle to contain CSKA’s movement. Unless they can dramatically tighten their back line and add penetration in the final third, the 0-3 deficit will be extremely difficult to overturn in the second leg.