CSKA Sofia host Maccabi Tel Aviv on August 13, 2026, holding a commanding advantage in their Europa League qualifying tie. A 3-0 first-leg victory has put the Bulgarian side in a strong position before the return match, while Maccabi must produce a major response to keep their qualification hopes alive. CSKA also approach the fixture with excellent momentum after recording another 3-0 success against Septemvri Sofia on August 9. Their recent consistency, strong home record and defensive results in Europe make them difficult opponents for a visiting side that has struggled to score on its continental travels. Maccabi failed to find the net in four of their last five away European matches, so scoring the goals needed to overturn the deficit represents a considerable challenge.

CSKA Sofia Recent Form and Key Statistics

CSKA Sofia have built an impressive run across domestic and European competition. Their victory over Septemvri Sofia extended their unbeaten sequence to nine matches, six of which ended in wins. Looking specifically at their five most recent fixtures, the hosts have collected four wins and one draw, scoring an average of 2.2 goals and conceding only 0.6 per game. Those figures highlight the balance behind their positive form: CSKA have been productive in attack without sacrificing defensive control.
Their Europa League campaign has followed a similar pattern. CSKA's season record in the competition stands at three wins, two draws and no defeats, with averages of 1.6 goals scored and 0.6 conceded. They are therefore unbeaten in five Europa League matches and have won three of them. Even more importantly before this second leg, the Bulgarian side have kept three consecutive clean sheets in Europe. That defensive sequence includes the first meeting with Maccabi, when CSKA won 3-0 and prevented their opponents from scoring.
Home form offers another source of encouragement. CSKA have avoided defeat in 19 of their last 20 home matches, a record which leaves Maccabi facing an especially demanding assignment. The hosts do not need to chase the game after establishing such a substantial first-leg cushion, but their recent attacking numbers show that they remain capable of creating further problems. There have also been some completely goalless fixtures in their broader record: four of CSKA's last 10 Europa League matches, three of their last 10 matches overall and two of their last 10 home games finished with under 0.5 total goals. Nevertheless, their two latest results were both 3-0 victories, demonstrating the form they bring into this encounter.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Recent Form and Key Statistics

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrive needing a very different performance from the one delivered in the first leg. Their 3-0 defeat to CSKA on August 6 left them with a significant deficit, and their inability to score made the return match even more complicated. The visitors have also been unable to stage their matches in Tel Aviv, while the opening leg against CSKA was played in Batumi. That contest was described as a weak showing from the Israeli side and continued their recent difficulties in this competition.
Maccabi's overall five-match record is more competitive than the first-leg result alone might suggest. They have registered three wins and two defeats during that period, averaging 1.8 goals scored and 1.0 conceded. Their Europa League season statistics show two wins and one loss, alongside averages of 2.0 goals for and 1.0 against. However, their wider record in the tournament is less convincing, with only two victories across their last 10 Europa League outings and three defeats in their most recent five matches in the competition.
The away scoring trend is particularly relevant. Maccabi have scored just once across five European matches on the road and failed to find the net in four of those fixtures. They were also behind at half-time in seven of their last 10 Europa League games. Furthermore, they have not drawn in 29 of their last 30 matches in the competition, indicating that their European fixtures have overwhelmingly produced a winner. Last season's Europa League campaign also ended without a victory in the league phase, where Maccabi scored two goals and conceded 22 before finishing bottom.

CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Match Analysis

The central issue in this second leg is whether Maccabi Tel Aviv can turn the contest into an open game without exposing themselves further. They must overcome a three-goal deficit, yet their recent away record in Europe provides limited evidence of consistent attacking output. Scoring once in five continental away matches is a serious concern when multiple goals are required, especially against opponents who have conceded an average of only 0.6 goals per Europa League fixture this season.
CSKA Sofia, by contrast, can approach the match from a position of control. Their 3-0 advantage means there is no requirement to force the tempo, and three successive European shutouts underline their ability to protect the lead. Their unbeaten Europa League record and sequence of positive home results further strengthen their position. The first head-to-head meeting remains the only listed encounter between these teams, giving CSKA a record of one win, no draws and no defeats, with three goals scored and none conceded.
The visitors may need to take greater risks as the match progresses, particularly if they cannot score early. That situation could create opportunities for CSKA, whose recent matches have included consecutive 3-0 wins. At the same time, the hosts can prioritise avoiding the kind of errors that would give Maccabi encouragement. Based on the available form, first-leg score and European defensive records, CSKA Sofia enter the return fixture with a substantial qualification advantage, while Maccabi's most immediate challenge is ending their poor away scoring sequence.