CSKA Sofia host OFI on August 27, 2026, at 18:00 local time for the return leg of their Europa League playoff. The match takes place at Stadion Vasil Levski, with the visitors holding a commanding advantage after winning the opening encounter 3-0 on August 20. CSKA Sofia therefore face a major recovery mission, while OFI can approach the contest with the confidence provided by their first-leg performance. The Greek side are returning to European competition after six seasons and are now within reach of the Europa League league phase, although a Conference League place is already guaranteed. For the hosts, failure to overturn the deficit would end a Europa League journey that began in the first qualifying round.

CSKA Sofia Recent Form and Key Statistics

CSKA Sofia have recorded three wins and two defeats across their last five matches. During that sequence, they averaged an impressive 2.4 goals scored per game, while allowing 1.2. Those overall figures suggest that the home side can carry an attacking threat, but their most recent European results have created a much more difficult picture ahead of this decisive second leg.

The hosts have suffered consecutive defeats in Europe, conceding six goals and scoring only once across those two fixtures. The latest setback was the 3-0 defeat against OFI, a result that left CSKA Sofia needing to produce a dramatic response. A three-goal victory would only bring the aggregate score level, so there is little room for another slow or ineffective display.

Across their Europa League campaign, CSKA Sofia have collected three wins, two draws and two losses. They have averaged 1.3 goals scored and 1.3 conceded per match in the competition. Their path to the playoff has demonstrated resilience, but the first-leg margin means that their priority in the return fixture must be finding goals without allowing OFI to add to their lead.

The supplied statistics also show some unusual scoreless patterns: four of CSKA Sofia's last 12 Europa League matches produced under 0.5 total goals, as did three of their last 10 matches in all competitions. Two of their last 10 home fixtures also finished without a goal. However, that type of outcome would not help the hosts here, given the scale of the aggregate deficit and their need to attack the tie.

• Last five matches: three wins and two defeats.
• Europa League record: three wins, two draws and two losses.
• Recent scoring average: 2.4 goals per match across the last five.
• First-leg result: a 3-0 defeat against OFI.

OFI Recent Form and Key Statistics

OFI travel with a substantial cushion and without the same pressure to chase the game from the opening whistle. Their first-leg victory was comprehensive, giving them a perfect Europa League record of one win from one match in the supplied season statistics. In that appearance, they averaged three goals scored and none conceded, exactly reflecting the 3-0 result that currently separates the teams.

The visitors prepared for this return fixture by defeating Volos NFC 2-0 on August 23. According to the match context, that result extended their undefeated start to the season, during which they scored seven times in their opening three games. The broader last-five record supplied for OFI stands at two wins, one draw and two defeats, with averages of 2.0 goals scored and 1.4 conceded per game.

Goals have been a consistent feature of OFI's matches. More than 1.5 total goals were scored in each of their last 17 fixtures, while the same threshold was reached in their last 15 away matches. These trends concern the total number of goals scored by both teams, rather than OFI's individual output, but they still indicate that their recent games have repeatedly moved beyond a low-scoring one-goal total.

The first half is another important area in the visitors' recent numbers. OFI have been ahead at the interval in each of their last four matches, and at least one first-half goal was scored in 21 of their previous 23 games. Their last four fixtures also stayed under 7.5 total corners. In addition, OFI drew three of their last five away matches, a record that could be relevant because they do not require a victory to protect their aggregate advantage.

• Last five matches: two wins, one draw and two defeats.
• Latest result: a 2-0 victory over Volos NFC.
• Europa League record: one win, three goals scored and none conceded.
• First-half trend: at least one goal in 21 of the last 23 matches.

CSKA Sofia vs OFI Match Analysis

The structure of this Europa League playoff is clear. CSKA Sofia must pursue a major turnaround, whereas OFI can manage the contest around their three-goal lead. That contrast could shape the match from an early stage: the hosts have a strong incentive to increase the pace and search for an opening goal, while the visitors can remain patient and use the confidence generated by two consecutive victories without conceding.

The win probabilities give CSKA Sofia a 45% chance of taking the second leg, compared with 30% for OFI and 25% for the draw. Those figures assess the individual match rather than aggregate qualification. Consequently, the hosts can be considered more likely to win on the night while still facing a much harder task in the tie itself.

The goals markets are evenly balanced but lean slightly toward an open contest. Both teams to score is rated at 55%, while over 2.5 total goals also carries a 55% probability. CSKA Sofia's need to attack supports the possibility of chances, and OFI's sequence of 17 matches with more than 1.5 total goals adds weight to the expectation that the return leg may not remain quiet throughout.

The clearest statistical theme, however, concerns the opening period. OFI have led at half-time in four consecutive matches, and 21 of their last 23 fixtures contained at least one goal before the interval. Combined with CSKA Sofia's urgent need to reduce the deficit, those numbers make an early breakthrough a coherent focus for this Europa League match preview.

CSKA Sofia vs OFI prediction from BetMines: Over 0.5 goals at Half-Time with 78% probability.