Maccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA Sofia begin their Europa League third qualifying round tie on Thursday, August 6, 2026, with the match taking place at a neutral venue in Batumi. Maccabi are officially the home side, although playing away from their usual surroundings could reduce the value of that status. Both teams enter the fixture after encouraging starts to the season and arrive on the back of domestic victories. The tie also offers a route towards another European meeting with OFI Crete for the winner. Maccabi are seeking to return to the league stage after collecting only one point from eight matches there last season, while unbeaten CSKA will attempt to extend their seven-game run without defeat. With Maccabi bringing stronger recent winning form and CSKA proving difficult to overcome, the first leg presents an intriguing contest between momentum and resilience.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Recent Form and Key Statistics

Maccabi Tel Aviv approach this Europa League match after defeating Sheriff 1-0 on July 30. That result completed a 6-0 aggregate victory and represented their third consecutive win. Across their last five matches, Maccabi have recorded four wins and one defeat, scoring an average of 2.0 goals per game while conceding only 0.4. Those numbers underline a productive attack supported by a defence that has given opponents very little.
Their Europa League record this season is even more convincing. Maccabi have won both of their matches, averaging 3.0 goals scored and 0.0 conceded. They have also found the net in each of their last 17 games, a sequence that gives them a dependable attacking platform before facing CSKA. The available Europa League ranking lists Maccabi in second place, one position behind their opponents.
There are also several striking trends in Maccabi’s European results. They have avoided a draw in 28 of their last 29 Europa League fixtures and have not drawn any of their previous 15 home matches in the competition. However, their official home status for this game comes with the important qualification that the contest is being staged at a neutral venue. Their usual home pattern may therefore carry less weight than it would under normal circumstances.
The first half could be particularly significant. Maccabi have been behind at the interval in seven of their last 11 Europa League games, yet they have also led at half time in nine of their previous 15 home fixtures. These contrasting figures suggest that their opening periods have often been decisive rather than uneventful. A composed start would help them use their current scoring form while limiting the danger posed by an opponent that has recently been difficult to beat.

CSKA Sofia Recent Form and Key Statistics

CSKA Sofia travel to this first leg after earning a 2-1 victory over Dunav 2010 on August 2. It was their second domestic league win of the season and maintained their positive momentum. Over their latest five matches, CSKA have produced two victories and three draws, with averages of 1.0 goal scored and 0.6 conceded per game. Their attacking return has been modest, but the absence of a defeat during that sequence shows how effectively they have remained competitive.
In this season’s Europa League, CSKA have registered two wins and two draws. They are averaging 1.3 goals scored and 0.8 conceded, while the supplied competition ranking places them first. Their wider unbeaten sequence now stands at seven matches, giving them a stable foundation for a demanding neutral-venue fixture. Away results have been less decisive, however, with only one win from their last six matches on the road.
CSKA’s recent European contests have been particularly tight. Their last two matches in the competition against Qarabag both finished 0-0 before CSKA progressed on post-match penalties. Earlier in qualifying, the Bulgarian side overcame Derry City 5-3 in the second round. Those results demonstrate two different routes to success: one through a more open contest and another through patience across scoreless matches.
The away trends reinforce the expectation that CSKA can keep games controlled. Their last 14 away fixtures have all finished with under 3.5 total goals, while each of their previous 10 away matches has featured under 1.5 goals in the first half. Their last two Europa League games and last two away matches have also ended without a goal being scored by either team. CSKA may therefore be comfortable allowing the tie to develop gradually rather than turning the first leg into an immediate end-to-end contest.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia Match Analysis

The central question is whether Maccabi Tel Aviv’s attacking momentum can break through CSKA Sofia’s recent resistance. Maccabi have scored in 17 consecutive matches and average two goals across their last five outings, while their current Europa League campaign has produced six goals without one conceded. CSKA, by contrast, have allowed only 0.6 goals per match over their latest five and arrive unbeaten in seven. That combination creates a clear contest between the nominal home team’s scoring consistency and the visitors’ ability to avoid defeat.
Maccabi’s neutral-venue status adds uncertainty. Their long sequence without a home draw in the Europa League is notable, but this fixture does not provide their normal home setting. CSKA’s record of three draws in five games could become more relevant if the Bulgarian side successfully slows the pace and reproduces the discipline seen in the two goalless meetings with Qarabag.
The opening stages could shape the entire first leg. Maccabi’s mixed half-time records show that they have frequently entered the interval either ahead or behind, whereas CSKA’s last 10 away matches have consistently stayed below two first-half goals. If CSKA impose that lower-tempo pattern, Maccabi may need patience to turn their possession and scoring form into a meaningful advantage. If Maccabi strike early, however, the visitors could be required to depart from the controlled approach reflected in their recent away statistics.
Both sides therefore have credible reasons for confidence. Maccabi bring three straight wins, an excellent qualifying record and a long scoring streak. CSKA counter with an unbeaten run, four Europa League matches without defeat this season and a series of restrained away contests. With the return match still to come, maintaining balance while searching for an opening advantage is likely to be a major theme of this Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia Europa League preview.