CSKA Sofia Advances Past Qarabag in Tactical Stalemate

CSKA Sofia and Qarabag produced a tactical stalemate at Vasil Levski National Sports Academy that ultimately had to be settled from the penalty spot, with CSKA advancing 5-4 after a 0-0 draw across 120 minutes in this UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round tie. The pattern of the game was defined by Qarabag’s territorial control and volume of attacking actions against a compact, attritional CSKA block that accepted long phases without the ball and relied on individual duels and physicality to survive. Over two hours, it became a contest between Qarabag’s structured possession and CSKA’s defensive resilience and game management.

Formations

From the outset, the formations framed the tactical story: CSKA in a 4-1-4-1 under Hristo Yanev, Qarabag in a 4-2-3-1 under Qurban Qurbanov. Qarabag’s 58% possession and 10 corners to CSKA’s 2 underline their role as the proactive side, building through a double pivot of Pedro Bicalho and Marko Janković and using the three behind the striker to occupy the half-spaces. CSKA’s 42% possession and high foul count (26 to Qarabag’s 14) point to a plan built around disrupting rhythm, compressing central spaces, and accepting repeated defensive interventions to prevent clean entries into the box.

CSKA's Structure

CSKA’s 4-1-4-1 was structured with J. Gbamin as the single pivot in front of the back four, screening lanes into Kady Borges and the advanced midfield line. Ahead of him, M. Ebong, S. Sensi and Bruno Jordão formed a narrow, hard-working band designed to crowd Qarabag’s creators, while I. Pittas and L. Godoy provided the first line of pressure and an outlet for direct balls. The back four, with Pastor and Ángelo Martino as full-backs, stayed relatively conservative, rarely overcommitting forward, which helped limit Qarabag’s transitions but left CSKA with limited width in attack.

Shot Profile

The shot profile reinforces the asymmetry in attacking threat. Qarabag generated 5 shots on goal and 4 off target, with a striking 7 blocked efforts, reflecting both their sustained pressure and CSKA’s deep, last-ditch defending. CSKA managed only 3 shots on goal and 6 off, and with no recorded total shots or shots inside the box, the data still suggests they operated mostly on sporadic breaks and set-piece moments rather than sustained pressure. Qarabag’s higher blocked shot count indicates CSKA’s central congestion worked: many Qarabag attempts were smothered before truly testing the goalkeeper.

Qarabag's Tactics

Qarabag’s 4-2-3-1 hinged on the interplay between O. Kashchuk, Kady Borges and A. Zoubir (later replaced) behind Z. Sawo. With full-backs Matheus Silva and E. Cafarquliyev pushing high, Qarabag tried to pin CSKA’s wide midfielders back and stretch the 4-1-4-1 horizontally. The 10 corners they forced were the clearest statistical expression of their territorial dominance, repeatedly hemming CSKA in and recycling pressure. However, the lack of goals despite superior volume suggests either suboptimal shot locations or an inability to destabilize CSKA’s central block enough to create clear-cut chances.

Discipline

Discipline became a key tactical lever. CSKA accumulated 6 yellow cards (Bruno Jordão 39', Leandro Godoy 48', James Eto'o 75', Ángelo Martino 95', Teodor Ivanov 105+3', Joël Zwarts 112'), compared to Qarabag’s 3 (Marko Janković 50', Bence Várkonyi 55', Joni Montiel 107'). The timing and distribution of CSKA’s bookings reflect a side repeatedly stepping in to halt build-up and counters, particularly as fatigue set in during extra time. The high foul count and card load were the cost of maintaining compactness and denying Qarabag clean progression through the thirds.

Substitutions

Substitutions in the second half and extra time further shaped the tactical landscape. For Qarabag, R. Cephas (IN) came on for Kady Borges (OUT) at 70', adding fresh legs and direct running in the attacking line. At 82', a triple change recalibrated the structure: B. Langa (IN) for E. Cafarquliyev (OUT), J. Mouaddib (IN) for O. Kashchuk (OUT), and C. Makreckis (IN) for B. Huseynov (OUT). This sequence suggested a shift toward greater physicality and energy, especially down the flanks and in midfield, to sustain pressure against a tiring CSKA. At 90+2', J. Montiel (IN) replaced A. Zoubir (OUT), adding a different profile between the lines, and at 100' M. Qurbanly (IN) came on for Z. Sawo (OUT), offering a new reference point up front for late and extra-time phases.

CSKA’s changes were more reactive and survival-oriented. At 71', J. Eto'o (IN) replaced B. Jordao (OUT), bringing fresh energy into midfield and later picking up a yellow card, emblematic of the continued emphasis on disruption. At 89', J. Zwarts (IN) replaced L. Godoy (OUT), providing a new outlet for counters as CSKA increasingly played from deep. At 99', M. Brahimi (IN) replaced Ángelo Martino (OUT), likely rebalancing the left side as Martino, already booked, risked a second caution under Qarabag’s sustained pressure.

Defensive Story

Without explicit goalkeeper statistics, the defensive story is told more by structure than by individual numbers. CSKA’s willingness to concede possession, commit fouls, and accept a heavy card load was the foundation of their clean sheet. Qarabag’s inability to convert 5 shots on goal and sustained territorial control into a breakthrough underlines a lack of incisiveness in the final third against a well-organized low block.

Statistics

Statistically, Qarabag’s 58% possession, 10 corners, 5 shots on goal and 7 blocked shots compared to CSKA’s 42% possession, 2 corners, 3 shots on goal and 3 blocked efforts paint a clear picture of dominance in territory and volume. Yet, with no goals and no recorded xG or goals prevented values, the match ultimately came down to execution under maximum pressure in the shootout, where CSKA’s defensive investment and game management were rewarded. In tactical terms, Qarabag controlled the ball, but CSKA controlled the spaces that mattered most.