Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

Maccabi Tel Aviv host CSKA Sofia at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel-Aviv on 6 August 2026 in the UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round, with both sides looking to take a crucial step towards the group stage. Early qualifying ties like this often set the tone for the European campaign, and the first leg in Israel should be a tight, tactical encounter.

Both teams come into this tie in strong continental form. Maccabi Tel Aviv have started their Europa League journey with two straight wins, combining a watertight defence with ruthless efficiency in front of goal. CSKA Sofia, meanwhile, have already played four matches in the competition, remaining unbeaten and showing resilience both home and away.

With no domestic standings data available yet for this stage, the focus is firmly on current Europa League statistics and early form. That makes this clash particularly intriguing for prediction and betting angles, as punters will lean heavily on recent European numbers rather than long-term league trends.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia Key Stats

• Maccabi Tel Aviv have won all 2 Europa League matches so far, scoring 6 and conceding 0.
• CSKA Sofia are unbeaten in 4 Europa League games this season, with 3 wins and 1 draw.
• Maccabi Tel Aviv average 3.0 goals scored per Europa League match, while CSKA Sofia average 1.5.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia — Tale of the Tape

• Position: Not available vs Not available
• Points: Not available vs Not available
• Goals For: 6 (Maccabi Tel Aviv, 2 matches) vs 6 (CSKA Sofia, 4 matches)
• Goals Against: 0 (Maccabi Tel Aviv) vs 3 (CSKA Sofia)
• Clean Sheets: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2; CSKA Sofia 2 (Europa League statistics)

In Europa League qualifying so far, Maccabi Tel Aviv have been perfect: 2 wins from 2, 6 goals scored and none conceded. Their biggest away win, 5-0, underlines their ability to punish opponents when chances arrive, while a 1-0 home victory shows they can manage tight games as well.

CSKA Sofia have a slightly larger sample of 4 matches, with 3 wins and 1 draw. They have scored 6 and conceded 3, averaging 1.5 goals scored and 0.8 conceded per game. While they have not lost yet, they have been more exposed defensively than Maccabi, particularly late in matches where a significant share of goals conceded have come in the final quarter of an hour.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia Key Matchups

Maccabi Tel Aviv defence vs CSKA Sofia attack

With no individual scorer or assist data available, the key battle is collective: Maccabi’s defence against CSKA’s attack. Maccabi Tel Aviv have kept 2 clean sheets in 2 Europa League outings, conceding 0 goals with an average of 0.0 per match. Their defensive record is complemented by disciplined card numbers, with just one yellow card shown in the 46–60 minute window across their games.

CSKA Sofia’s attack has produced 6 goals in 4 matches (1.5 per game), scoring consistently across the 16–75 minute ranges. They have shown the ability to find the net both at home and away, with their biggest wins being 3-2 at home and 2-1 away. Breaking down a defence that has yet to concede in this campaign will be their toughest test so far.

Midfield control and tactical flexibility

Maccabi Tel Aviv have already used two formations in Europa League play, 3-5-2 and 4-3-3, each once. That flexibility suggests they can switch between a more possession-based shape and a more direct, wing-oriented approach depending on the opponent.

CSKA Sofia have been even more versatile, lining up in four different systems (4-3-1-2, 3-5-2, 4-4-2 and 4-1-4-1), each used once. This tactical variety indicates a squad comfortable adapting to game states, which could be crucial away from home. However, their higher yellow-card frequency across multiple time windows hints at a more combative style that could invite pressure in a hostile away environment.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

There are no recorded recent head-to-head meetings between Maccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA Sofia in the available data, so this tie effectively starts with a clean slate in terms of direct history.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia Prediction

Stats suggest a finely balanced first leg. The prediction model gives Maccabi Tel Aviv a 45% chance of winning, the draw also at 45%, and CSKA Sofia just 10%. That aligns with the impression of a strong home side with excellent defensive numbers facing a capable but slightly less secure visiting team.

Maccabi’s perfect defensive record and high scoring rate at 3.0 goals per game are impressive, but CSKA’s unbeaten run over 4 matches and their ability to score in different phases of the game mean this is unlikely to be straightforward. The advice line leans towards “Maccabi Tel Aviv or draw and under 3.5 goals”, pointing to a tight, low-to-medium scoring contest where the hosts avoid defeat more often than not.

Predicted Score: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 CSKA Sofia

Maccabi Tel Aviv Recent Form

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s recent Europa League form is outstanding. They have won both of their matches, combining a 1-0 home win with a 5-0 away victory. Across those 2 games, they have scored 6 goals (average 3.0 per match) and conceded none, with 2 clean sheets and no failures to score.

CSKA Sofia Recent Form

CSKA Sofia’s recent Europa League form is also strong. Over 4 matches they have 3 wins and 1 draw, remaining unbeaten. They have scored 6 goals (1.5 per match) and conceded 3 (0.8 per match), with 2 clean sheets and just 1 game in which they failed to score. Their form string in the competition reads as a sequence of wins and a draw, reflecting consistency rather than dominance.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Possible Starting Lineup

GK: O. Melika or R. Mishpati

Defenders: T. Asante, M. Camara, R. Revivo, R. Shlomo, S. Yehezkel

Midfielders: K. Belić, D. Glazer, Dor Peretz, I. Shahar, I. Sissokho, K. Andrade, O. Davida, Hélio Varela

Forwards: S. Farhi, Orel Baaia, E. Madmon, Y. Malede

Maccabi Tel Aviv have a deep squad with multiple options in defence and midfield. The presence of several midfielders capable of operating in both a three- and five-man unit fits with their use of 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 so far. With no confirmed absences, the coach can select a balanced side that protects the clean-sheet run while still carrying significant attacking threat, especially from wide areas and late runs from midfield.

CSKA Sofia Possible Starting Lineup

GK: D. Evtimov

Defenders: J. Gbamin, Adrián Lapeña, Á. Martino, Pastor, Facundo Santiago Rodríguez, A. Yordanov, Tamimou Ouorou

Midfielders: G. Chorbadzhiyski, M. Ebong, J. Eto'o, J. Iliev, Bruno Jordão, V. Kaymakanov, P. Panayotov, S. Sensi, I. Solet Bomawoko, M. Brahimi, Léo Pereira, A. Piedrahita

Forwards: K. Dodaj, S. Godoy, M. Phaëton, I. Pittas, R. Zhivkov, J. Zwarts

CSKA Sofia’s squad list shows strong depth, particularly in midfield, which aligns with their use of four different formations. They can switch between a front two and a lone striker system, supported by creative midfielders. The main tactical question will be whether they opt for a more conservative shape like 4-1-4-1 to contain Maccabi’s attack, or a bolder 4-3-1-2 to chase an away goal.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Team News

No significant absences reported.

CSKA Sofia Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

Maccabi Tel Aviv:

• None reported.

CSKA Sofia:

• None reported.

Betting Tips: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

• Result Tip: Maccabi Tel Aviv Draw No Bet. With predictions giving Maccabi a 45% win chance and just 10% for CSKA, and the market making the home side favourite at odds between 1.95 and 2.03 for the straight win, a safer Draw No Bet angle (where available) leans into their perfect defensive record while protecting against the relatively high 45% draw probability.
• Goals Tip: Under 3.5 total goals. The prediction advice explicitly combines “Maccabi Tel Aviv or draw and under 3.5 goals”, reflecting expectation of a controlled, low-to-medium scoring match. Maccabi have conceded 0 in 2 games, while CSKA average only 1.5 scored; this supports a line below four goals, especially in a cautious first leg.
• Value Tip: Draw in the Match Winner market. Bookmaker odds on the draw range from 3.10 to 3.42, implying roughly a 29–32% chance, whereas the prediction model assigns a 45% probability to the stalemate. Given both teams’ strong form and CSKA’s unbeaten run, the draw appears slightly undervalued by the market and could offer a value angle.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.