CSKA Sofia Dominates Maccabi Tel Aviv in UEFA Europa League

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-3 CSKA Sofia at Batumi Arena leaves the Israelis with a heavy first-leg deficit in the UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round, as CSKA’s sharper attacking edge and game management put them in full control of the tie. With no league standings data available, the significance is framed entirely in continental terms: CSKA take a commanding advantage into the return meeting, while Maccabi face an uphill task to rescue their European campaign.

Match Report

The pattern was set early. In the 9' CSKA Sofia goal — M. Ebong (assisted by L. Godoy) — punished Maccabi’s loose defensive shape, arriving from midfield to finish a well-constructed move and make it 0-1.

Discipline began to fray in midfield on 18' when B. Jordao (CSKA Sofia) — yellow card (Holding) — went into the book for halting a transition.

CSKA’s pressure told again before the half-hour. In the 29' CSKA Sofia goal — L. Godoy (assisted by I. Pittas) — the forward combined neatly with Pittas before finishing, doubling the lead to 0-2 and exposing Maccabi’s difficulty defending between the lines.

Maccabi’s frustration surfaced on 31' as S. Abu Farkhi (Maccabi Tel Aviv) — yellow card (Holding) — was booked for a cynical stop on a CSKA break.

On 43' M. Camara (Maccabi Tel Aviv) — yellow card (Holding) — received a caution after being dragged out of position and forced into another holding foul, underlining the home side’s problems containing CSKA’s front line.

At half-time, Maccabi moved aggressively to change the dynamic. On 46' N. Ben Harush replaced S. Rosen (Maccabi Tel Aviv), adjusting the full-back profile, and simultaneously T. Asante replaced I. Ben Hamo (Maccabi Tel Aviv), a double change aimed at injecting energy and more solidity down the flanks.

CSKA’s own attacking focal point saw punishment on 54' when I. Pittas (CSKA Sofia) — yellow card (Holding) — was booked for a holding offence as Maccabi tried to play out.

The hour mark brought a wave of substitutions that shifted both midfields. On 66' J. Eto'o replaced B. Jordao (CSKA Sofia), refreshing the visitors’ central unit, while J. Zwarts replaced I. Pittas (CSKA Sofia), adding fresh legs up front. Maccabi responded in kind: O. Davida replaced I. Shahar (Maccabi Tel Aviv) on 66', seeking more creativity between the lines, and E. Sokler replaced S. Abu Farkhi (Maccabi Tel Aviv), a like-for-like change to sharpen the attack.

Maccabi continued to chase a route back into the tie, and on 77' E. Madmon replaced H. Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv), another attacking tweak to find penetration against a compact CSKA block.

CSKA, managing their lead, turned to the bench again on 78' as M. Brahimi replaced L. Godoy (CSKA Sofia), removing the goalscoring forward and adding fresh work rate in the wide areas to help see out the game.

Late on, tempers flared. On 85' J. Zwarts (CSKA Sofia) — yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct) — was cautioned, and in the same minute R. Shlomo (Maccabi Tel Aviv) — yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct) — also went into the book, reflecting a scrappy closing phase.

CSKA then added a potentially decisive third. In the 90' CSKA Sofia goal — J. Zwarts (assisted by Pastor) — the substitute striker finished after a delivery from the right-back, extending the margin to 0-3 and punishing Maccabi’s late defensive looseness.

Immediately after his assist, CSKA adjusted again on 90+1' as Leo Pereira replaced Pastor (CSKA Sofia), a defensive-minded change to lock down the flank for stoppage time.

The final notable incident came on 90+4' when S. Sensi (CSKA Sofia) — yellow card (Tripping) — was booked for a late trip, but by then CSKA’s dominance on the scoreboard was secure.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: Maccabi Tel Aviv — not recorded vs CSKA Sofia — not recorded
• Possession: Maccabi Tel Aviv 49% vs 51% CSKA Sofia
• Shots on Target: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 vs 7 CSKA Sofia
• Goalkeeper Saves: Maccabi Tel Aviv — not recorded vs CSKA Sofia — not recorded
• Blocked Shots: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 vs 6 CSKA Sofia

CSKA Sofia’s win was built on a more incisive attacking display and superior defensive organisation. Despite near-even possession (51% to Maccabi’s 49%), CSKA generated more threat, registering 7 shots on target to Maccabi’s 2, repeatedly finding space between and behind the home back line. Their 6 blocked shots underline how often they worked shooting positions around the box, while Maccabi failed to apply similar pressure at the other end (0 blocked shots). Without xG data, the shot profile still suggests a deserved 0-3 outcome: CSKA consistently turned possession into clean looks at goal, whereas Maccabi’s final-third play lacked both volume and quality.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

With no league standings information provided for either Maccabi Tel Aviv or CSKA Sofia, the impact can only be measured within the tie itself. CSKA’s 0-3 away victory in this 3rd Qualifying Round first leg gives them a substantial cushion ahead of the return match, allowing them to approach the second leg with a more conservative game plan if desired. Maccabi, by contrast, will need an aggressive, high-risk approach in the second leg to overturn a three-goal deficit, with little margin for further defensive errors.

Lineups & Personnel

Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI

• GK: Ofek Melika
• DF: Itai Ben Hamo, Mohamed Camara, Raz Shlomo, Shahar Rosen
• MF: Itamar Noy, Ido Shahar, Issouf Sissokho, Dor Peretz, Hélio Varela
• FW: Saied Abu Farchi

CSKA Sofia Starting XI

• GK: Fedor Lapoukhov
• DF: Pastor, Teodor Ivanov, Facundo Rodríguez, Ángelo Martino
• MF: Max Ebong, Bruno Jordão, Stefano Sensi
• FW: Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Leandro Godoy, Ioannis Pittas

Post-Match Verdict

CSKA Sofia delivered a dominant performance (7 shots on target to 2, 6 blocked shots to 0) built on compact defensive spacing and efficient transitions. Their 4-3-3 shape consistently overloaded central zones, allowing Ebong and Jordão to step into advanced positions and support Godoy and Pittas, which directly produced the first two goals. Out of possession, CSKA’s back four and midfield three limited Maccabi to low-volume, low-quality efforts, reflected in the home side’s meagre shot output.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, by contrast, looked vulnerable (conceding 3 goals and 7 shots on target) whenever CSKA accelerated play, with their 4-2-3-1 struggling to protect the spaces in front of the centre-backs. The early deficit forced them to chase the game, but their attacking response was blunt (only 2 shots on target, 0 blocked shots), and multiple second-half substitutions could not alter the underlying dynamic. Unless Maccabi can significantly tighten their defensive structure and add more variety in the final third, CSKA’s three-goal cushion from this first leg will be difficult to overturn.