- Team form: Both teams have identical 33-game records with 62 points apiece, but Sofia sits 3rd and 1948 4th in the Championship Group.
- Home/away form: CSKA Sofia are on a 2-game winning streak entering this derby, but are winless in their last 2 home games vs 1948.
- Opposition form: 1948 are on a 2-game losing streak entering this matchup.
CSKA Sofia are the more organized, patient and clinical team
Both sides enter this game in the Parva Liga - Championship Group 2026 on the back of contrasting form, with CSKA Sofia winning their last 2 games, drawing 0-0 at home to Ludogorets in the Cup and beating both Ludogorets (1-0) and 1948 (1-0) in the league. In contrast, 1948 won away at Ludogorets a few days before losing back-to-back games to Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia.
Hristo Yanev took over the ‘Senior’ CSKA in September 2025 and has led them to a new identity based on organisation, patient possession-based play and clinical pressing.
CSKA Sofia play a 4-2-3-1 that enables them to overload the midfield and dictate the tempo of the game. They average 1.65 goals scored and only 0.71 conceded at home in the 2026 season.
Midfielder Ivan Turitsov is the star of the show and he often controls the ball in the central positions and allows the team to play the ball forward. CSKA Sofia’s goals in this Championship Group have been few and far between, but the return of Mohamed Brahimi to the club has been a boost with the winger scoring 2 of his team’s last 4 goals.
FC CSKA 1948’s style and identity have been redefined by new coach Sasho Aleksandrov
Sasho Aleksandrov took over FC CSKA 1948 at the start of May 2026 and has made them into a physical, intense, direct and high-intensity team that plays football at a fast pace. They’ve been clinical when they should be and they have a box-to-box player in captain Ivaylo Chochev who has been an important disruptor.
Mamadou Diallo has scored 3 goals in his last 5 games for 1948 and is the side’s most reliable goal threat at present.
This is a local derby with a history
Match context:
The derby between PFC CSKA Sofia and FC CSKA 1948 is always a big game for the city of Sofia, both on and off the field. CSKA Sofia are the more solid, better-organized and overall more clinical side, so it stands to reason that they will have the best chance of edging this matchup in a tight contest.
A win for 1948 would be a monumental achievement for the club as they are still very much the underdogs in this city’s rivalry. 1948 can win on their travels, but the 1-0 defeat just 3 days ago will have hurt them and there’s no doubt CSKA Sofia will win this game based on current form.
Odds and prediction:
- CSKA Sofia are the slight favorites at 2.18, with the draw 3.0 and 1948 3.56.
- However, the draw seems unlikely as the home side will be looking for the win and are on a winning streak.
- The ‘Both teams to score - No’ option at 1.71 seems like a smart play here as neither side is prolific.
- 1948 are less prolific going forward, while they’ve conceded just 0.94 goals per game when playing away in the Bulgarian topflight.
- The last two head-to-head matchups were both won by CSKA Sofia, so we’ll take them to win this one, but don’t expect a goal fest in this tactical battle.
