- CSKA Sofia have won 7 of their last 10 all-comp games (D2, L1), currently on a four-game winning streak that included a 3-0 win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026.
- Maccabi Tel-Aviv have won 5 of their last 10 all-competition games (D2, L3), losing to CSKA (0-3).
- Ioannis Pittas is the top marksman in Europe for CSKA Sofia, with 3 goals in 5 UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 games. Joel Zwarts has also 4 in the last 5. Sayed Abu Farkhi has 2 in 3 in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 for Maccabi.
Tight, tense and potentially tense European fixture
CSKA Sofia are a well-drilled, ruthless, transition-focused team with a tough mid-block under coach Hristo Yanev, who has been in charge since 24 September 2025. Maccabi Tel-Aviv are a more tempo-focused, wide-based side, with a bit more energy and a sharp player in Sayed Abu Farkhi.
With the pressure of qualification hanging over the fixture, this could be a tense affair on Thursday. Both sides are coming off good runs, but CSKA have a bit more of an edge having won their most recent clash 3-0 in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026. The match odds also reflect a similar view with CSKA 1/1, draw 21/10 and Maccabi Tel-Aviv 61/20.
CSKA have that winning feel about them
We're going to take the team here as it is difficult to look past that recent 3-0 head-to-head result and CSKA's overall four-game winning run, but this will likely be a cagey contest at Vasil Levski in Bulgaria.
Under 2.5 goals at 3/4 and both teams to score No at 93/100 both pass the eye test for this fixture. CSKA have been much tighter at the back than Maccabi in all competitions, shipping 15 goals at a rate of 1.50 per-game. Maccabi's games have been more lively on average, with 2.00 scored and 1.40 conceded per-game.
Pittas and Zwarts are both in form
Maccabi's all-competition record (W5, D2, L3) suggests that they can be dangerous going forward, especially from wide areas and on set-pieces, but they'll need to control the pace more than they did when they were thrashed 0-3 by CSKA in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026.
CSKA have a couple of decent finishers in Europe in Ioannis Pittas and Joel Zwarts, who have scored 3 and 4 respectively in their most recent 5-match run, during which time CSKA have scored 8.
