CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction 13 August 2026
🔊 In the first match, CSKA Sofia won 3:0 and have almost secured their place in the next qualifying round of the Europa League. But the Bulgarian "army men" shouldn't rest on their laurels, as anything can happen in football. The legendary Istanbul final of 2005 showed that one team can overturn such a deficit in just one half, and Maccabi will have two full halves to do it. Should we be counting on an Israeli miracle, or will CSKA march into the next round without fuss? We break it down in our prediction.
Head-to-Head
📊 Before this European campaign, the two teams had never met each other. The only head-to-head match remains the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round, in which CSKA, nominally away in Batumi, thrashed Maccabi 3:0.
Head-to-head statistics CSKA Sofia - Maccabi Tel Aviv
CSKA Sofia Team Overview
Hristo Yanev's side approach the second leg in excellent spirits. The team made a strong start in the domestic league and reached the third qualifying round of the Europa League, where they have a great chance of advancing to the next stage. That said, the road to this round was not easy for the "army men": in the first round they scraped past Irish side Derry City (5:3), and in the second they only got through Azerbaijani side Qarabağ on penalties (0:0 on aggregate, 5:4 on penalties).
The Sofia side's main asset is their midfield, built around the experienced Bruno Jordão and Stefano Sensi. The former has played in Serie A and the Premier League, while the latter spent five years at one of Italy's strongest clubs - Inter Milan. Also worth noting is the reliable performances of Belarusian goalkeeper Fyodor Lapoukhov, who has kept 4 clean sheets in his last six matches. As for the squad situation, it can be described as ideal. CSKA have no injured players, meaning the Bulgarian club will go into the second leg at full strength.
Match Results: CSKA Sofia
Maccabi Tel Aviv Team Overview
The 0-3 defeat in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round came as a real shock for the Israeli side. Before that, Kenny Miller's men had been in excellent form, winning the domestic Super Cup and comfortably getting past Moldovan side Sheriff in the previous round (6-0 on aggregate). Moreover, Maccabi were actually considered favourites for this tie. However, the loss of several key players through injury and being forced to play on a neutral ground took their toll on the result.
Maccabi now face an extremely difficult task - they need to push forward with everything they have from the first minute. But overturning such a deficit will be very hard, as the Israeli club's injury situation leaves a lot to be desired. Ion Nicolaescu, Christian Belich and Deni Gropper are all definitely ruled out of the upcoming match, while new signing Hisham Layous is also a doubt.
Match Results: Maccabi Tel Aviv
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
The first match was a feeling-out process, but even that one turned out to be very heated. The two teams combined for 39 fouls and earned seven yellow cards: CSKA - 4, Maccabi - 3. The return leg will be even more emotional: the Israelis will push forward in numbers and press aggressively. The hosts, in turn, will try to slow the tempo down, but a defensive approach will inevitably bring plenty of fouls. We expect a tight battle in every area of the pitch and go with the total yellow cards over 4.5. This bet landed in 4 of Maccabi's 5 matches in the new season.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
There is no point in the visitors sitting back - they need to score at least three times to have any hope of even extra time. In that scenario the match will open up completely, and CSKA will have ideal conditions for quick counter-attacks. Given the attacking potential of both teams, an entertaining game is a logical expectation. A good option looks like the both teams to score (yes) bet at odds of around 1.80*. It landed in 8 of Maccabi's last 9 away matches.
🚩 Corners Prediction
In only one of Maccabi's five opening matches of the season were fewer than nine corners taken. A similar picture can be seen with CSKA: in 6 of their previous 9 matches the teams went over 9.5 corners. Given that the Israelis will take the ball from the first minutes and start loading the opposition's box with crosses, while the Bulgarians will look to make the most of their counter-attacks, both teams are capable of racking up a large number of corners. In this situation the total corners over 9.5 at 2.00* looks promising.
*Odds are indicative and may vary across different bookmakers.
⭐ Editor's Pick
Miracles do happen in football, but for Maccabi to stage a comeback they would need conditions to be absolutely perfect - and they simply aren't. CSKA are in excellent form, fully fit, and hold a comfortable advantage, while the Israeli club are missing several players through injury. Most likely, the Tel Aviv side will push forward and may even find a way past the hosts' goalkeeper, but the Sofia army club will take advantage of the open space and punish their visitors. The most optimal bet here is both teams to score (yes). Predicted score - 1:1.
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Betting Tips: CSKA Sofia - Maccabi Tel Aviv
in 21 of last 22 home games.in last 9 games.
in 18 of last 20 home games.in 8 of last 9 away games.in 18 of last 19 games.in last 9 away games.in 10 of last 11 games (Europa League).Comparison of Teams Stats
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