UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 3
CSKA Sofia 1 - 3 FT Maccabi Tel Aviv
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Manchester City
5-3
Sunderland
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
91
🏆 Stakes
67
🎲 Upset
0
Eight goals, hat-trick heroics, pure chaos.
Futmetrix Verdict
55
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Gamba Osaka
0-1
Vissel Kobe
⚡ Intensity
40
⚖️ Balance
20
🏆 Stakes
78
🎲 Upset
0
Erik breaks Gamba hearts at 90'
Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Atletico Madrid
2-1
Real Madrid
⚡ Intensity
86
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
60
A chaotic derby flips Madrid's hierarchy.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
D. Peretz (O. Davida) 12'
26' B. Jordao
D. Peretz 31'
HT
46' ↓ B. Jordao ↑J. Eto'o
↓ M. Camara ↑N. Ben Harush 54'
56' S. Sensi
E. Sokler (O. Davida) 61'
66' S. Sensi (J. Eto'o)
F. Lapoukhov 69'
69' ↓ L. Godoy ↑J. Zwarts
73' ↓ A. Yordanov ↑M. Brahimi
↓ E. Sokler ↑S. Abu Farkhi 78'
↓ O. Davida ↑E. Madmon 78'
I. Sissokho 80'
E. Madmon 82'
↓ I. Shahar ↑K. Andrade 84'
88' M. Ebong
FT
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/06/2026 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 0 - 3 | CSKA Sofia | UEFA Europa League | Adjarabet Arena |
08/06/2026
CSKA Sofia Win
Maccabi Tel Aviv Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
CSKA Sofia
Maccabi Tel Aviv
CSKA Sofia
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Maccabi Tel Aviv Stun CSKA Sofia in Europa League Qualifier
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. Maccabi Tel Aviv defied the odds in Bulgaria, using commanding possession and ruthless finishing to take total control of this European tie.
The Early Ambush
The Stakes were immense at Vasil Levski National Stadium, with a coveted place in the next qualifying round on the line. Rather than sit back and absorb pressure, the visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv stamped their authority immediately. They completely dominated possession, pinning the Bulgarian giants back into their own defensive third right from the start. The breakthrough arrived just 12 minutes in when O. Davida expertly carved open the disjointed defence, teeing up D. Peretz for a clinical early opener. It was a massive statement of intent that completely shifted the Balance of the tie, leaving the passionate home crowd utterly stunned as Maccabi dictated the tempo through sweeping lateral passes and high Intensity pressing.
The Second-Half Flurry
The second period initially threatened to be a tactical stalemate, but the hour mark triggered a chaotic and highly entertaining exchange. Davida struck again as the absolute chief creator on the pitch, feeding E. Sokler in the 61st minute to comfortably double the visitors' advantage. Yet, just as the Israeli side looked entirely comfortable and ready to cruise to the final whistle, CSKA Sofia desperately found their lifeline. S. Sensi latched onto a clever, incisive ball from J. Eto'o to halve the massive deficit in the 66th minute, injecting fresh belief and roaring energy into the Vasil Levski National Stadium. For a brief, electrifying moment, the momentum swung violently back to the scrambling hosts.
The Own Goal Clincher
However, the fierce Bulgarian resurgence proved to be brutally short-lived. A catastrophic own goal from F. Lapoukhov just three minutes later restored Maccabi's two-goal cushion, completely extinguishing the home side's flickering fire. The high Upset Factor rating was completely validated by the final whistle, as Maccabi secured a famous 3-1 away victory despite heading into this challenging clash as the undeniable underdogs. Having controlled 65 percent of the ball throughout the contest, the visitors expertly managed the tricky closing stages to permanently silence the Sofia crowd. They will carry a massive, well-earned advantage into the crucial return leg, while CSKA are left to ponder a monumental mountain to climb next week.
Key Questions
Who scored the opening goal of the match?
D. Peretz gave Maccabi Tel Aviv the lead in the 12th minute of the game.
Who provided the most assists?
O. Davida was crucial for the visitors, providing two key assists during the match.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
A Gritty Qualifier Ripe for an Upset
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 61/100. Despite a glaring lack of global star power, this third qualifying round tie offers a tense, tactical battle where the visiting underdogs could spring a surprise.
The Setup
On August 13, 2026, the European dream hangs in the balance at the National Stadium Vasil Levski. CSKA Sofia enters as the statistical favourite to progress, but early-season qualifying matches are notoriously tricky to navigate. A low Stakes rating reflects the early phase of this UEFA Europa League campaign, while a dire Stars metric indicates this is a match for the purists rather than the casual fan. Still, the underlying data points to an intriguing clash. The visitors, Maccabi Tel Aviv, arrive with a decent Form profile that suggests they will not simply roll over. The high Balance rating highlights a surprisingly even tactical matchup on the pitch, masking the gap in the pre-match probabilities.
Key Battle
With the home side expected to dominate possession, the true contest lies in how the visitors absorb the pressure. Maccabi Tel Aviv will rely heavily on the defensive resilience of R. Revivo and T. Asante to silence the home attacking unit. Ahead of them, K. Belić must anchor the midfield, disrupting passing lanes and launching quick counter-attacks to exploit any gaps left by an overcommitting CSKA Sofia side.
Our Prediction
We expect a frustrating evening for the hosts. CSKA Sofia will press hard, but Maccabi's disciplined low block will hold firm. Our take is a gritty 1-1 draw, setting up a nerve-wracking second leg where the tie remains wide open.