UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 3
Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 - 3 FT CSKA Sofia
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots on Target
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
M. Ebong (L. Godoy) 9'
B. Jordao 18'
L. Godoy (I. Pittas) 29'
31' S. Abu Farkhi
43' M. Camara
HT
46' ↓ I. Ben Hamo ↑T. Asante
46' ↓ S. Rosen ↑N. Ben Harush
I. Pittas 54'
↓ I. Pittas ↑J. Zwarts 66'
66' ↓ S. Abu Farkhi ↑E. Sokler
66' ↓ I. Shahar ↑O. Davida
↓ B. Jordao ↑J. Eto'o 66'
77' ↓ H. Varela ↑E. Madmon
↓ L. Godoy ↑M. Brahimi 78'
J. Zwarts 85'
86' R. Shlomo
J. Zwarts (Pastor) 90'
S. Sensi 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Goalkeepers
Ofek Melika
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Itay Ben Hamo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mohamed Ali Camara
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Raz Shlomo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Shahar Rosen
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Midfielders
Itamar Noy
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Ido Shahar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Issouf Sissokho
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Dor Peretz
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Hélio Varela
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Forwards
Saied Abu Farchi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Roi Mishpati
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Tyrese Asante
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Noam Ben Harush
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Noam Schwartz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Osher Davida
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kervin Andrade
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dan Glazer
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Lotem Asres
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Ilay Ben Simon
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Ester Sokler
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Elad Madmon
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ori Azo
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CSKA Sofia
Goalkeepers
Fedor Lapoukhov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Pastor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Teodor Ivanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Facundo Rodríguez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ángelo Martino
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jean-Philippe Gbamin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Max Ebong
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Jordão
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Stefano Sensi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Leandro Godoy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ioannis Pittas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Dimitar Evtimov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Andrey Yordanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleks Tunchev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
James Eto'o
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mohamed Amine Brahimi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Petko Panayotov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vasil Kaymakanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Léo Pereira
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alejandro Piedrahita
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Georgi Chorbadzhiyski
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Isaac Solet
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Joël Zwarts
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
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
Maccabi Tel Aviv Win
CSKA Sofia Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Maccabi Tel Aviv
CSKA Sofia
Maccabi Tel Aviv
CSKA Sofia
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
CSKA Sofia Execute Perfect Away Game to Dismantle Maccabi
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 45/100. A staggering upset in the Europa League qualifiers saw CSKA Sofia ruthlessly dismantle Maccabi Tel Aviv far from home.
Early Shockwaves
Batumi Arena witnessed a rapid shift in European aspirations right from the opening whistle. The Stakes were immense for this 3rd Qualifying Round clash, but it was CSKA Sofia who immediately looked at home. M. Ebong set the tone, silencing the nominal hosts with a clinical finish in the ninth minute to draw first blood. Maccabi Tel Aviv attempted to settle the tempo, but their lack of penetration proved fatal against a well-drilled Bulgarian outfit. The Intensity was palpable as the visitors swarmed every loose ball, refusing to let the Israeli side build any meaningful rhythm.
The Clinical Pivot
While the hosts scrambled to regroup and find an equalizer, L. Godoy turned from provider to executioner. Just before the half-hour mark, Godoy doubled the advantage after linking up brilliantly with I. Pittas. This 29th-minute strike effectively killed the competitive spirit of the tie. Maccabi managed to register a mere two shots on target throughout the entire contest, finding themselves completely suffocated by the away side's disciplined defensive shape. The monumental Upset Factor became a stark reality as the underdog tore up the pre-match script with a devastating display of transition football.
A Decisive Resolution
The second half saw Maccabi chase shadows while CSKA managed the game with supreme professionalism. The visitors edged possession with 51%, keeping the ball away from danger zones and frustrating their opponents at every turn. In the dying moments, J. Zwarts applied the final gloss to the scoreline with a 90th-minute strike, assisted by Pastor. This comprehensive 3-0 victory completely resets the narrative for the return leg. A high level of tactical Balance means the Bulgarian side now has one foot firmly planted in the next phase of European qualifying.
Key Questions
Who scored the opening goal?
M. Ebong opened the scoring for CSKA Sofia with an early strike in the 9th minute.
Where was the match played?
The match took place at Batumi Arena.
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.
Maccabi Face Stern Test in UEL Qualifier
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 50/100. While this third qualifying round tie promises early-season tension, a lack of elite star power makes it a tough watch for neutrals.
The Setup
When Maccabi Tel Aviv welcome CSKA Sofia to Bloomfield Stadium on August 06, 2026, the Stakes revolve entirely around UEFA Europa League survival. Maccabi are the clear favorites on paper, but early-season rust often levels the playing field in these qualifying ties. The underlying metrics suggest a modest Form rating for the hosts, leaving the door slightly ajar for the Bulgarian visitors to craft a classic qualifying upset. With a low Stars appeal across the pitch, this clash is about grit rather than glamour.
Key Battle
Maccabi’s structural integrity will dictate the tempo. Midfielder K. Belić and defenders R. Revivo and T. Asante anchor the home side, tasked with shutting down CSKA Sofia's counter-attacking ambitions. The visitors will look to exploit spaces left behind if Maccabi push too high, making this a fascinating test of tactical Balance rather than a showcase of individual brilliance.
Our Prediction
A cagey affair awaits. Maccabi should edge possession, but CSKA Sofia’s defensive block will be tough to break down early. Expect the hosts to eventually find a breakthrough in the second half, securing a narrow 1-0 victory to take into the second leg.