UEFA Europa League Play-offs
OFI 3 - 0 FT CSKA Sofia
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
Coventry
vs
Newcastle
Mon, Oct 12 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
47
⚖️ Balance
95
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
72
Coventry's survival bid meets Newcastle's inconsistency.
Futmetrix Verdict
66
FT
Mon, Oct 12
Atalanta
3-1
Venezia
⚡ Intensity
86
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
0
🎲 Upset
0
Atalanta strike early, Venezia stay sunk.
Futmetrix Verdict
59
FT
Mon, Oct 12
Al-Wasl FC
1-3
Al-Ahli Jeddah
⚡ Intensity
63
⚖️ Balance
54
🏆 Stakes
12
🎲 Upset
0
Clinical Al-Ahli secure vital away victory.
Match Events
19' T. Fountas
HT
51' T. Fountas
S. Sensi 53'
T. Ivanov 54'
↓ J. Eto'o ↑C. Itu 56'
↓ Pastor ↑M. Brahimi 56'
↓ L. Godoy ↑J. Zwarts 64'
66' ↓ T. Fountas ↑Z. Karachalios
66' ↓ A. Bouchalakis ↑L. Dickmann
↓ A. Yordanov ↑Leo Pereira 75'
76' ↓ T. Nuss ↑A. Leya Iseka
76' ↓ A. Androutsos ↑G. Kanellopoulos
M. Brahimi 81'
86' ↓ K. Kostoulas ↑D. Nikolaou
90'+5 L. Dickmann (D. Nikolaou)
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
OFI
Goalkeepers
Nikolaos Christogeorgos
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Konstantinos Kostoulas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Christos Sielis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Achilleas Poungouras
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Giannis Apostolakis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Athanasios Androutsos
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Andreas Bouchalakis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nikolaos Athanasiou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Thiago Nuss
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aitor Cantalapiedra
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Taxiarchis Fountas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Klidman Lilo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Panagiotis Katsikas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lorenzo Dickmann
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dimitrios Nikolaou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Krešimir Krizmanić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Borja Gonzalez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pavlos Kenourgiakis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Zisis Karachalios
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Georgios Kanellopoulos
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aaron Leya Iseka
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Thiago Romano
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Giannis Theodosoulakis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
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
Andrey Yordanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jean-Philippe Gbamin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Max Ebong
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Stefano Sensi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
James Eto'o
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Leandro Godoy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ioannis Pittas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Dimitar Evtimov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleks Tunchev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Tamimou Ouorou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mohamed Amine Brahimi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Cătălin Itu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Léo Pereira
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Jordão
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vasil Kaymakanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Petko Panayotov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Georgi Chorbadzhiyski
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Isaac Solet
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Joël Zwarts
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
OFI
CSKA Sofia
OFI
CSKA Sofia
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
OFI Seize Total Control With Emphatic First Leg Victory
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 22/100. A devastating red card turned a tense play-off battle into a one-sided procession, leaving OFI on the brink of European qualification.
Tense Beginnings at Pagritio
The Stakes were monumental as UEFA Europa League play-off action arrived at Pagritio, with both sides desperate to secure European football for the season. In the early exchanges, the visitors refused to be intimidated by the fierce local atmosphere. CSKA Sofia managed to edge possession, holding exactly fifty percent of the ball and creating volume with eleven total shots. Despite their attacking intent, finding a clinical finish proved elusive against a disciplined home defence. OFI remained incredibly structured, absorbing the early pressure and looking for their moment to strike on the counter-attack. The opening phases suggested a tight, cagey European affair with both teams eager to avoid a catastrophic defensive error that could define the tie.
The Disastrous Pivot
The Balance of this crucial tie was completely shattered by a single moment of devastating indiscipline. The visitors suffered a catastrophic red card, reducing them to ten men and forcing their entire tactical game plan out the window. This dismissal was the undeniable turning point of the evening. OFI ruthlessly exploited the extra space, stretching the depleted Bulgarian side across the pitch with precise passing and relentless movement. The Greek outfit began to find gaps at will, turning a previously even contest into a brutal attacking exhibition. The away side tried desperately to rely on their keeper, who managed one crucial save, but the numerical disadvantage was simply too massive a hurdle to overcome in a high-stakes European environment.
A Mountain to Climb
By the time the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read a commanding 3-0 to the hosts. The Intensity of OFI's second-half finishing leaves the visitors staring directly into the abyss of elimination. The Greek side navigated this first leg perfectly, ensuring they travel to Bulgaria for the return leg on August 27th with a massive cushion. For the visiting squad, the dream of reaching the main competition hangs by the thinnest of threads. The Upset factor seems virtually non-existent for the second leg unless a tactical masterclass unfolds. They will need nothing short of a miracle on home soil to overturn this severe deficit and salvage their continental campaign.
Key Questions
What was the final score of the first leg?
OFI secured a commanding 3-0 victory over CSKA Sofia at Pagritio.
What was the turning point of the match?
A red card for CSKA Sofia reduced them to ten men, allowing OFI to dominate the remainder of the game.
When is the second leg scheduled?
The return leg will be played in Bulgaria on August 27, 2026.
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.
High Stakes in Crete as OFI and CSKA Sofia Clash for Group Stage Spot
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 69/100. With a place in the Europa League main draw hanging in the balance, this opening leg promises a tense, tactical chess match between two remarkably even sides.
The Setup
August 20, 2026, brings European knockout football to Pankritio Stadium. This first leg of the Europa League playoffs sees OFI host CSKA Sofia in a tie where the margins are incredibly thin. Our Balance assessment is off the charts, indicating these two teams are virtually inseparable on paper. While the overall Stars rating might be modest without global household names, the sheer Stakes of securing continental qualification guarantees absolute intensity. The Bulgarian outfit arrives with a dangerous Form profile, having ruthlessly secured results on the road to establish themselves as true away specialists.
Key Battle
Without standout individual superstars dominating the narrative, this tie comes down to structural discipline. OFI’s midfield engine room must dictate the tempo on home soil, but they face a severe test breaking down a visiting defensive unit that thrives at soaking up pressure and striking on the counter-attack.
Our Prediction
Expect a cautious opening exchange. With a crucial second leg looming in Sofia on August 27, neither manager will risk everything tonight. Our take is a tightly contested 1-1 draw, setting up a winner-takes-all showdown next week.