Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia - prediction, team news, lineups

Kicking disconnected a 3rd qualifying circular necktie successful neutral Batumi, CSKA Sofia and Maccabi Tel Aviv volition proceed their Europa League travel connected Thursday.

After taking precise antithetic routes done circular two, the brace indispensable present combat it retired to conscionable OFI Crete successful the playoffs.

Match preview

Following a cagey goalless gully successful Baku 7 days earlier, CSKA Sofia were past held connected location turf by Qarabag successful their 2nd circular tie, ultimately requiring other clip and penalties to compression through.

Hristo Yanev's broadside had started disconnected successful circular one, wherever they defeated Derry City 5-3 connected aggregate by winning some legs. 

Having qualified for Europe's second-tier tourney by claiming the Bulgarian Cup - besides via a punishment shootout - the service nine are present conscionable 2 steps distant from the league phase.

Amid their continental adventures, CSKA person made a affirmative commencement to the caller Parva Liga campaign, picking up 7 points from a imaginable 9 truthful far.

Sunday's 2-1 location triumph implicit Dunav Ruse was secured by a precocious extremity from centre-back Facundo Rodriguez, mounting Yanev's men up nicely for their travel to Georgia.

The archetypal ever gathering betwixt CSKA Sofia and Maccabi Tel Aviv volition instrumentality spot astatine Batumi's Adjarabet Arena, arsenic the Israeli broadside cannot vie connected location ungraded owed to UEFA sanctions.

Maccabi's astir caller sojourn to the Georgian superior ended successfully, with last week's 1-0 decision of Sheriff Tiraspol completing a broad 6-0 aggregate victory.

Before beating Sheriff, the State Cup holders had returned to home enactment with a 3-1 Super Cup triumph implicit Hapoel Be'er Sheva, arsenic Kenny Miller collected his 2nd portion of silverware since arriving successful May.

Seasoned campaigners astatine this level, the Yellows person played successful Europe for each of the past 3 seasons, coming done a fig of tricky qualifiers to bash so.

Following an eventful tally to the Conference League's past 16 successful 2024, they suffered league-phase exits successful the Champions League and Europa League respectively, albeit accruing plentifulness of invaluable experience.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League form:

W W

Maccabi Tel Aviv signifier (all competitions):

W W W

CSKA Sofia Europa League form:

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CSKA Sofia signifier (all competitions):

W D D W W W

Team News

After making an unbeaten commencement to the season, CSKA brag Yanev is apt to support a settled side, with skipper Bruno Jordao moving matters successful cardinal midfield.

Dutch striker Joel Zwarts, who scored their opener past weekend, volition vie with Leandro Godoy and Ioannis Pittas to pb the line.

An experienced Cyprus international, the second has notched 7 goals successful 34 erstwhile European appearances, and 3 against Derry City successful circular one. 

In a multi-national squad, Cameroon midfielder James Eto'o, erstwhile Inter Milan antheral Stefano Sensi and ex-Everton defender Jean-Philippe Gbamin are besides contenders to start. 

Meanwhile, Maccabi indispensable bash without Moldovan guardant Ion Nicolaescu, who is inactive sidelined by an ACL injury, meaning Abu Farchi should articulation skipper Dor Peretz up front.

After Farchi recorded 10 extremity involvements successful Israel's top-flight past season, helium has recovered the nett 4 times successful 3 competitory fixtures this term.

Maccabi Tel Aviv imaginable starting lineup:

Melika; Yehezkel, Shlomo, Camara, Revivo; Noy, Sissokho, Shahar; Varela, Peretz, Farchi

CSKA Sofia imaginable starting lineup:

Lapoukhov; Pastor, Ivanov, Gbamin, Rodriguez, Martino; Ebong, Jordao, Sensi; Godoy, Pittas

We say: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-2 CSKA Sofia 

After their home cupful wins past term, some sides person begun the caller play well, making this a precise pugnacious necktie to call.

Due to a deficiency of location advantage, Maccabi whitethorn person to settee for a people gully successful the archetypal leg, arsenic CSKA are looking hard to defeat.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.