CSKA Sofia vs Qarabag – News and Probable Lineups

Following a goalless first leg in Baku, CSKA Sofia return to their home ground, the Balgarska Armia Stadium, on Thursday evening for the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round, aware that even a single goal could be sufficient to progress.

With the support of their fans, Hristo Yanev’s team will hope to use their home advantage in a second leg that leaves little room for mistakes, while Qarabag come to Sofia having shown enough in the initial encounter to pose a genuine threat.

Match overview

The first encounter in Baku ended in a cautious 0-0 draw, with neither team managing to assert themselves fully, and the upcoming fixture appears to be a tightly contested match where CSKA Sofia will seek to take control.

CSKA Sofia reached this stage by winning the 2025-26 Bulgárian Cup, overcoming Lokomotiv Plovdiv in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at the end of regular time.

Having remained undefeated in 24 out of their last 30 games across all competitions, Yanev’s outfit has demonstrated the resilience and structure that makes them challenging for opponents in both domestic and European matches.

They advanced through the first qualifying round by edging out Derry City 5-3 on aggregate, winning 3-2 at home before securing a 2-1 victory away in Ireland.

Two rounds into the new Parva Liga season, CSKA Sofia have accumulated four points from one win and one draw, placing them fifth in the early league standings.

Their latest match, played on Monday, resulted in a 3-2 victory at home against Botev Plovdiv, and Yanev will be hoping that this winning momentum translates into a solid performance against Qarabag on Thursday evening.

Qarabag also arrives in Sofia in strong form, having remained unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions, with just two losses in their last ten fixtures.

Their Europa League campaign kicked off with an impressive 6-0 aggregate victory over the Icelandic team IF Vestri, winning both legs 3-0 and showcasing their clinical finishing.

Qurban Qurbanov’s squad is no stranger to this level of competition, boasting experiences from seven UEFA Champions League seasons and 13 UEFA Cup/Europa League campaigns, providing them with the composure required for the second leg on Thursday.

Their away form adds further confidence for the visitors, having recorded six victories in their last 12 away matches across all competitions.

Team News

CSKA Sofia approaches Thursday’s second leg without any injury worries, providing Yanev with a fully fit squad to choose from for what is their most crucial match in the European campaign thus far.

Fedor Lapoukhov is expected to continue as the goalkeeper, with Teodor Ivanov and Facundo Rodriguez forming the central defence behind a midfield likely to comprise Petko Panayotov, Stefano Sensi, Bruno Jordao, and Maks Ebong.

Ioannis Pittas, who has netted three goals in the competition to date, is anticipated to lead the front line alongside Leandro Godoy.

Qarabag also arrives for the return match with a fully fit and stable squad. Mateusz Kochalski is set to retain his place in goal, with captain Badavi Huseynov and Bence Varkonyi making up the central defensive pairing.

Zakaria Sawo is expected to spearhead the Qarabag attack once again, with Kady and Marko Jankovic offering creative options from midfield.

CSKA Sofia probable starting XI:

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

Qarabag FK probable starting XI:

Kochalski; Langa, Varkonyi, Huseynov, Silva; Jankovic, Bicalho; Zoubir, Kady, Kashchuk; Sawo

Home advantage and a consistent lineup should provide CSKA Sofia with an edge in what is likely to be an intensely fought match.

Yanev’s team has proven challenging to beat over recent months, and the atmosphere at the Balgarska Armia Stadium is expected to motivate the hosts in such a finely balanced contest.

Qarabag’s European experience and solid away performances pose a real threat, but their failure to score in Baku indicates that CSKA Sofia’s defensive organization has already shown its effectiveness in this tie. A moment of brilliance from either Pittas or Godoy could very well determine the outcome.