CSKA Sofia Europa League qualifying results

Four rounds of CSKA qualifying results

CSKA Sofia beat Derry City 5–3 on aggregate in the first round. Two 0–0 draws against Qarabag followed, with CSKA winning the second-leg shootout 5–4. That penalty score decided qualification; it did not turn the match result into a five-goal win.

The third round against Maccabi Tel-Aviv brought another important distinction. CSKA won the away leg 3–0 and lost the home return 3–1, still advancing 4–3 on aggregate. A defeat in the latest match card therefore did not mean elimination from that particular tie.

OFI's goals ended the comeback attempt in Sofia

CSKA returned to Sofia needing to recover a 3–0 first-leg deficit. At Vasil Levski, Thiago Nuss put OFI ahead in the 36th minute, pushing the tie further away before half-time.

Giannis Theodosoulakis added the second in the 78th minute. CSKA's home defeat completed a 5–0 aggregate loss, ending a qualifying run that had already included Derry, Qarabag and Maccabi. The earlier shootout success against Qarabag could not be repeated here: this play-off was settled during the matches.

CSKA's earlier group-stage appearance

UEFA records a Europa League group-stage campaign for CSKA Sofia in 2020/21. The club's 2018/19 and 2019/20 entries reached the third qualifying round, while 2026/27 reached the play-offs.

CSKA Sofia: fan questions