CSKA Sofia vs Derry City preview

Europe flag 2026/2027 Europa League, Europe
Stadion Vasil Levski Yesterday - 6:00 PM
Europa League
CSKA Sofia CSKA Sofia
Derry City Derry City
KICKOFF : Yesterday - 6:00 PM
1st Qualifying Round Leg 1 of 2

CONTEXT

CSKA Sofia prepares to host Derry City at Stadion Vasil Levski in the opening leg of their Europa League first qualifying round tie during the 2026/2027 campaign. Both sides register identical power scores of fifty points, although CSKA Sofia receives recognition as the marginally stronger unit on paper. Domestic league positions and recent form records stand unavailable, leaving analysts to focus on structural balance and overall squad depth instead. The fixture marks an early test for each club in international competition, with neither team able to draw upon documented last outings for direct comparison. Venue familiarity could influence proceedings for the home side, yet the absence of detailed performance indicators creates an even platform heading into the encounter. Limited metrics across multiple categories underscore the need for on-field execution to define the outcome.

TL;DR

  • Structural: Equal power scores of fifty leave CSKA Sofia noted as the slightly stronger side overall.
  • Form: Both clubs register zero form scores ahead of the first leg.
  • Squad: Squad composition details remain unavailable for either participant.
  • Efficiency: Efficiency data stands absent from current records.
  • Transition: Transition metrics receive no coverage in supplied information.
  • Set pieces: Set piece evaluation carries low confidence and relies on proxy usage for both teams.
  • xVariable: Expected variable factors lack quantified values in the dataset.
  • Market: CSKA Sofia 71.5% (Δ+0%) | Draw 18.7% (Δ+0%) | Derry City 9.9% (Δ+0%).
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
Jan 25 vs Team A
Feb 1 vs Team B
Feb 8 vs Team C
CSKA Sofia H. Yanev
H. Yanev
VS
Derry City T. Lynch
T. Lynch
0
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
0
0 i
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
0 i
1
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
1 - 1 - 0
0
No sidelined player data available.

Win Probabilities

Live Win Probability (90 Min)
Home CSKA Sofia
71.46%
Draw
18.65%
Away Derry City
9.88%

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power score: composite of opponent-weighted form (last 6 & 20 games) and league position over last 3 seasons.
50
50
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
CSKA Sofia
Derry City
Power Score
50
50
League Position
-
-
Global Rank
-
-

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

–
vs
CSKA Sofia — Opponent-weighted form score
Derry City — Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) CSKA Sofia Derry City

Team Head to Head Last 6 Seasons

Summary of 2 matches between these sides — filtered by competition and venue context.

CSKA Sofia CSKA Sofia Home
2 matches
Derry City Derry City Away
Match Record
1
Wins
0
1
Draws
1
0
Losses
1
Goals
2
Goals Scored
1
1
Goals Conceded
2
+1
Goal Difference
-1
Expected Goals
0
xG
0
0
xGA
0

Data last updated: 2026-07-06T00:05:06+00:00

General Information

Date & Time
Jul 09, 2026, 06:00 PM
Competition
2026/2027 Europa League, Europe · 1st Qualifying Round · Leg 1 of 2
Stadium
Stadion Vasil Levski
Capacity
22015
Pitch Surface
Grass
Weather
☀️ 12°C, Fair
Referees
Visar Kastrati

Squad

Referee : Visar Kastrati

Squad ▼

25
Dimitar Ivanov Evtimov
Dimitar Ivanov Evtimov Goalkeeper
21
Fedor Lapoukhov
Fedor Lapoukhov Goalkeeper
5
Jean-Philippe Gbamin
Jean-Philippe Gbamin Defender
17
Ángelo Martino
Ángelo Martino Defender
4
Adrián Lapeña Ruiz
Adrián Lapeña Ruiz Defender
19
Andrey Yordanov Yordanov
Andrey Yordanov Yordanov Defender
5
Lumbardh Dellova
Lumbardh Dellova Defender
32
Facundo Rodríguez
Facundo Rodríguez Defender
2
David Samuel Custódio Lima
David Samuel Custódio Lima Defender
14
Teodor Valentinov Ivanov
Teodor Valentinov Ivanov Defender
3
Tamimou Ouorou
Tamimou Ouorou Defender
8
Stefano Sensi
Stefano Sensi Midfielder
6
Bruno André Cavaco Jordão
Bruno André Cavaco Jordão Midfielder
7
Max Ebong Ngome
Max Ebong Ngome Midfielder
94
Isaac Solet Bomawoko
Isaac Solet Bomawoko Midfielder
99
James Armel Eto'o Eyenga
James Armel Eto'o Eyenga Midfielder
80
Georgi Brankov Chorbadzhiyski
Georgi Brankov Chorbadzhiyski Midfielder
30
Petko Hristov Panayotov
Petko Hristov Panayotov Midfielder
28
Ioannis Pittas
Ioannis Pittas Attacker
—
Matthias Phaeton
Matthias Phaeton Attacker
10
Joël Zwarts
Joël Zwarts Attacker
11
Mohamed Amine Brahimi
Mohamed Amine Brahimi Attacker
38
Leonardo Augusto dos Santos Pereira
Leonardo Augusto dos Santos Pereira Attacker
9
Santiago Leandro Godoy
Santiago Leandro Godoy Attacker
77
Alejandro Piedrahita Díaz
Alejandro Piedrahita Díaz Attacker
22
Kevin Dodaj
Kevin Dodaj Attacker
Referee : Visar Kastrati

Squad ▼

1
Brian Philip Maher
Brian Philip Maher Goalkeeper
13
Tom Norcott
Tom Norcott Goalkeeper
26
Shea Callister
Shea Callister Goalkeeper
23
Cameron Dummigan
Cameron Dummigan Defender
4
Jamie Stott
Jamie Stott Defender
3
Patrick McClean
Patrick McClean Defender
2
Barry Cotter
Barry Cotter Defender
19
Brandon Fleming
Brandon Fleming Defender
6
Rob Slevin
Rob Slevin Defender
—
Christy Grogan
Christy Grogan Defender
22
Conor Barr
Conor Barr Defender
—
Ciaran Mullan
Ciaran Mullan Defender
—
Ryan Long
Ryan Long Defender
33
Oisin O'Brien
Oisin O'Brien Defender
16
James McClean
James McClean Midfielder
20
Carl Winchester
Carl Winchester Midfielder
10
Darragh Markey
Darragh Markey Midfielder
—
Ellis Chapman
Ellis Chapman Midfielder
28
James Olayinka
James Olayinka Midfielder
8
Adam O'Reilly
Adam O'Reilly Midfielder
15
James Clarke
James Clarke Midfielder
—
Callum Doherty
Callum Doherty Midfielder
35
Liam Kelly
Liam Kelly Midfielder
31
Callum Downey
Callum Downey Midfielder
34
Caolan O'Donnell
Caolan O'Donnell Midfielder
27
Liam Boyce
Liam Boyce Attacker
7
Michael Duffy
Michael Duffy Attacker
11
Gavin Whyte
Gavin Whyte Attacker
21
Kévin David Nogueira Carvalho Carvalho Santos
Kévin David Nogueira Carvalho Carvalho Santos Attacker

CONCLUSION

The opening fixture between CSKA Sofia and Derry City offers limited pre-match indicators, placing emphasis on immediate adaptation and tactical discipline once play begins. Equal underlying power ratings suggest a closely contested affair where small margins may decide progression after the return leg. Home advantage at Stadion Vasil Levski provides CSKA Sofia with a familiar setting, although the visitors arrive without clear weaknesses exposed in prior data. Both teams must navigate the absence of recent form insights by relying on squad organisation and collective effort throughout the ninety minutes. Execution in key areas will likely shape the result more than any statistical projection available beforehand.