The second leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round between CSKA 1948 and Panathinaikos will take place in Sofia 11 August 2026 at 18:30 BST.
The first game in Athens was open and high-scoring — 1:1, with the Bulgarian club equalising just 10 minutes after the hosts' goal. That result was an unexpectedly good one for the visitors and kept the intrigue alive ahead of the return leg.
CSKA 1948 edged through the second qualifying round with difficulty, beating Trnava (0:0 and 0:0) only on penalties. However, that is certainly no reason to write the team off. At the very least, they have not lost an official match this season: four wins and three draws. And in Athens, CSKA were not afraid to play an open game and produced 19 shots with a total xG of 1.24.
Panathinaikos are considered favourites in the tie thanks to their higher-quality squad and international experience — the team are coached by Jacob Neestrup, who favours attacking football, while new players such as Stefan de Vrij are gradually adapting to the coaching staff's demands. At the same time, the Greek club have still not started their league campaign, so they have had the chance to recover fully and prepare for the return match.
The hosts will push forward from the opening minutes, forcing their opponents to break on the counter and increase the tempo. In that case, we can confidently expect another shootout with plenty of goals. We think the sides will manage to frustrate each other.
Jasper Vergoote (Belgium)
Matches – 6 (international fixtures, 2025–2026);
Average fouls per match – 27;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) – 3.5;
Matches with red cards – 1 of 6;
Matches with penalties – 5 of 6.
|
Ognyan Mladenov
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Petar Totev Marinov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andre Hoffmann
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Diego Daniel Medina Román
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Héctor Manuel Cuéllar Rosales
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lasha Dvali
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ognjen Gašević
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Frédéric Ferreira Maciel
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Moataz Zemzemi
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Atanas Petrov Iliev
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Georgi Rosenov Rusev
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jules Meyer
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Aleks Bozhev
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Dimitar Georgiev Sheytanov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Dragan Grivić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Egor Parkhomenko
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fourat Soltani
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Brian Gabriel Sobrero
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Florian Krebs
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Marto Nikolov Boychev
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Petar Ivo Vitanov
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Elias Corrêa Franco
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kaloyan Radostinov Strinski
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mamadou Diallo
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jacob Neestrup
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Ignacio Peña Sotorres
|
gk. | 4 | -4 |
|
Giorgos Kyriakopoulos
|
df. | 4 | 0 |
|
Stefan de Vrij
|
df. | 4 | 0 |
|
Rick van Drongelen
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Giorgos Marios Katris
|
df. | 2 | 0 |
|
Pedro Chirivella Burgos
|
mf. | 4 | 0 |
|
Étienne Amara Camara
|
mf. | 4 | 0 |
|
Anass Zaroury
|
fw. | 4 | 0 |
|
Elmin Rastoder
|
fw. | 4 | 1 |
|
Santino Andino Valencia
|
fw. | 4 | 1 |
|
Levi Samuel García
|
fw. | 1 | 1 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Panagiotis Biniaris
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Konstantinos Kotsaris
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lucas Abraham Chaves
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ahmed Touba
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Adam Gnezda Čerin
|
mf. | 4 | 0 |
|
Adriano Jagušić
|
mf. | 4 | 2 |
|
Facundo Pellistri Rebollo
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Sotiris Kontouris
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Vicente Taborda
|
fw. | 3 | 0 |
|
Andrews Tetteh
|
fw. | 2 | 0 |
|
Cyriel Kolawole Paul Dessers
|
fw. | 1 | 1 |
|
Giorgos Kyriopoulos
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Panathinaikos
CSKA 1948 Sofia
CSKA 1948 Sofia
Spartak Trnava
Spartak Trnava
CSKA 1948 Sofia
Pafos
CSKA 1948 Sofia
CSKA 1948 Sofia
Pafos
Budućnost
CSKA 1948 Sofia
CSKA 1948 Sofia
Budućnost
FCSB
CSKA 1948 Sofia
CSKA 1948 Sofia
FCSB
Panathinaikos
CSKA 1948 Sofia
Panathinaikos
Paksi
Paksi
Panathinaikos
Real Betis
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
Real Betis
Viktoria Plzen
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
Viktoria Plzen
Panathinaikos
AS Roma
Ferencvárosi
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
Viktoria Plzen
Europa Conference League 2026/27
Panathinaikos
CSKA 1948 Sofia
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Lugano
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11:4 | 9 |
|
2
|
Panathinaikos
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9:3 | 9 |
|
3
|
Twente
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8:2 | 9 |
|
4
|
Monaco
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7:1 | 9 |
|
5
|
Brighton and Hove Albion
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5:0 | 7 |
|
6
|
Brann
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7:3 | 7 |
|
7
|
Copenhagen
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7:3 | 7 |
|
8
|
Universitatea
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:2 | 7 |
|
9
|
Mjällby
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5:1 | 7 |
|
10
|
Sint-Truidense
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4:1 | 7 |
|
11
|
Ajax
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9:3 | 6 |
|
12
|
Trabzonspor
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6:3 | 6 |
|
13
|
Hajduk Split
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 6 |
|
14
|
Freiburg
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4:5 | 6 |
|
15
|
Crvena Zvezda
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6:6 | 4 |
|
16
|
Atalanta
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:4 | 4 |
|
17
|
Sporting Braga
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 4 |
|
18
|
Gent
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 4 |
|
19
|
FC Riga
|
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
20
|
FC Thun
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
21
|
Borac Banja Luka
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
Lincoln Red Imps
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:6 | 3 |
|
23
|
Jablonec
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3:4 | 2 |
|
24
|
Aarhus
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1:2 | 2 |
|
25
|
Nordsjælland
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3:5 | 2 |
|
26
|
Egnatia Rrogozhine
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2:4 | 2 |
|
27
|
Kairat
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3:7 | 2 |
|
28
|
CSKA Sofia
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4:6 | 1 |
|
29
|
Iberia 1999
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2:5 | 1 |
|
30
|
Pafos
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3:7 | 1 |
|
31
|
Getafe
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3:7 | 1 |
|
32
|
Hearts
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2:6 | 1 |
|
33
|
KuPS
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2:6 | 1 |
|
34
|
Midtjylland
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2:8 | 1 |
|
35
|
Inter Club d'Escaldes
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
FK Kauno Zalgiris
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:11 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Lugano
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
2
|
Panathinaikos
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Twente
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 6 |
|
4
|
Monaco
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 6 |
|
5
|
Copenhagen
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 6 |
|
6
|
Mjällby
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 6 |
|
7
|
Universitatea
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:1 | 4 |
|
8
|
Sint-Truidense
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:1 | 4 |
|
9
|
Crvena Zvezda
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:3 | 4 |
|
10
|
Atalanta
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
11
|
Brighton and Hove Albion
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Brann
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
13
|
Ajax
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
14
|
Trabzonspor
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Hajduk Split
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
16
|
Freiburg
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
17
|
Sporting Braga
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
18
|
Gent
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
19
|
FC Thun
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
20
|
Borac Banja Luka
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
21
|
Lincoln Red Imps
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
FC Riga
|
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2:2 | 2 |
|
23
|
Aarhus
|
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1:1 | 2 |
|
24
|
Jablonec
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
|
25
|
Nordsjælland
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2:2 | 1 |
|
26
|
Egnatia Rrogozhine
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
27
|
Iberia 1999
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
28
|
Pafos
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
29
|
Hearts
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
30
|
KuPS
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 1 |
|
31
|
Kairat
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
32
|
CSKA Sofia
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
33
|
Getafe
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
34
|
Midtjylland
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:7 | 0 |
|
35
|
Inter Club d'Escaldes
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
36
|
FK Kauno Zalgiris
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Brighton and Hove Albion
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:0 | 4 |
|
2
|
Brann
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5:2 | 4 |
|
3
|
Lugano
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Panathinaikos
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
5
|
Twente
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Monaco
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Universitatea
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Sint-Truidense
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
9
|
Ajax
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:3 | 3 |
|
10
|
Trabzonspor
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Hajduk Split
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
12
|
Freiburg
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 3 |
|
13
|
Kairat
|
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2:2 | 2 |
|
14
|
Copenhagen
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2:2 | 1 |
|
15
|
Mjällby
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
16
|
Sporting Braga
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0:3 | 1 |
|
17
|
Gent
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0:2 | 1 |
|
18
|
FC Riga
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Jablonec
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3:4 | 1 |
|
20
|
Nordsjælland
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:3 | 1 |
|
21
|
Egnatia Rrogozhine
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:3 | 1 |
|
22
|
CSKA Sofia
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3:4 | 1 |
|
23
|
Getafe
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
24
|
Midtjylland
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
25
|
Crvena Zvezda
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
26
|
Atalanta
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
FC Thun
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Borac Banja Luka
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
29
|
Lincoln Red Imps
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
30
|
Aarhus
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
31
|
Iberia 1999
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
32
|
Pafos
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
33
|
Hearts
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
KuPS
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
35
|
Inter Club d'Escaldes
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
36
|
FK Kauno Zalgiris
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0:7 | 0 |
