CSKA Sofia
In Sofia, CSKA Sofia will host Derry City at the Vasil Levski Stadium. The first leg of the first qualifying round of the Europa League will kick off on 9 July at 19:00 BST.
Despite Derry City having regular competitive football even in summer, their chances of victory are minimal – around 10%.
The Bulgarian Army club will play in European competition for the first time in three years, but that does not prevent it from being the clear favourite for the match. Is the Bulgarian First League really so much stronger than the Irish Premier Division?
CSKA Sofia are still not good enough to reach European competition through the league medals in Bulgaria. Instead, they qualified by winning the domestic cup, snatching victory in a penalty shoot-out. In terms of strength this is the third-strongest club in Bulgaria. One of the most important players for Hristo Yanev is Ioannis Pittas. Over the previous two seasons the Cypriot scored 15 goals in 53 league matches. In four friendlies this summer the forward scored three of the Army club’s eight goals, finding the net in every game.
Irish clubs very rarely get through even a single qualifying round. As for Derry City, they have taken part in the Europa League 10 times – more precisely, in its qualifying rounds. They have twice as many defeats as wins, 14 compared to 7. But the Foylesiders did at least feature in the Europa Conference League last time. In the 2024/25 season they failed to get past even Gibraltar club Bruno's Magpies (0:2 away and 2:1 at home). All the more reason to doubt their chances of eliminating a Bulgarian club with a rich history.
Even in the Irish league Derry City have gone six away matches without a win. True, all three defeats have been by the narrowest of margins. Their regular match practice and the fact that Derry City have scored in six rounds in a row should help them avoid losing by more than one goal. That would still leave them with a chance of progressing to the next round.
Visar Kastrati (Kosovo)
Matches – 5 (international matches, 2024/25–2026/27);
Fouls per match on average – 25;
Yellow cards per match on average (including second yellows) – 5;
Matches with red cards – 0 out of 5;
Matches with penalties – 2 out of 5.
|
Daniel Morales
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Fedor Lapoukhov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Facundo Santiago Rodríguez Fábregas
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pastor
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Teodor Ivanov
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ángelo Martino
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bruno André Cavaco Jordão
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Isaac Solet Bomawoko
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Petko Panayotov
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stefano Sensi
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ioannis Pittas
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Santiago Leandro Godoy
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Dimitar Ivanov Evtimov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aleks Aleksandrov Tunchev
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andrey Yordanov Yordanov
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tamimou Ouorou
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Georgi Brankov Chorbadzhiyski
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
James Armel Eto'o Eyenga
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jean-Philippe Gbamin
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mohamed Amine Brahimi
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alejandro Piedrahita Díaz
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joël Zwarts
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Leonardo Pereira
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vasil Stanislavov Kaymakanov
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mark Connolly
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Brian Philip Maher
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Barry Noel Cotter
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Cameron Dummigan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Christy James Grogan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Conor Barr
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Patrick McClean
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Robert Slevin
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ellis Darren Chapman
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Michael Duffy
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Liam Boyce
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Kévin David Nogueira Carvalho Santos
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Liam Kelly
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Terence Aaron Doherty
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Shea Preston Callister
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Thomas Christopher Norcott
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jamie Garry Stott
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Carl Winchester
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
James Joseph McClean
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nick Twisk
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe
CSKA Sofia
CSKA Sofia
Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe
FC Basel
CSKA Sofia
CSKA Sofia
FC Basel
St Patrick's Athletic
CSKA Sofia
CSKA Sofia
St Patrick's Athletic
CSKA Sofia
Makedonija Skopje
Makedonija Skopje
CSKA Sofia
CSKA Sofia
AS Roma
Bodo Glimt
CSKA Sofia
Derry City
FC Bruno's Magpies
FC Bruno's Magpies
Derry City
Derry City
Tobol
Tobol
Derry City
KuPS
Derry City
Derry City
KuPS
Derry City
HB Tоrshavn
HB Tоrshavn
Derry City
FC Riga
Derry City
Derry City
FC Riga
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Benfica
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10:2 | 9 |
|
2
|
Bayer 04
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8:0 | 9 |
|
3
|
Bournemouth
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8:1 | 9 |
|
4
|
Ferencvárosi
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9:3 | 9 |
|
5
|
Olympiacos Piraeus
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 9 |
|
6
|
Saint-Gilloise
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8:1 | 7 |
|
7
|
Juventus
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9:3 | 7 |
|
8
|
Beşiktaş JK
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9:5 | 7 |
|
9
|
Sunderland
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 7 |
|
10
|
AZ Alkmaar
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
11
|
Omonia
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 6 |
|
12
|
Lyon
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:6 | 6 |
|
13
|
Rennes
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4:3 | 5 |
|
14
|
Real Sociedad
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8:3 | 4 |
|
15
|
Crystal Palace
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8:5 | 4 |
|
16
|
Sparta Prague
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5:3 | 4 |
|
17
|
Levski Sofia
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3:3 | 4 |
|
18
|
Dinamo Zagreb
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3:4 | 4 |
|
19
|
Sturm Graz
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1:3 | 4 |
|
20
|
NEC Nijmegen
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5:8 | 4 |
|
21
|
Red Bull Salzburg
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3:6 | 4 |
|
22
|
Anderlecht
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
23
|
Hoffenheim
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:5 | 3 |
|
24
|
AC Milan
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:5 | 3 |
|
25
|
Celta
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
26
|
OFI Crete
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
27
|
Jagiellonia
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:6 | 3 |
|
28
|
União Torreense
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 3 |
|
29
|
NK Celje
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2:7 | 1 |
|
30
|
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1:6 | 1 |
|
31
|
Lillestrom
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2:9 | 1 |
|
32
|
Lech
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1:9 | 1 |
|
33
|
Viktoria Plzen
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:7 | 0 |
|
34
|
Marseille
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
35
|
Celtic
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3:9 | 0 |
|
36
|
Ararat-Armenia
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:11 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Bournemouth
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:0 | 6 |
|
2
|
Ferencvárosi
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Olympiacos Piraeus
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 6 |
|
4
|
Saint-Gilloise
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5:1 | 4 |
|
5
|
Juventus
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 4 |
|
6
|
Beşiktaş JK
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6:3 | 4 |
|
7
|
Sturm Graz
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:0 | 4 |
|
8
|
Benfica
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
9
|
Bayer 04
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Sunderland
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
11
|
AZ Alkmaar
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
12
|
Omonia
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:4 | 3 |
|
13
|
Lyon
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
14
|
Rennes
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Crystal Palace
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
Dinamo Zagreb
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
17
|
Hoffenheim
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
|
18
|
OFI Crete
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
19
|
Jagiellonia
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
Sparta Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
21
|
NEC Nijmegen
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
22
|
NK Celje
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:5 | 1 |
|
23
|
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
|
24
|
Lech
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:5 | 1 |
|
25
|
Real Sociedad
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Levski Sofia
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
27
|
Red Bull Salzburg
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
28
|
Anderlecht
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
29
|
AC Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
30
|
Celta
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
31
|
União Torreense
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
Lillestrom
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:8 | 0 |
|
33
|
Viktoria Plzen
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
Marseille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
35
|
Celtic
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:5 | 0 |
|
36
|
Ararat-Armenia
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:8 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Benfica
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 6 |
|
2
|
Bayer 04
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:0 | 6 |
|
3
|
Sunderland
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:2 | 4 |
|
4
|
Real Sociedad
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:1 | 4 |
|
5
|
Levski Sofia
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:2 | 4 |
|
6
|
Red Bull Salzburg
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:2 | 4 |
|
7
|
Bournemouth
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Ferencvárosi
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
9
|
Olympiacos Piraeus
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Saint-Gilloise
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
11
|
Juventus
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
12
|
Beşiktaş JK
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
AZ Alkmaar
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Omonia
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
15
|
Lyon
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:4 | 3 |
|
16
|
Sparta Prague
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
17
|
NEC Nijmegen
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:7 | 3 |
|
18
|
Anderlecht
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
19
|
AC Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
20
|
Celta
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
21
|
União Torreense
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
22
|
Rennes
|
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2:2 | 2 |
|
23
|
Crystal Palace
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4:5 | 1 |
|
24
|
Dinamo Zagreb
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
|
25
|
Lillestrom
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
26
|
Sturm Graz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
27
|
Hoffenheim
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
28
|
OFI Crete
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
29
|
Jagiellonia
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
30
|
NK Celje
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
31
|
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
32
|
Lech
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Viktoria Plzen
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
34
|
Marseille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
35
|
Celtic
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
36
|
Ararat-Armenia
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
