Derry City
Derry City and CSKA Sofia will play the second leg of their UEFA Europa League first qualifying round tie on 16 July at 18:30 BST at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry.
After a 3:2 win in Sofia, the Bulgarians hold a narrow advantage, and the main question is whether the Northern Irish side can catch them while in their worst form for years.
Derry City's season is frankly not coming together. Tiernan Lynch's side are only sixth in the League of Ireland Premier Division, with just six wins from 25 rounds. Right before their European week came a painful collapse — a 2:4 home defeat to Waterford FC, even though the visitors were bottom of the table. Derry City regularly concede avoidable goals and cannot cope with opponents' pressure across the full 90 minutes. Now the team will have to chase the deficit — which means opening up from the first minutes. For the visitors, who rely on quick transitions, that approach will be a real gift.
CSKA Sofia seriously refreshed their squad before last season — around EUR6.2 million was spent on reinforcements then. This summer Stefano Sensi joined the team, strengthening the midfield. The Bulgarians have already found their rhythm: three wins in four friendlies and a convincing victory in their first official match. Ioannis Pittas is in particularly good form right now — he scored twice in Sofia and added another goal in the latest friendly. The visitors are not looking to control possession — their main strength is intensity and aggressive pressing in the opposition half. Against opponents who are forced to open up, that tactic works especially effectively.
The first match showed the difference. CSKA Sofia led 3:1 in the 53rd minute and kept a two-goal advantage until the 88th, when James Olayinka reduced the deficit. At the same time, for the Army Men this was the first official match of the new season — by the second leg, the team should only be sharper.
Now to the odds. 2.08 on the visitors is a line that does not believe in the Brandywell factor. But what kind of fortress is it if the league's outsiders have just won there? In essence, at these odds you are being offered a bet on the stronger side: they are in better form, and their forward is on the rise. The hosts, meanwhile, are in crisis. That is exactly why the bet looks like value.
Jasmin Sabotić (Luxembourg)
Matches – 8 (international matches, 2024–2026);
Average fouls per match – 28;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellow cards) – 3.9;
Matches with a red card – 0 out of 8;
Matches with a penalty awarded – 2 out of 8.
|
Mark Connolly
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Brian Philip Maher
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Barry Noel Cotter
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Brandon James Fleming
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Christy James Grogan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Conor Barr
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Patrick McClean
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Adam Kieran O'Reilly
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ellis Darren Chapman
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Michael Duffy
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kévin David Nogueira Carvalho Santos
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Liam Kelly
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Terence Aaron Doherty
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Shea Preston Callister
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Thomas Christopher Norcott
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Cameron Dummigan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jamie Garry Stott
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Robert Slevin
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
James Clarke
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
James Joseph McClean
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nick Twisk
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Daniel Morales
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Dimitar Ivanov Evtimov
|
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
|
|||
|
Daniel Nikolaev Nikolov
|
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 |
CSKA Sofia
Derry City
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
CSKA Sofia
Derry City
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
Europa League 2026/27
CSKA Sofia
Derry City
| # | 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 |
