OFI vs CSKA Sofia Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

OFI welcome CSKA Sofia to Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion on 20 August 2026 for a UEFA Europa League Play-offs clash that looks finely balanced on paper. With a place in the main Europa League phase at stake, both sides know this tie could define their entire European campaign.

For OFI, this is a fresh start in Europe. Their tournament statistics so far show no competitive Europa League games played this season, so this Play-offs fixture will be their first real benchmark against continental opposition. Home advantage in Crete, though, should give them confidence against a CSKA Sofia side that already has six Europa League matches under its belt in 2026.

CSKA Sofia arrive with meaningful recent Europa League form and a clear identity: solid defensively, flexible tactically and efficient in front of goal. For bettors and fans searching for OFI vs CSKA Sofia prediction and Europa League betting tips, this matchup offers an intriguing contrast between an unknown quantity in OFI and a Bulgarian side whose numbers already tell a story.

OFI vs CSKA Sofia Key Stats

• CSKA Sofia have already played 6 Europa League matches in 2026, winning 4, drawing 1 and losing just 1, while OFI are yet to play a match in the competition this season.
• There are no recent head-to-head meetings recorded between OFI and CSKA Sofia in the available data, making this effectively a fresh European matchup.
• CSKA Sofia have scored 10 goals and conceded 6 across those 6 Europa League fixtures, averaging 1.7 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game, with 3 clean sheets recorded in tournament statistics.

OFI vs CSKA Sofia — Tale of the Tape

• Position: Not available vs Not available
• Points: Not available vs Not available
• Goals For: Not available vs Not available
• Goals Against: Not available vs Not available
• Clean Sheets: OFI 0 vs CSKA Sofia 3 (tournament statistics)

Group standings data is not yet available for either side, which underlines the Play-offs nature of this tie. What we do know is that OFI enter with a blank statistical slate in the Europa League this season: no games played, no goals scored or conceded, and no clean sheets. That makes them difficult to profile from a numbers perspective, and increases the importance of home advantage and domestic form, which is not captured here.

CSKA Sofia, by contrast, have a clear statistical footprint. In six Europa League fixtures they have produced 4 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat, scoring 10 and conceding 6. Their average of 1.7 goals scored per game, combined with 3 clean sheets, suggests a side capable of both controlling matches and striking at key moments. They have also shown resilience away from home, conceding only 1 goal in 3 away fixtures in this competition.

OFI vs CSKA Sofia Key Matchups

OFI attack unit vs CSKA Sofia defensive structure

With no individual top scorers or assist data provided for either side, the focus shifts to unit-versus-unit battles. OFI’s attacking group, featuring forwards such as T. Fountas, A. Leya and T. Nuss, will need to find a way through a CSKA Sofia back line that has conceded just 1 goal in 3 away Europa League matches this season. CSKA Sofia’s defensive statistics show 3 clean sheets in 6 games, and their ability to keep things tight away from home will be a major test for OFI’s front line in its first European outing of the campaign.

CSKA Sofia midfield vs OFI defensive organisation

CSKA Sofia’s midfield options include experienced names like Bruno Jordão, M. Ebong and S. Sensi, supported by wide and attacking players such as M. Brahimi, Léo Pereira and I. Pittas. Their Europa League record of 10 goals from 6 matches, with scoring spread across all phases of the game, indicates a side that can create chances from multiple zones. OFI’s defence, built around players like N. Marinakis, K. Krizmanić and D. Nikolaou, will have to cope with a team that averages 1.7 goals per game and has shown a particular ability to strike in the 61–75 minute window, where a significant share of CSKA Sofia’s tournament goals have come.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

There are no recorded recent head-to-head meetings between OFI and CSKA Sofia in the available data, so this Europa League Play-offs tie will be a fresh tactical and psychological contest without historical baggage between the clubs.

OFI vs CSKA Sofia Prediction

With predictions data giving each outcome — home win, draw and away win — an equal 33% probability, this is rated as a genuinely even tie. However, the underlying tournament statistics tilt slightly towards CSKA Sofia. They have already navigated six Europa League fixtures with a strong record of 4 wins and only 1 defeat, scoring freely while maintaining defensive solidity, particularly away from home.

OFI, by contrast, enter with no Europa League matches played this season and therefore no competition-specific form to lean on. Home advantage at Pankritio Stadium and a traditionally difficult Greek environment could narrow the gap, but in pure data terms CSKA Sofia’s proven ability to win in different formations — from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 and 4-1-4-1 — gives them a slight edge in adaptability and European sharpness.

Given the balanced probabilities and OFI’s unknown European level, a tight, low-scoring encounter is the most plausible scenario, with CSKA Sofia perhaps slightly better equipped to manage key moments and avoid defeat.

Predicted Score: OFI 1-1 CSKA Sofia

OFI Recent Form

OFI have no recorded Europa League fixtures in 2026, so there is no competition-specific recent form to assess. Their tournament statistics show zero matches played, zero goals scored and conceded, and no clean sheets. As a result, their current level in European competition is an unknown, and any assessment must lean more on the strength of their squad and home advantage rather than hard form numbers.

CSKA Sofia Recent Form

CSKA Sofia’s Europa League recent form is strong. Across 6 matches they have recorded 4 wins, 1 draw and just 1 loss. They average 1.7 goals scored per game and 1.0 conceded, with 3 clean sheets in tournament statistics. Their last-five form indicator sits at 67, with attacking and defensive indices of 35 and 80 respectively, reflecting a side that is particularly robust without the ball. This combination of resilience and efficiency makes them a dangerous opponent in a two-legged Play-offs context.

OFI Possible Starting Lineup

Potential key players (by position):
Goalkeepers: N. Christogeorgos, Manouel Kalafatis, P. Katsikas, K. Lilo;
Defenders: N. Athanasiou, Borja González, Pavlos Kenourgiakis, Lefteris Kontekas, K. Kostoulas, K. Krizmanić, N. Marinakis, D. Nikolaou, A. Poungouras, C. Sielis;
Midfielders: S. Almasidis, T. Androutsos, G. Apostolakis, A. Bouchalakis, Aitor Cantalapiedra, M. Chnaris, G. Kanellópoulos, Z. Karachalios, K. Lagoudakis, Thanasis Sitmalidis;
Forwards: Charalampos Antonakakis, T. Fountas, A. Leya, T. Nuss, T. Romano, G. Theodosoulakis.

Without confirmed formations, OFI are likely to build around experienced figures such as A. Bouchalakis in midfield, with creativity from Aitor Cantalapiedra and goal threat from T. Fountas and A. Leya. Defensively, veterans like N. Marinakis and A. Poungouras offer stability. The depth in midfield and defence suggests OFI can switch between more conservative and front-foot setups, but their lack of Europa League minutes this season means tactical cohesion at this level remains untested.

CSKA Sofia Possible Starting Lineup

Potential key players (by position):
Goalkeepers: D. Evtimov, F. Lapoukhov, D. Nikolov;
Defenders: J. Gbamin, T. Ivanov, Adrián Lapeña, Á. Martino, Pastor, Facundo Santiago Rodríguez, A. Tunchev, A. Yordanov;
Midfielders: G. Chorbadzhiyski, M. Ebong, J. Eto'o, J. Iliev, Bruno Jordão, V. Kaymakanov, Tamimou Ouorou, P. Panayotov, S. Sensi, I. Solet Bomawoko, M. Brahimi, Léo Pereira, A. Piedrahita;
Forwards: K. Dodaj, S. Godoy, I. Pittas, R. Zhivkov, J. Zwarts.

CSKA Sofia’s Europa League statistics show they have used a variety of formations — including 4-3-1-2, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-1-4-1 and 4-3-3 — each at least once. That tactical flexibility, combined with a deep midfield pool (S. Sensi, Bruno Jordão, M. Ebong) and multiple attacking options (I. Pittas, S. Godoy, J. Zwarts), allows them to tailor their approach to the opponent. Their ability to keep 3 clean sheets in 6 matches suggests a well-drilled defensive unit, likely anchored by players such as Adrián Lapeña and Á. Martino, with D. Evtimov a strong candidate in goal.

OFI Team News

No significant absences reported.

CSKA Sofia Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

OFI:

• None reported.

CSKA Sofia:

• None reported.

Betting Tips: OFI vs CSKA Sofia

Below are three data-backed betting ideas for this Europa League Play-offs clash:

• Result Tip: Draw — With predictions data giving each outcome (home, draw, away) a 33% chance and OFI entering as an unknown quantity in Europe, the stalemate has clear appeal. CSKA Sofia’s strong record (4 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss in 6 games) is offset by OFI’s home advantage and the first-leg dynamic. Draw odds range from 3.10 to 3.58 across bookmakers, implying roughly a 27.9% to 32.3% chance, which is slightly below the model’s 33% assessment and offers reasonable value.
• Goals Tip: Under 2.5 total goals — CSKA Sofia average 1.7 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per match in the Europa League, but their away defensive record (1 goal conceded in 3 away games) and 3 clean sheets in 6 suggest a cautious, controlled approach on the road. With OFI playing their first Europa League match of the season, a cagey, low-scoring contest is likely. Use the under/over 2.5 goals market where available; check current odds with your bookmaker as they are not listed in the provided prices.
• Value Tip: CSKA Sofia Draw No Bet — CSKA Sofia’s proven Europa League form (4 wins from 6) and strong defensive numbers make them slightly more reliable over 90 minutes, while still respecting OFI’s home advantage. In the 1X2 market, away odds range from 2.75 to 3.00, implying roughly a 33.3% to 36.4% chance. Translating that into a Draw No Bet line typically shortens the price but removes the risk of a draw, which fits a scenario where a stalemate is plausible but the away side look marginally stronger on underlying stats.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.