CSKA Sofia vs Ofi Crete - Live Stream

View the live stream and TV coverage details and live score for the 2026/2027 UEFA Europa League play-off Match - CSKA Sofia vs Ofi Crete.

PFC CSKA Sofia face a major comeback challenge when they host OFI Crete in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off on Thursday, August 27, 2026. The Greek Cup holders travel to Bulgaria with a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead after Taxiarchis Fountas scored twice and Lorenzo Dickmann added a stoppage-time goal in Heraklion. The return match kicks off at 20:00 Central European Summer Time (21:00 local time in Sofia / 14:00 US Eastern) at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria. CSKA must win by three goals to force extra time or by at least four to qualify inside 90 minutes, while OFI will advance with a victory, draw or defeat by fewer than three goals. The winner reaches the Europa League league phase, with the losing team entering the Conference League league phase.

How to watch CSKA Sofia vs Ofi Crete - UEFA Europa League play-off match

First-leg context and recent form

The 3-0 scoreline did not fully reflect the balance of the opening encounter. CSKA held 55% possession, attempted 12 shots to OFI’s six and registered six efforts on target, but the Greek side were significantly more clinical.

Fountas opened the scoring after 19 minutes and converted a VAR-awarded penalty early in the second half. CSKA’s hopes were further damaged when Mohamed Brahimi was sent off in the 81st minute, before substitute Dickmann scored OFI’s third goal in the 95th.

CSKA can draw confidence from their home record, having lost only once in their last nine competitive matches at the Vasil Levski Stadium. Their most recent home appearance produced an emphatic 5-0 league victory over Botev Vratsa.

OFI followed their European victory with a 2-0 win over Volos in their Greek league opener. Christos Kontis’s side have therefore started the competitive season with three successive victories, although they have won only two of their previous eight away fixtures.

Team news

CSKA Sofia

CSKA have two important suspensions. Mohamed Brahimi is banned following his straight red card in the first leg, while midfielder Stefano Sensi is suspended after collecting his fourth yellow card of the European campaign.

Petko Panayotov or Bruno Jordão could replace Sensi in central midfield. João Zwarts is pushing to start alongside Ioannis Pittas after the two forwards combined for 11 goals since the beginning of July.

Defender Ángelo Martino remains unavailable with a muscular injury. There have also been fitness concerns involving James Eto’o and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, although both started in Crete and Gbamin is expected to retain his place if passed fit.

OFI Crete

OFI’s principal absence is experienced defender Nikos Marinakis, who remains sidelined with a long-term pelvic problem. Midfielder Fotis Koutsoupias is also continuing his rehabilitation from an ACL injury.

Fountas was rested for Sunday’s league victory over Volos and should return to the starting lineup. Achilleas Poungouras, Andreas Bouchalakis and Aitor Cantalapiedra are also expected to be recalled after some rotation at the weekend.

Dickmann’s late first-leg goal strengthens his case for selection, but Giannis Apostolakis is expected to retain the right wing-back position. Nikolaos Christogeorgos should continue in goal after making several important saves in Heraklion.

Predicted lineups

CSKA Sofia (3-5-2): Fedor Lapoukhov; Facundo Rodríguez, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Teodor Ivanov; Pastor, Max Ebong, Petko Panayotov, James Eto’o, Andrey Yordanov; João Zwarts, Ioannis Pittas.

OFI Crete (3-4-2-1): Nikolaos Christogeorgos; Achilleas Poungouras, Christos Sielis, Konstantinos Kostoulas; Giannis Apostolakis, Andreas Bouchalakis, Thanasis Androutsos, Nikolaos Athanasiou; Aitor Cantalapiedra, Thiago Nuss; Taxiarchis Fountas.