CSKA Sofia Advances Past Qarabag in Tactical Stalemate

CSKA Sofia and Qarabag played out a tactical stalemate at Vasil Levski National Sports Academy that finished 0-0 after 120 minutes, with CSKA advancing 5-4 on penalties in this UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round tie. The pattern of the game was defined by contrasting approaches: CSKA in a compact, physically aggressive 4-1-4-1, and Qarabag in a more expansive 4-2-3-1 that controlled territory and possession but could not convert their superiority into a decisive goal.

CSKA's Formation and Strategy

CSKA’s 4-1-4-1 was built to compress central spaces and protect the back line. F. Lapoukhov, listed without a position but clearly stationed on the first line in the grid, anchored the structure behind a flat back four of Pastor, Teodor Ivanov, F. Rodriguez and Ángelo Martino. In front, J. Gbamin at the base of midfield (grid row 3) operated as a single pivot, screening Qarabag’s No. 10 zone and tracking the movements of Kady Borges between the lines. Ahead of him, a hard‑running band of four – M. Ebong, S. Sensi, Bruno Jordão and I. Pittas – worked laterally to deny Qarabag clean progression through the centre, leaving L. Godoy as the lone outlet.

The statistical profile underlines CSKA’s reactive plan. With only 42% possession and 2 corner kicks, they accepted long phases without the ball, instead focusing on defensive density and counter-pressing triggers once Qarabag entered the middle third. Their 26 fouls and 6 yellow cards reflect a strategy that leaned heavily on physical duels and tactical infringements to break up Qarabag’s rhythm and halt transitions before they reached the defensive third. The front five in the 4-1-4-1 rarely pressed high as a unit; instead, they focused on screening passing lanes into Qarabag’s double pivot and forcing play wide, where full-backs Pastor and Martino could engage more aggressively.

Qarabag's Approach

Qarabag’s 4-2-3-1, by contrast, was structured to dominate the ball and create overloads in wide areas. M. Kochalski in goal sat behind a back four of Matheus Silva, B. Huseynov, B. Varkonyi and E. Cafarquliyev, with Pedro Bicalho and M. Janković forming the double pivot. Ahead of them, O. Kashchuk and A. Zoubir flanked Kady Borges, supporting central forward Z. Sawo. Qarabag’s 58% possession and 10 corner kicks show how consistently they pinned CSKA back, especially after half-time. They registered 5 shots on goal to CSKA’s 3, and crucially 7 blocked shots – an indicator of both sustained pressure and CSKA’s commitment to last‑ditch defending.

In-possession, Qarabag frequently built with a 2-4 base: the centre-backs plus the double pivot, with full-backs Matheus Silva and Cafarquliyev pushed high to stretch CSKA’s midfield four. Kady Borges dropped into the half-spaces to link, creating 3v2s against Gbamin and one of CSKA’s interiors. However, CSKA’s narrowness and willingness to foul disrupted Qarabag’s attempts to play through the middle. With 14 fouls and 3 yellow cards, Qarabag’s own discipline profile was far lighter; they rarely had to defend large open spaces, as CSKA seldom committed numbers forward.

Substitutions and Tactical Adjustments

The substitutions in the second half subtly reshaped both teams. Qarabag’s first change at 70' saw R. Cephas (IN) come on for Kady Borges (OUT), adding more direct running from the attacking midfield line and slightly increasing their vertical threat. On 82', a triple change refreshed their structure: B. Langa (IN) for E. Cafarquliyev (OUT) at left-back, J. Mouaddib (IN) for O. Kashchuk (OUT), and C. Makreckis (IN) for B. Huseynov (OUT). These moves injected energy but also altered the balance of the back line, with fresh defenders asked to maintain concentration in a game that was trending towards extra time. At 90+2', J. Montiel (IN) replaced A. Zoubir (OUT), giving Qarabag a different left-sided playmaker for the closing stages, and at 100' M. Qurbanly (IN) came on for Z. Sawo (OUT), changing the profile of the centre-forward to a more penalty-box oriented presence.

CSKA’s changes were more clearly about energy and maintaining defensive intensity. At 71', J. Eto’o (IN) replaced Bruno Jordão (OUT), adding fresh legs to the right side of midfield and slightly more direct running on counters. At 89', J. Zwarts (IN) came on for L. Godoy (OUT) as the lone striker, offering new movement patterns against tired Qarabag centre-backs. In extra time, M. Brahimi (IN) replaced Ángelo Martino (OUT) at 99', a move that likely pushed CSKA into a slightly more conservative back line with fresh defensive legs on the flank, while also removing a booked defender from risk.

Disciplinary Timeline

The disciplinary timeline illustrates how CSKA’s intensity escalated as the match wore on. Bookings for Bruno Jordão (39'), Leandro Godoy (48'), James Eto’o (75'), Ángelo Martino (95'), Teodor Ivanov (105+3') and Joël Zwarts (112') show yellow cards distributed across all lines of the team, often after Qarabag had established possession or looked to break. Qarabag’s cautions for Marko Janković (50'), Bence Várkonyi (55') and Joni Montiel (107') were fewer and came largely from midfield duels as CSKA sought sporadic transitions.

Without recorded values for goalkeeper saves, xG, passes or passing accuracy, the statistical verdict rests on territorial and shot data. Qarabag’s edge in shots on goal (5 to 3), blocked efforts (7 to 3), corners (10 to 2) and possession (58% to 42%) paints a clear picture of them as the proactive side, circulating the ball and probing for openings. CSKA, however, succeeded in dragging the game into a low‑margin contest defined by duels, fouls and compact spacing. Their 26 fouls and high card count were the tactical tax for protecting the central corridor and preventing Qarabag’s 4-2-3-1 from turning control into clear chances.

Conclusion

Over 120 minutes, the match evolved into a classic clash of styles: Qarabag’s structured, possession-heavy approach against CSKA’s rugged, low-block pragmatism. The fact that neither side scored despite Qarabag’s territorial superiority suggests CSKA’s defensive game plan, while risky in disciplinary terms, was executed with enough collective organisation to carry the tie to penalties, where their approach was ultimately vindicated.