Levi Rothermund
CSKA 1948 Sofia and Spartak Trnava meet again at Bistritsa Stadium on 28 July, with the second leg of their UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round tie locked at 0-0 from the first meeting. Everything is still to play for, and the Bulgarian side carry the home advantage into what is effectively a winner-takes-all encounter. The interesting wrinkle here is that Spartak Trnava beat CSKA 1948 in a friendly earlier this year, so there is a psychological edge the Slovak side might try to exploit.
Two players worth watching are Georgi Rusev for CSKA 1948 Sofia, who has clocked full minutes across both recent European legs and carries the yellow card risk that could disrupt the hosts’ attacking shape, and Philip Azango for Spartak Trnava, who has contributed a goal across his last four appearances and leads the line with purpose in their 4-2-3-1 setup.
Hot stat: Spartak Trnava have registered 45 total shots across their last five matches compared to just 12 for CSKA 1948 Sofia, suggesting the Slovak side generate attacking volume at a considerably higher rate despite their modest win record in that stretch.
| 🏆 Tournament: | UEFA Conference League 2026/27, Second Qualifying Round |
| 🏟 Venue: | Bistritsa Stadium, Bistritsa |
| 🗓️ Date: | 28.07.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 19:30 CEST |
CSKA 1948 Sofia vs Spartak Trnava Prediction
The first leg ended goalless and neither side has shown clinical finishing in recent weeks. CSKA 1948 Sofia have the home advantage and the bookmakers back them as favourites at roughly 49%, which feels about right given they are on their own ground and carry a slightly better win rate over the last 30 days (43% vs 13% for Trnava). We think the hosts will edge this, but it will be tight and a single goal could prove decisive.
CSKA 1948 Sofia have committed zero recorded fouls and zero yellow cards in the last five match dataset, which is unusually clean and may partly reflect limited data availability, but it does point to a disciplined defensive structure under Aleksandar Aleksandrov. Spartak Trnava, by contrast, have collected four yellow cards and 28 fouls across the same window, meaning they play with more physical intensity. Their pass accuracy sits at 596 completed passes from 779 attempted, which is workable but not dominant. That physical approach from Trnava could open up space on the counter for CSKA 1948, which suits a home side looking to nick a goal and defend the lead.
With both teams having drawn their first leg 0-0, under 2.5 goals feels like the natural lean. Trnava’s high shot volume does not always translate into goals, and CSKA 1948’s defensive solidity at home tips us toward a low-scoring affair.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | CSKA 1948 Sofia to win by exactly one goal |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Under 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
CSKA 1948 Sofia arrive into this second leg with a mixed but improving domestic run. They won their most recent Bulgarian league fixture against Botev Vratsa 2-1, which followed the goalless first leg against Trnava. Before that, they drew 2-2 with Spartak Varna and beat Zeleznicar Pancevo 1-0 in the first leg. Their only blemish in this five-match stretch was a 0-1 home defeat to Varazdin, a result that came against a side in strong form. Across the last 30 days they have recorded three wins, one loss, and three draws. The direction of travel is positive heading into Tuesday.
Spartak Trnava come into this fixture with a frustrating run of results. They have managed just one win from eight matches in the last 30 days, with five draws and two defeats. Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw with Skalica in the Slovak league, and the first leg against CSKA 1948 was goalless. Before that they beat Besiktas 3-2 in a notable result, but lost 1-3 to Kromeriz and drew 2-2 with Samorin. Coach Antonio Muñoz has a side that creates chances, as the 45 shots in five matches confirms, but converting them remains the problem. Honestly, their form is too inconsistent to trust on the road in a knockout tie.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | CSKA 1948 Sofia | Spartak Trnava |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 0 |
🚨Check out our dedicated CSKA 1948 Sofia vs Spartak Trnava stats page for more info.
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: CSKA 1948 Sofia the Favourite
- Moneyline CSKA 1948 Sofia 1.86 | Spartak Trnava 3.74
- Draw 3.28
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
The moneyline odds from Bovada and Rocketplay place CSKA 1948 Sofia around 1.86-1.95, which reflects their home advantage and the slight edge in recent form. Spartak Trnava at 3.74-3.80 looks like fair value only if you believe their shot volume finally converts into goals on the road. The draw at 3.28 is worth considering given the pattern of this tie, but we think the hosts will find a way through. The 1.86 for CSKA 1948 Sofia is not spectacular value, but it aligns with the match picture.
Spartak Trnava. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
CSKA 1948 Sofia Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Dimitar Sheytanov
- DF: Andre Hoffmann, Lasha Dvali, Ognjen Gasevic, Fourat Soltani
- MF: Hector Cuellar, Jules Meyer, Moataz Zemzemi, Petar Vitanov, Borislav Tsonev
- FW: Georgi Rusev
CSKA 1948 Sofia look set to line up in their preferred 4-2-3-1 under Aleksandar Aleksandrov. Dimitar Sheytanov takes the gloves with a back four of Hoffmann, Dvali, Gasevic, and Soltani providing the defensive base. Hector Cuellar and Moataz Zemzemi both carry yellow card risk from recent matches, so their discipline will matter in a tight tie. Georgi Rusev leads the line and has the minutes to suggest he is the first-choice striker. Frederic Maciel and Mamadou Diallo offer impact from the bench if the game opens up.
Spartak Trnava Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Martin Vantruba
- DF: Melos Bajrami, Ivan Mensah, Michal Tomič, Martin Mikovič
- MF: Marin Laušić, Roman Begala, Erik Sabo, Luka Khorkheli
- FW: Philip Azango, Lorent Mehmeti
Spartak Trnava also operate in a 4-2-3-1 shape under Antonio Muñoz. Martin Vantruba is the clear first-choice keeper with four appearances in the data window. Melos Bajrami anchors the defence with the highest pass count among defenders and carries two yellow cards already, so he walks a fine line. Luka Khorkheli provides the creative link between midfield and attack. Philip Azango and Lorent Mehmeti share the forward duties, with Azango the more direct goal threat. Timotej Kudlicka could push for a spot given his shot count of four across recent games.
🏅Tips.GG premium subscription brings you even closer to WIN!🏅
- Gain access to the most profitable bets by using our analysis of over 60,000 monthly predictions from 1000+ sources.
- Premium users enjoy predictions from tipsters with the highest win rate while also gaining access to favorable odds, outcome calculation, and quick filter to favorable odds.
- Unlock the “Golden Bet” – our unique formula for the best high-odd betting opportunities! Get detailed reports on our system’s performance, including Winrate, ROI, and Yield.
CSKA 1948 Sofia. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
This second leg has the feel of a match decided by a single moment. CSKA 1948 Sofia are the more consistent side over the past month, they play at home, and their defensive shape has been reliable across the European ties. Spartak Trnava generate a lot of attempts but struggle to convert, and their away form in this tie has already produced one blank. We think CSKA 1948 Sofia win 1-0, maybe with a set-piece or a counter-attack goal settling the tie. Under 2.5 goals and BTTS No are the markets that carry the most conviction for us here. The Trnava shot volume is a concern, but Sheytanov and the back four have shown they can keep things tight when it counts.
