CSKA Sofia beat Derry City 3-2 in the Europa League first leg at the National Stadium Vasil Levski in Sofia. The home side secured a 3-2 victory after a fluctuating match in which CSKA took the lead, Derry responded, but two first-half CSKA goals ultimately proved decisive despite a late Derry response.
CSKA started on the front foot and were rewarded in the 19th minute when I. Pittas opened the scoring to put the hosts ahead. Derry City answered in the 31st minute as L. Boyce levelled from a M. Duffy assist, making it 1-1 and setting up a competitive first half.
CSKA regained the lead before the break. In the 41st minute B. Jordao converted from a S. Sensi assist to make it 2-1, a scoreline that stood through to half-time and underlined the shifting momentum of the match.
The second half continued at pace and CSKA extended their advantage in the 53rd minute when I. Pittas struck again, this time assisted by Pastor. The 3-1 goal gave CSKA breathing room and forced Derry to chase the game and take more risks.
Derry remained dangerous and the contest heated up — B. Cotter was booked in the 75th minute as the visitors tried to find a route back. Their efforts bore fruit late on when J. Olayinka reduced to 3-2 in the 88th minute, assisted by P. McClean, but there was not enough time for a full comeback and CSKA held on for the home win.
I. Pittas was the standout performer, scoring twice to deliver the result for CSKA Sofia. B. Jordao’s header before half-time was also crucial, while S. Sensi and Pastor provided key assists. For Derry, L. Boyce and J. Olayinka were the main contributors — Boyce with a timely equaliser and Olayinka with a late spark — but the visitors lacked the third goal needed to force extra time or overturn the tie.
The result is a strong first-leg showing for CSKA and head coach A. Tomash, who can travel back to Sofia with a lead and home advantage in the tie. For Derry City and manager T. Lynch, the defeat is a setback they must rectify in the return fixture: they will need a stronger defensive display and more incisive finishing away from home.
Odds Radar Pro’s AI predicted a CSKA win at 77% ahead of the match, matching the marketplace’s pricing. The model highlighted CSKA’s home advantage, Derry’s capacity to generate xG, and a moderate probability for multiple goals — all factors that materialised across the 90 minutes. The AI’s signals correctly anticipated the game dynamics and final outcome.
The market’s alignment with the AI indicates consensus around CSKA’s strengths — home ground, recent squad additions like V. Kaymakanov, and an attacking setup — while recognising Derry’s threat from creative players, including the recent additions C. Doherty and T. Doherty who bolster squad depth. Going forward CSKA must shore up defensive moments exposed during the game; Derry must score early in the return leg and limit set-piece and counter risks.
CSKA Sofia will look to protect their cushion and tidy defensive vulnerabilities in the next meeting, while A. Tomash will aim to manage legs and form across competitions. Derry City, under T. Lynch, need a tactical plan to press higher and convert early chances at home to narrow the tie. The second leg promises to be tactical and tense — but after a 3-2 first leg, nothing is decided yet.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · ESPN · Derry City Football Club
The market gave only 77% to cska sofia win — that’s where the AI saw value.
See today’s AI picks in Odds Radar Pro →
← More matches the AI called right