CSKA Sofia Edges Qarabag in Tactical Stalemate

CSKA Sofia and Qarabag produced a tactical stalemate at Vasil Levski National Sports Academy that was ultimately decided from the spot, with the Bulgarians edging the shootout 5-4 after 120 goalless minutes. The pattern of the game was clear in the numbers: Qarabag’s 58% possession, 5 shots on goal and 10 corners against CSKA Sofia’s 42% possession, 3 shots on goal and just 2 corners. Yet CSKA, in a 4-1-4-1 under Hristo Yanev, turned the contest into a grinding, attritional tie, using structure and aggression to drag Qarabag’s 4-2-3-1 out of rhythm and into a series of duels.

CSKA's Formation

CSKA’s 4-1-4-1 was built first and foremost to protect central spaces. F. Lapoukhov sat as the nominal deepest player in the first line, with Pastor, T. Ivanov, F. Rodriguez and Ángelo Martino forming a compact back four. In front of them, J. Gbamin operated as the single pivot, screening passing lanes into Kady Borges and A. Zoubir and stepping out to contest second balls. The advanced line of M. Ebong, S. Sensi, Bruno Jordão and I. Pittas worked horizontally, shuttling to block Qarabag’s double pivot of Pedro Bicalho and M. Janković from receiving cleanly on the half-turn.

Defensive Strategy

Out of possession, CSKA narrowed the pitch. The wingers tucked in to create a 4-5-1 mid-block, deliberately conceding wide areas while congesting the central corridor. This was reflected in Qarabag’s attacking profile: despite having more of the ball and more shots on goal, they were often forced to circulate around the block and rely on crosses and set pieces, as underlined by their 10 corner kicks. CSKA’s three blocked shots also show how often the second line collapsed into the box to protect the penalty area once the ball did come central.

Offensive Ambition

The price for that compactness was offensive ambition. With only L. Godoy as the reference forward and limited support in early phases, CSKA struggled to sustain attacks. Their 3 shots on goal and just 2 corners across 120 minutes point to a game plan that prioritised survival and transitions over territory. The foul count — 26 for CSKA against 14 for Qarabag — was a tactical tool as much as a by-product: repeated interruptions to break Qarabag’s rhythm, stop counters at source and allow the block to reset.

Qarabag's Strategy

Qarabag, under Qurban Qurbanov, set up in a 4-2-3-1 that sought to dominate the ball and stretch CSKA’s compact structure. Full-backs Matheus Silva and E. Cafarquliyev (before his substitution) pushed high, while O. Kashchuk and Kady Borges tried to occupy the half-spaces either side of Gbamin. Z. Sawo provided depth with runs in behind, looking to pin the centre-backs and open pockets for A. Zoubir between the lines. The 58% possession figure reflects their territorial control, but the lack of Total passes and passing accuracy data prevents a deeper quantification of their circulation.

Blocked Shots

Qarabag’s 7 blocked shots are particularly telling. They were able to progress into shooting positions more frequently than CSKA, but CSKA’s box defence repeatedly got bodies in the way. When Qurbanov began to chase the game, his substitution pattern was aggressive: R. Cephas (IN) came on for Kady Borges (OUT) at 70', followed by a triple change at 82' — B. Langa (IN) for E. Cafarquliyev (OUT), J. Mouaddib (IN) for O. Kashchuk (OUT), and C. Makreckis (IN) for B. Huseynov (OUT). Later, J. Montiel (IN) replaced A. Zoubir (OUT) at 90+2', and M. Qurbanly (IN) came on for Z. Sawo (OUT) at 100'. These moves tilted Qarabag further towards an attacking posture, adding fresh legs and more direct runners, which helped maintain pressure but never broke CSKA’s low block.

Yanev's Response

Yanev’s response was more conservative and structurally oriented. J. Eto'o (IN) for B. Jordao (OUT) at 71' freshened the right side of midfield, adding energy for pressing and tracking. J. Zwarts (IN) for L. Godoy (OUT) at 89' offered a slightly different profile up front, more suited to chasing long balls and pressing tired defenders. M. Brahimi (IN) for A. Martino (OUT) at 99' adjusted the left flank, with Brahimi helping both in wide defensive coverage and in carrying the ball out under pressure. Each change was aimed at preserving compactness and legs rather than radically altering the attacking scheme.

Discipline and Tactical Layer

Discipline became a key tactical layer. CSKA collected 6 yellow cards to Qarabag’s 3, reflecting how much of their defensive success relied on physical duels and tactical fouling. The card timings — starting with Bruno Jordão at 39' and continuing through Leandro Godoy, James Eto'o, Ángelo Martino, Teodor Ivanov and Joël Zwarts — show a pattern of different lines of the team taking turns to absorb the disciplinary risk to keep intensity high. Qarabag’s three bookings, for Marko Janković, Bence Várkonyi and Joni Montiel, were fewer and largely a consequence of their attempts to counter-press when possession was lost.

Goalkeeper Contributions

With no data on goalkeeper saves or goals prevented, the precise contribution of F. Lapoukhov (CSKA Sofia) and M. Kochalski (Qarabag) cannot be quantified, but the raw shots on goal numbers (3 for CSKA, 5 for Qarabag) and the clean sheets over 120 minutes point to effective shot-stopping and command of the area from both.

Statistical Overview

Statistically, Qarabag’s profile — more possession, more shots on goal, more corners, fewer fouls and fewer yellow cards — is that of a side that controlled territory and tempo. CSKA’s, by contrast, is that of a team that accepted defensive suffering and leaned into a high-risk, high-contact approach to level the playing field. The absence of xG and passing metrics limits deeper analytical precision, but the broad outlines are clear: Qarabag carried more of the attacking threat, CSKA maximised defensive organisation and game management.

Match Conclusion

Over 120 minutes, the match evolved into a test of defensive resilience versus possession-based probing. CSKA’s 4-1-4-1, anchored by Gbamin and protected by a disciplined, if often overly aggressive, unit, successfully strangled Qarabag’s 4-2-3-1 in the most dangerous zones. Qarabag’s inability to convert territorial advantage into clear, unblocked chances left the door open, and once the game reached penalties, CSKA’s tactical gamble — to trade attacking ambition for structural solidity — was vindicated by the 5-4 shootout win.