Read our prediction for Osijek vs CSKA Sofia below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Osijek vs CSKA Sofia and you can increase your winnings!
Osijek vs CSKA Sofia Prediction & Betting tips
Excitement is guaranteed again on Thursday evening! In some first matches of the Europa League qualification there was already a (preliminary) decision, but many duels are still completely open. There will also be interesting betting opportunities this Thursday. One of these exciting games is the knockout duel between the Croatian representative NK Osijek and CSKA Sofia from the Bulgarian capital!
The guests from Eastern Europe won the first leg 1-0 last Thursday and thus have the advantage on their side. If the return match is considered in isolation, however, the bookmakers regard the home side as a clear favorite. The return leg at the Gradski vrt Stadium will be kicked off on Thursday at 19:45.
Osijek:
The best player ever to sign with NK Osijek? There will hardly be two opinions, because the long-time top striker Davor Suker was even trained at the club from Osijek in the youth. Such exceptional players are no longer under contract in Osijek. Nevertheless, the club behind industry leader Dinamo Zagreb and HNK Rijeka has developed together with Hajduk Split the third / fourth power of Croatian club football in recent years.
As a result, the team is always represented internationally. In the 2017/18 season, the club even caused a sensation, as PSV Eindhoven was eliminated with two 1-0 victories and the event had to be very unfortunate against the Vienna Austria. Last year, the Scottish traditional club Glasgow Rangers was one size too big for the Croats.
The knockout duel with CSKA Sofia was considered by the experts to be a very balanced match. The defeat in the first leg is the head coach Dino Skender’s team with their backs to the wall. However, Osijek is very strong at home (10-4-4 balance in the previous year, seasonally the last five home games won). In this regard, the offered odds for the second leg are quite understandable.
However, the hosts must find a good balance between offense and defensive, because in a goal comes advancing in the distance. Unconditional offensive will be late in the game. First of all, caution will come first on both sides. Similarly few goals as in the first leg are to be expected. Between Osijek and CSKA Sofia, a forecast for a peat festival is certainly not recommended.
CSKA Sofia:
The central sports club of the Sofia Army has already celebrated 31 championship titles in Bulgaria, but the last triumph (2008) has been more than a decade ago. In the meantime, there was a roller coaster ride of emotions for the fans of the Bulgarian traditional club. CSKA Sofia was heavily indebted and did not receive a license for the top division in 2015 and was downgraded to third division.
Through an ownership change, the financial situation has now relaxed and the club was able to accomplish the first return to the top flight. At the same time, the record champion immediately became a top club again, but it has not yet been enough to win the title. In the previous year, the first championship for over ten years was missed just gossamer. Despite strong performances in the championship play-off (6-3-1 balance sheet), the team had finally a point behind master Rasgrad Ludogorets.
While the Bulgarians can be completely satisfied with the performances so far (two wins, one draw, no goal), the start of the season in the domestic championship was anything but desired. In the first two games (defeat and draw) a victory was missed, only in the derby last weekend against Slavia Sofia, the runner-up could write for the first time.
The showpiece of the Bulgarians is definitely the offensive. First-leg goalscorer Evandro, his strike partner Ali Sowe and creative midfielder Tiago Rodrigues are the heart of the team. The defensive does not have outstanding players, but on the international stage CSKA Sofia presented so far extremely saddle and has not received a goal.
Osijek vs CSKA Sofia head to head matches
25.07.19 EL CSKA Sofia Osijek 1 : 0