CSKA 1948 Sofia to face Panathinaikos in Conference League qualifiers

CSKA 1948 Sofia has advanced to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League after defeating Spartak Trnava 5-3 in a penalty shootout. The match in Slovakia ended 0-0 after regular and extra time, mirroring the scoreless draw from the first leg. Petar Marinov proved decisive for the Bulgarian side, saving the critical third penalty to secure his team's qualification.

CSKA 1948 Sofia is slated to play Panathinaikos in the next round, provided the Greek side confirms its progress against Paksi. Panathinaikos currently holds a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Hungary, with the return match scheduled for July 30 at 21:30. If successful, Panathinaikos will face the Bulgarian club, which was founded in 2016 and gained national prominence after moving up to the top tier in 2020-21.

While often confused with the older CSKA Sofia, CSKA 1948 operates as a distinct entity. The club historically maintained a "local players only" policy until 2022 and currently holds a roster valuation of 16.8 million euros. Following a second-place finish in the domestic league last season, the team has started its current campaign with one draw and one victory.