Preview
Spartak Trnava are still in the final stages of their pre-season preparations, having managed just one victory in six friendly matches. Their competitive campaign begins this weekend with a home fixture against Skalica, meaning they will enter this European tie without having played a single official match of the new season.
The Slovakian side have also undergone significant changes during the summer transfer window, with a number of important players left the club:
❌ Jureskin (25/1)
❌ Duris (24/4)
❌ Paur (23/2)
❌ Kratochvil (22/1)
❌ Frelih (22/0) – first goalkeeper
❌ Stojsavljevic (19/0)
❌ Twardzik (17/0)
❌ Metsoko (16/4)
❌ Taiwo (15/6)
❌ Karhan (12/0)
Such a significant turnover inevitably raises questions regarding the team’s cohesion and overall competitiveness, particularly at this early stage of the season.
CSKA 1948 Sofia, on the other hand, are a dangerous and experienced side who are accustomed to facing opponents of a higher level than Trnava. Their squad has a strong international profile and includes several technically gifted players. Most notably, they possess a high-quality striker in Mamadou Diallo, who finished as the top scorer in the Bulgarian league last season.
I believe the Bulgarian side have a clear edge in this fixture and are capable of securing a positive result.