# 2020–21 PFC CSKA Sofia season

The 2020–21 season is CSKA Sofia's 72nd season in the Parva Liga (the top flight of Bulgarian football) and their fifth consecutive participation after their administrative relegation in the third division due to mounting financial troubles. In addition to the domestic league, CSKA Sofia participates in this season's edition of the Bulgarian Cup and UEFA Europa League. This article shows player statistics and all matches (official and friendly) that the club will play during the 2020–21 season.

## Players
### Squad information

| N | Pos. | Name | Age | Since | App | Goals | Ends | Transfer fee |
| 1 | GK | Gustavo Busatto | 29 | 2019 | 71 | 0 | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 2 | DF | Jurgen Mattheij | 27 | 2020 | 40 | 3 | 2022 | Free |
| 3 | DF | Geferson | 26 | 2018 | 89 | 2 | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 4 | DF | Menno Koch | 25 | 2021 | 18 | 2 | 2024 | €500,000 |
| 5 | MF | Federico Varela | 23 | 2021 | 12 | 0 | 2022 | Free |
| 6 | DF | Mitko Mitkov | 19 | 2020 | 11 | 1 | 2024 | Youth system |
| 7 | MF | Henrique | 26 | 2018 | 95 | 8 | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 8 | MF | Graham Carey | 31 | 2019 | 67 | 6 | 2021 | Free |
| 9 | MF | Adalberto Peñaranda | 23 | 2020 | 9 | 0 | 2021 | Loan |
| 10 | MF | Georgi Yomov | 22 | 2020 | 41 | 4 | 2023 | €300,000 |
| 11 | DF | Petar Zanev | 34 | 2019 | 60 | 1 | 2021 | Free |
| 14 | MF | Jules Keita | 21 | 2020 | 21 | 3 | 2021 | Loan |
| 15 | DF | Thibaut Vion | 26 | 2020 | 27 | 2 | 2023 | Free |
| 16 | DF | Asen Donchev | 18 | 2020 | 2 | 0 | 2024 | Youth system |
| 17 | FW | Bismark Charles | 19 | 2021 | 16 | 5 | 2023 | Undisclosed |
| 18 | DF | Bradley Mazikou | 23 | 2019 | 69 | 1 | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 19 | DF | Ivan Turitsov | 20 | 2018 | 69 | 0 | 2022 | Youth system |
| 20 | MF | Tiago Rodrigues | 28 | 2017 | 154 | 34 | 2021 | Free |
| 21 | MF | Amos Youga | 27 | 2020 | 42 | 0 | 2023 | Free |
| 24 | FW | Jerome Sinclair | 23 | 2020 | 27 | 3 | 2021 | Loan |
| 25 | GK | Dimitar Evtimov | 26 | 2020 | 7 | 0 | 2022 | Free |
| 27 | FW | Martin Smolenski | 17 | 2019 | 13 | 0 | 2024 | Youth system |
| 28 | DF | Plamen Galabov | 24 | 2016 | 52 | 1 | 2022 | Free |
| 29 | DF | Aleksandar Buchkov | 16 | 2021 | 2 | 0 | 2024 | Youth system |
| 30 | FW | Jordy Caicedo | 22 | 2021 | 19 | 10 | 2022 | Free |
* Last updated: 26 May 2021
* Source: Players transfer and Wikipedia players' articles
* Ordered by position on pitch.

## Transfers
### In

| No. | Pos. | Name | Age | EU | Moving from | Type | Transfer window | Ends | Transfer fee | Source |
| 2 | DF | Jurgen Mattheij | 27 | EU | Sparta Rotterdam | Free transfer | Summer | 2022 | Free | cska.bg |
| 21 | MF | Amos Youga | 27 | EU | Le Havre | Free transfer | Summer | 2022 | Free | cska.bg |
| 13 | MF | Younousse Sankharé | 30 | EU | Bordeaux | Free transfer | Summer | 2022 | Free | cska.bg |
| — | GK | Iliya Shalamanov | 17 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| — | DF | Yoan Baurenski | 18 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| — | DF | Hristiyan Petrov | 17 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| 29 | MF | Mark-Emilio Papazov | 16 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| — | FW | Daniel Ivanov | 18 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| 27 | FW | Martin Smolenski | 17 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| 5 | DF | Angel Lyaskov | 22 | EU | Botev Vratsa | Loan return | Summer | | Free | |
| 6 | DF | Mitko Mitkov | 19 | EU | Dunav Ruse | Loan return | Summer | | Free | |
| 17 | FW | Tonislav Yordanov | 21 | EU | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | Loan return | Summer | | Free | |
| 25 | GK | Dimitar Evtimov | 26 | EU | Accrington Stanley | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| 14 | MF | Jules Keita | 22 | Non-EU | Lens | Loan | Summer | 2021 | Free | cska.bg |
| 16 | DF | Asen Donchev | 18 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| — | FW | Ivan Mitrev | 21 | EU | Youth team | Free transfer | Summer | | Free | cska.bg |
| 30/10 | MF | Georgi Yomov | 23 | EU | Slavia Sofia | Transfer | Summer | 2023 | €300,000 | cska.bg |
| 15 | DF | Thibaut Vion | 26 | EU | Chamois Niortais | Transfer | Summer | 2022 | Free | cska.bg |
| 17/9 | MF | Adalberto Peñaranda | 23 | EU | Watford | Loan | Summer | 2021 | Free | cska.bg |
| 24 | FW | Jerome Sinclair | 24 | EU | Watford | Loan | Summer | 2021 | Free | cska.bg |
| 5 | MF | Federico Varela | 24 | EU | Denizlispor | Transfer | Winter | 2022 | Free | cska.bg |
| 30 | FW | Jordy Caicedo | 23 | EU | Vitória | Loan | Winter | 2022 | Free | cska.bg |
| 17 | FW | Bismark Charles | 19 | Non-EU | Trepça '89 | Transfer | Winter | 2024 | Undisclosed | cska.bg |
| 4 | DF | Menno Koch | 26 | EU | Eupen | Transfer | Winter | 2024 | €500,000 | cska.bg |

### Out

| N | Pos. | Name | Age | EU | Moving to | Type | Transfer window | Transfer fee | Source |
| 6 | MF | Rúben Pinto | 28 | EU | Fehérvár | End of contract | Summer | Free | cska.bg |
| 21 | MF | Edwin Gyasi | 29 | EU | Samsunspor | End of contract | Summer | Free | cska.bg |
| 30 | GK | Vytautas Černiauskas | 31 | EU | RFS | Released | Summer | Free | cska.bg |
| 10 | FW | Evandro | 23 | Non-EU | Fehérvár | Transfer | Summer | €1,000,000 | cska.bg |
| — | GK | Iliya Shalamanov | 17 | EU | Litex Lovech | Loan | Summer | Free | lovechmedia.com |
| — | DF | Yoan Baurenski | 18 | EU | Litex Lovech | Loan | Summer | Free | lovechmedia.com |
| — | DF | Hristiyan Petrov | 18 | EU | Litex Lovech | Loan | Summer | Free | |
| — | FW | Ivan Mitrev | 21 | EU | Litex Lovech | Loan | Summer | Free | lovechmedia.com |
| 5 | DF | Angel Lyaskov | 22 | EU | Olimpija Ljubljana | Transfer | Summer | Undisclosed | cska.bg |
| 15 | MF | Kristiyan Malinov | 26 | EU | OH Leuven | Transfer | Summer | €500,000 | cska.bg |
| 4 | DF | Bozhidar Chorbadzhiyski | 25 | EU | Stal Mielec | Released | Winter | Free | cska.bg |
| 9 | FW | Tomi Juric | 29 | EU | Adelaide United | Mutual consent | Winter | Free | dsport.bg |
| 10 | MF | Stefano Beltrame | 27 | EU | Marítimo | Mutual consent | Winter | Free | dsport.bg |
| — | DF | Nuno Tomás | 25 | EU | Free agent | Released | Winter | Free | topsport.bg |
| 17 | FW | Tonislav Yordanov | 22 | EU | Arda Kardzhali | Transfer | Winter | €50,000 | cska.bg |
| 13 | MF | Younousse Sankharé | 31 | EU | Panathinaikos | Transfer | Winter | €250,000 | cska.bg |
| 26 | DF | Valentin Antov | 20 | EU | Bologna | Loan | Winter | €500,000 | cska.bg |
| 23 | FW | Ahmed Ahmedov | 25 | EU | Neftçi | Loan | Winter | Undisclosed | cska.bg |
| 22 | FW | Ali Sowe | 26 | EU | Rostov | Loan | Winter | €500,000 | cska.bg |

## Preseason and friendlies

Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### On-season (spring)
## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Parva Liga | 7 August 2020 | 26 May 2021 | Matchday 1 | 3rd place | 31 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 46 | 24 | +22 | 054.84 |
| Bulgarian Cup | 14 November 2020 | 19 May 2021 | First round | Winner | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 3 | +13 | 083.33 |
| UEFA Europa League | 27 August 2020 | 10 December 2020 | First qualifying round | Group stage | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 050.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 47 | 27 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 37 | +38 | 057.45 |
Last updated: 26 May 2021 Source: Competitions

### Parva Liga
#### Regular Stage
##### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 26 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 59 | 18 | +41 | 64 | Qualification for the Championship group |
| 2 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 26 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 41 | 19 | +22 | 52 | Qualification for the Championship group |
| 3 | CSKA Sofia | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 39 | 20 | +19 | 50 | Qualification for the Championship group |
| 4 | Arda | 26 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 36 | 29 | +7 | 45 | Qualification for the Championship group |
| 5 | CSKA 1948 | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 34 | 30 | +4 | 38 | Qualification for the Championship group |

##### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 25 April 2021. Source: See results

##### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | W | W | W | D | D | L | D | D | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | L | D | W | L | D | L | W | W |
| Position/ | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

##### Results
#### Championship round
##### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ludogorets Razgrad (C) | 31 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 69 | 29 | +40 | 70 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 31 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 48 | 23 | +25 | 61 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 3 | CSKA Sofia | 31 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 46 | 24 | +22 | 59 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Arda (O) | 31 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 42 | 37 | +5 | 50 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League play-off |
| 5 | CSKA 1948 | 31 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 41 | 34 | +7 | 47 | |
| 6 | Beroe | 31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 42 | 38 | +4 | 39 | |
* ↑ CSKA Sofia qualified for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round by winning the 2020–21 Bulgarian Cup.

##### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 22 May 2021. Source: See results

##### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | W | L | W | L | W |
| Position | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

##### Results
### UEFA Europa League
#### First qualifying round
#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ROM | YB | CLJ | CSS |
| 1 | Roma | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 13 | Advance to knockout phase | — | 3–1 | 5–0 | 0–0 |
| 2 | Young Boys | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 10 | Advance to knockout phase | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| 3 | CFR Cluj | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 5 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 |
| 4 | CSKA Sofia | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 5 | | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | — |
* 1 2 Head-to-head points: CFR Cluj 4, CSKA Sofia 1.

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

    As of 26 May 2021
| No. | Pos | Player | Parva Liga | Parva Liga | Bulgarian Cup | Bulgarian Cup | Europa League | Europa League | Total | Total |
| No. | Pos | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | Gustavo Busatto | 26 | -21 | 5 | -3 | 10 | -10 | 41 | -34 |
| 2 | DF | Jurgen Mattheij | 25 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 40 | 3 |
| 3 | DF | Geferson | 12+3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Menno Koch | 11+1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| 5 | MF | Federico Varela | 7+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Mitko Mitkov | 0+4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Henrique | 13+9 | 2 | 2+3 | 1 | 2+6 | 0 | 35 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | Graham Carey | 13+11 | 1 | 1+2 | 0 | 4+2 | 1 | 33 | 2 |
| 9 | MF | Adalberto Peñaranda | 5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Georgi Yomov | 15+11 | 0 | 3+2 | 3 | 9+1 | 1 | 41 | 4 |
| 11 | DF | Petar Zanev | 16+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Jules Keita | 9+5 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+5 | 1 | 21 | 3 |
| 15 | DF | Thibaut Vion | 18+1 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| 16 | DF | Asen Donchev | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Bismark Charles | 6+6 | 2 | 1+3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 |
| 18 | DF | Bradley Mazikou | 22+3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| 19 | DF | Ivan Turitsov | 13+6 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Tiago Rodrigues | 21+6 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4+6 | 3 | 43 | 7 |
| 21 | MF | Amos Youga | 25+4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9+1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | Jerome Sinclair | 10+8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3+1 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| 25 | GK | Dimitar Evtimov | 5+1 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -3 |
| 27 | FW | Martin Smolenski | 1+6 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | Plamen Galabov | 13+6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | Aleksandar Buchkov | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | Jordy Caicedo | 11+3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 10 |
| Players away from the club on loan: |||||||||||
| 22 | FW | Ali Sowe | 15+1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 27 | 14 |
| 23 | FW | Ahmed Ahmedov | 2+9 | 1 | 0+1 | 1 | 0+7 | 2 | 19 | 4 |
| 26 | DF | Valentin Antov | 14+2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| Players who appeared for CSKA Sofia that left during the season: |||||||||||
| 9 | FW | Tomi Juric | 1+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | Stefano Beltrame | 2+12 | 1 | 0+1 | 1 | 2+3 | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| 13 | MF | Younousse Sankharé | 10+2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9+1 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| 15 | MF | Kristiyan Malinov | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Tonislav Yordanov | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

### Goalscorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | Parva Liga | Bulgarian Cup | Europa League | Total |
| 1 | FW | | 22 | Ali Sowe | 8 | 1 | 5 | 14 |
| 2 | FW | | 30 | Jordy Caicedo | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | MF | | 20 | Tiago Rodrigues | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | FW | | 17 | Bismark Charles | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | MF | | 10 | Georgi Yomov | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | FW | | 23 | Ahmed Ahmedov | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | DF | | 2 | Jurgen Mattheij | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | | 7 | Henrique | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | | 13 | Younousse Sankharé | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | | 14 | Jules Keita | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | FW | | 24 | Jerome Sinclair | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 12 | DF | | 4 | Menno Koch | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | MF | | 8 | Graham Carey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | MF | | 10 | Stefano Beltrame | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | DF | | 15 | Thibaut Vion | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | DF | | 26 | Valentin Antov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | FW | | 9 | Tomi Juric | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | DF | | 18 | Bradley Mazikou | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | | Own goal | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 46 | 16 | 13 | 75 |
As of 26 May 2021

### Disciplinary record

Includes all competitive matches. Players listed below made at least one appearance for CSKA first squad during the season.
| N | P | Name | Parva Liga | Parva Liga | Bulgarian Cup | Bulgarian Cup | Europa League | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Busatto | 1 | | 2 | | 2 | 5 | |
| 2 | DF | Mattheij | 6 | | 2 | | 2 | 10 | |
| 3 | DF | Geferson | 1 | | 1 | | 3 | 5 | |
| 4 | DF | Koch | 3 | | 1 | | | 4 | |
| 6 | MF | Mitkov | 2 | | | | 3 | 5 | |
| 7 | MF | Henrique | | | 1 | | 3 | 4 | |
| 8 | MF | Carey | 4 | | 1 | | | 5 | |
| 9 | MF | Peñaranda | 1 | | | | 2 | 3 | |
| 10 | MF | Yomov | 5 | | | | 1 | 6 | |
| 10 | MF | Beltrame | 2 | | | | | 2 | |
| 11 | DF | Zanev | 5 | 1 | | | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 13 | MF | Sankharé | 2 | 1 | | | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | Keita | 2 | | | | 2 | 4 | |
| 15 | DF | Vion | 4 | | 2 | | 2 | 8 | |
| 17 | FW | Bismark | 2 | | 1 | | | 3 | |
| 18 | DF | Mazikou | 5 | | 1 | | 2 | 8 | |
| 19 | DF | Turitsov | 3 | | 2 | 1 | | 5 | 1 |
| 20 | MF | Tiago | 5 | | 1 | | | 6 | |
| 21 | MF | Youga | 7 | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| 23 | FW | Ahmedov | 3 | | | | | 3 | |
| 24 | FW | Sinclair | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | 3 | |
| 25 | GK | Evtimov | 2 | | | | | 2 | |
| 26 | DF | Antov | 4 | | | | 1 | 5 | |
| 28 | DF | Galabov | 3 | | 1 | | 1 | 5 | |
| 30 | FW | Caicedo | 3 | | 1 | | 1 | 5 | |
Last updated: 26 May 2021 Source: Competitive matches Only competitive matches = Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.