CSKA SOFIA

League position: 5th in efbet Bulgarian Liga
Form: W D D L D
Top-scorer: Ali Sowe (5)
Last time out in UEL Group A: CSKA Sofia 0-2 CFR Cluj

Their season so far: It’s certainly been an eventful start to the campaign for the Bulgarians, who have chalked up possibly the greatest European result away from home in the club's history and sacked the coach who achieved it - all in the space of a month.

Stamen Belchev was relieved of his duties following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at FK Arda Kardzhali, which leaves Sofia fifth in the efbet Liga table and six league games without a win.

In all competitions, Sofia haven’t tasted victory since their late, come-from-behind 3-1 win at FC Basel on 1 October that famously sent them through to this stage of the competition.

That performance will live long in the memory of Sofia supporters, who will be hoping their side can channel that display when they head to the Italian capital for Group A’s second matchday of the season.

The Bulgarian outfit were fairly routinely dismissed by Romanian champions Cluj in their group stage opener and they will look to Stefano Beltrame and Sowe for some inside information on their hosts.

Italian midfielder Beltrame joined CSKA from Juventus Under-23s in January having made one Serie A appearance for the Bianconeri, while the club’s top-scorer, Sowe, became the first Gambian to play in Serie A as a Chievo player back in 2013.

The 26-year-old went on to represent eight different clubs across a five-year stay in Italy, and he already has three goals in five Europa League matches (including qualifying) this season.

Young captain Valentin Antov is another to keep an eye on having been tipped for a bright future; while English football fans will recognise on-loan Watford winger Jerome Sinclair, who is the youngest ever player to play for reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.

What they've said:

"I strongly doubt that CSKA will start with two strikers. Maybe it will be in a 4-5-1 system, with two wingers, Sow as the central striker, and three midfielders.

"Even so, it is unlikely that CSKA will compete with a team like Roma. They will rely on counterattacks and speed from the flanks." - Bulgarian journalist and Topsport.bg editor, Angel Domuschiev