The Round 8 match of the group stage of the 2025/26 Europa League between Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) and Bologna (Italy) will take place on 29 january at TSC Arena in Bačka Topola (Serbia). Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bologna: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered a 0:1 defeat to Freiburg in the last round, which was the club's sixth consecutive loss in the Europa League. Moreover, the club lost without scoring in four of those matches. In addition, the club failed to score in the only main-stage match in which it managed to take a point. In total the club have scored 2 goals, which is the worst tally in the competition. The club are also bottom of the main standings, with no chance of reaching the play-offs.
The club's management dismissed head coach Žarko Lazetić. Dan Roman was appointed as the new manager.
- At least one opponent failed to score in 6 of the club's last 8 Europa League matches.
- At home in this competition the team have a 13-match uncompromising run (6 wins, 7 losses).
- The club have conceded in 9 consecutive home Europa League matches.
Potential Maccabi Tel Aviv Lineup (4-5-1)*
Roey Mishpati – Itay Ben Amo, Eitor, Raz Shlomo, Ben Liderman – Roy Revivo, Itamar Noy, Sayed Abu-Farhi, Sagiv Yehezkel, Noam Ben Harush – Dor Peretz.
Bologna
Bologna, by contrast, are unbeaten in six consecutive Europa League matches. The unbeaten run was extended thanks to a 2:2 draw in the last round with Celta, with the team coming back from two goals down. Thus Bologna have scored at least twice in their third consecutive Europa League match. It is worth adding that in the main stage the club have kept a clean sheet only once. With 12 points (3 wins, 3 draws), Bologna sit 15th in the standings. A place in the play-offs is secured for the club; chances remain to reach the top eight, but even a win in the upcoming match does not guarantee that outcome.
- Both teams scored in 5 of Bologna's last 6 Europa League matches.
- Away from home the team were unbeaten in 4 of their last 5 European away matches (2 wins, 2 draws).
- In their last 5 away matches on the international stage the club did not concede more than one goal.
Potential Bologna Lineup (4-5-1)*
Lukasz Skorupski – Nadir Zortea, Torbjørn Heggem, Nicolò Casale, Juan Miranda – Nicola Moro, Jonathan Rowe, Tommaso Pobega, Lewis Ferguson, Benjamín Domínguez – Tijs Dallinga.
Defender John Lukumi will miss the match due to injury.
Referee
Goga Kikacheishvili (Georgia)
Matches – 9 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (counting second yellows) – 37;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.1;
Red cards shown – 0;
Fouls per match – 21;
Penalties – 33%.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Vs Bologna: Match Prediction
Understanding the lack of prospects in the competition, Maccabi Tel Aviv's head coach already used squad rotation in the previous match. Despite that, the club looked respectable against one of the stage leaders. We believe that in the final round the team will try not to lose face and at least somewhat mitigate the impression of an unremarkable performance. However, doing so will be difficult. The home side have huge problems in creating chances: by xG the club are third from bottom, and have scored the fewest goals of all.
Bologna's chances of reaching the top eight are on the verge of fantasy. We think that in such a situation the club will not exert maximum effort and will try to preserve energy for the domestic championship, where a difficult match against Milan awaits. Additionally, the team look fairly modest in attack away in European competitions, scoring more than one goal in only 2 of 7 matches. But the visiting team also concede little at their own end.
Prediction: Under 2.5 goals
* For each team the starting lineup from their last match in this competition is shown.
