The UEFA Europa League 2025/26 – League Phase reaches its final and decisive Matchday 8 as Maccabi Tel Aviv face Bologna FC 1909 at a neutral venue in Serbia. Under the new 36-team league format, every fixture feeds into a single overall table, so there is still plenty to play for when these sides meet in Backa Topola.

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrive in this game under real pressure. Their league-phase campaign has been extremely tough: after five matches they have a record of 0 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats, with only 1 goal scored and 14 conceded (goal difference −13), giving them just 1 point and leaving them down in 35th place in the standings. Heavy defeats – including a 6–0 loss at home to Lyon, a 2–0 defeat away to Aston Villa and a 3–0 home reverse against Midtjylland – have highlighted their defensive frailties at this level, even if a hard-earned 0–0 draw away to PAOK showed they can dig in when needed.

Bologna, by contrast, have adapted well to their Europa League return. After five league-phase outings they stand on 8 points with a record of 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat, scoring 7 goals and conceding 4 (goal difference +3). That tally places them around 18th in the table, safely inside the knockout play-off zone. A statement 4–1 home win over Salzburg, combined with gritty draws against Freiburg and Brann, suggests a side that is both dangerous going forward and increasingly comfortable on the European stage.

The tactical picture is clear: Maccabi must find a way to tighten up at the back and show more punch in attack, while Bologna will look to impose their growing confidence and secure a result that strengthens their seeding for the knockouts. With the Israeli club effectively fighting to restore pride and Bologna targeting a deep run, this Matchday 8 clash in Serbia promises plenty of intensity.

TV Broadcast and Livestreams

The Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bologna showdown will be shown live by official Europa League broadcast partners around the world. In many European countries, coverage is scheduled in the standard Thursday evening slot, while fans elsewhere can follow the game via regional rights holders and licensed streaming platforms.

Supporters should check local TV listings and official competition information to confirm the exact channel or streaming service carrying the match in their region.

Match Information

Form Guide and League-Phase Records

Maccabi Tel Aviv: The Israeli side’s Europa League story this season has been a grim one. Their run of results – including a 6–0 home defeat to Lyon, a 2–0 away loss to Aston Villa, a 3–0 reverse at home to Midtjylland and a 1–3 home defeat against Dinamo Zagreb – explains their heavy negative goal difference. The lone bright spot was a hard-fought 0–0 draw away to PAOK, which showed they can frustrate strong opponents when defensively organised.

Bologna: Bologna’s campaign started in more modest fashion, but their trajectory is positive. Before demolishing Salzburg 4–1 at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, they had picked up only one Europa League win from their first four matches, with draws against Freiburg and Brann and a defeat to Aston Villa. That big victory over the Austrian champions, combined with solid domestic form, has given Vincenzo Italiano’s team belief that they can go toe-to-toe with most sides in the competition.

*Positions are approximate and based on the latest Europa League league-phase standings prior to Matchday 8.

Head-to-Head History

According to available head-to-head records, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bologna have little or no previous competitive history in UEFA club competitions. This league-phase fixture therefore represents either their first official meeting or one of very few encounters on the European stage.

That lack of historic data adds an extra layer of unpredictability. Both coaching staffs will have relied heavily on recent match footage, statistical analysis and tactical scouting rather than older head-to-head trends when preparing for this tie.

Tactical Outlook

Maccabi Tel Aviv: searching for balance

Given their struggles so far, Maccabi Tel Aviv are likely to approach this match with caution, especially early on. Key tactical themes could include:

• More compact defensive shape, aiming to reduce the spaces Bologna can exploit between the lines.
• Emphasis on counter-attacks, using pace in wide areas when Bologna’s full-backs push high.
• Careful game management, avoiding the early concessions that have hurt them in previous league-phase matches.
• Set-piece focus as a realistic route to goal, given their difficulty in creating chances from open play.

Bologna: front-foot but controlled

Bologna have evolved into an adventurous but tactically aware side under Italiano. In Backa Topola, they are expected to:

• Build from the back with confidence, using technically strong centre-backs and a deep playmaker to progress the ball.
• Attack with width, asking full-backs and wingers to stretch Maccabi’s block and create crossing and cut-back opportunities.
• Press selectively in the middle and final third, trying to force turnovers against a Maccabi side low on confidence.
• Maintain defensive control, conscious that conceding cheap counter-attacks is one of the few ways they could get dragged into trouble.

If Maccabi can stay compact and frustrate Bologna, they might be able to drag the match into a nervy, low-scoring battle. However, if Bologna settle quickly, circulate possession calmly and exploit their superior form and attacking quality, the Italians will expect to create enough chances to decide the game.

Standings Context – League-Phase Table

*Zones based on the Europa League league-phase format: teams ranked 1–8 go straight to the Round of 16, 9–24 enter the knockout play-offs, and 25–36 are eliminated from European competition.

Match Outlook and Prediction

Predicted Final Score: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0–2 Bologna

Looking at the league-phase standings, recent form and the overall balance between the sides, Bologna head into this match as clear favourites. They have a solid defensive record, an attack capable of scoring in bunches – as Salzburg discovered – and a coach who has already shown he can adapt effectively to European opposition.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will not lack motivation, especially after heavy defeats earlier in the campaign, but the statistics point to a team struggling badly in both boxes. To take something from this game they will almost certainly need a near-perfect defensive performance and a ruthless edge on the counter – qualities that have largely been missing so far in the league phase.

The most realistic projection is a controlled Bologna display in which the Italian side manage the tempo, limit Maccabi’s chances and gradually find openings of their own. A predicted scoreline of 0–2 in favour of Bologna reflects their superior form and current table position, while still acknowledging that one moment of inspiration from Maccabi could change the narrative on the night.

Important: This prediction is an opinion based only on football analysis. It is not advice or encouragement to place bets. Any form of gambling is strictly for adults, must comply with local laws and should always be approached carefully and responsibly.