Context and form heading into Bačka Topola
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrive in Bačka Topola under heavy scrutiny after a brutal run in the Europa League group stage. The Israeli side have managed just one point from seven fixtures, scoring twice and conceding 19 — a ledger that reads like a warning sign for anyone backing them at the TSC Arena. Their most recent domestic outing saw them lose 2-1 to Hapoel Tel Aviv on 26 January, a match where Sayed Abu Farkhi stood out with a best-player rating of 7.34 despite his team coming up short. The pattern is clear: porous defence at international level, limited goal returns and inconsistency across competitions.
Bologna, by contrast, boast a far healthier group campaign and arrive with momentum in the Europa League standings. With three wins, three draws and a single loss across seven group matches, the Italians have accumulated 12 points and demonstrated a far more reliable balance between attack and defence. Their recent run domestically has been mixed — a 3-2 defeat to Genoa on 25 January cut across their rhythm, even as Lewis Ferguson registered a strong performance and a 7.13 rating for Bologna. Still, aggregate statistics tell a story: Bologna create far more attempts (143 total shots vs Maccabi’s 96) and mount more attacks on average (102.86 to 74.45), suggesting superiority in territory and chance creation.
Match profile: tactics and likely flow
Expect Bologna to control the tempo. Their numbers in dangerous attacks and shots inside the box point to an approach that presses high and looks to exploit defensive frailties. Maccabi’s defensive record in the competition — 19 conceded — means they are more likely to be on the back foot, especially away from home in a compact venue like the TSC Arena, which holds 5,000 and can become an intense atmosphere for a struggling side. Both teams have registered only one clean sheet in group play, which increases the probability of goals at both ends; however Bologna’s efficiency in turning chances into goals at group level (11 scored) contrasts sharply with Maccabi’s meagre return.
If you’re refining your strategy beyond this match, consider reading up on broader market selection and timing: the piece on Soccer betting tips and the choice of markets offers a solid framework for choosing where to deploy stakes, while a timely read on what the handicap market means can help those thinking about spreading risk in uneven match-ups.
Betting suggestion (final): Back Bologna to win (1X2). The bookies make the visitors clear favourites — Bologna priced at 1.48 in the latest market — and the underlying data supports that line: superior group form, more shots and dangerous attacks, and a Maccabi backline that has been repeatedly punished. Stake moderately and consider combining this selection with a goals line if you prefer added value, but the primary call here is a straight away win for Bologna.
