- Team form: FC Lugano are unbeaten in their last 5 matches, winning 4 times and drawing once (including a 5-0 victory over FC Zurich in Super League 2026/2027).
- Form (Maccabi): Maccabi Tel-Aviv are in good form too, winning 4 of their last 5 games, including a 1-0 home success against FC Sheriff Tiraspol and a 3-1 away victory against PFC CSKA Sofia in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026.
- Home form: Lugano have been extremely strong at home recently, registering 5 wins and 1 defeat in their last 6 competitive home games, while averaging 2.00 goals scored per game and only 0.50 goals conceded.
Lugano to lock it down in Lugano
Odds and context
FC Lugano go into this game as favourites at 1.93, compared to Maccabi Tel-Aviv at 3.8 and the draw at 3.5, but the odds are probably tighter than they should be and both teams are in strong form, so it's going to be a tight matchup on Thursday night.
Recent form
Mattia Croci-Torti's team have been in excellent form this season, winning 8 and losing 2 of their 10 games in all competitions. Lugano have made a 5-0 thrashing of FC Zurich in the Super League 2026/2027 in Switzerland, while remaining clean and dominating the play in both Europe and the league.
Key players
Kevin Behrens has been their man to mark, scoring 5 goals in UEFA Conference League Qualification 2026, and 7 of their 17 strikes in their last 17 fixtures. Maccabi have a few scoring threats of their own, but Sayed Abu Farkhi has been their danger man of late, scoring 4 of their last 10 goals, and Maccabi Tel-Aviv will be hoping he can unlock the Lugano defence on Thursday.
Tactics
Kenny Miller has his side pressing high and trying to force turnovers into instant chances, so this should be a fascinating matchup between Lugano's patient possession game and Maccabi's more chaotic, pressing style. Lugano will try to control and dictate with their 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2 shapes, while Maccabi will want to overload wide areas in their 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation and press hard when out of possession.
Maccabi make a match of it
While Lugano are the favourites and have an excellent home record, Maccabi are a tough team and will be desperate for a result.
- The Israeli side have a decent away record, and will make this a tough game for Lugano, so our top pick here is Both Teams To Score at 1.7, which looks good given Maccabi's punchy attacking play and Lugano's firepower at home.
- We do think Lugano can sneak a win here, with their home advantage and slightly more consistent form of late making them the more likely winners.
