- Aston Villa are unbeaten at home in the Europa League this season, winning their only match and conceding zero goals
- Aston Villa are on a two-game winning streak at Villa Park
- Maccabi Tel-Aviv are without a win in their last two away games, drawing once and losing once
This game is more about than just football
A fixture between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel-Aviv that could have been a celebration of Israeli culture and soccer in Birmingham on Thursday is instead tinged with tension due to the situation in Israel and a ban on away fans. There is plenty to play for on the pitch as well as Villa will be in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League 2025-2026 with a victory while Maccabi need the points to kick-start their campaign. This Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv preview highlights the stakes for both sides.
Aston Villa are currently sitting 10th in the table with six points from three games while Maccabi are 32nd with one point from their three outings.
Emery’s structure and discipline will be key
This fixture will be all about the battle in midfield and how each team performs in transition. This Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv prediction centers on Unai Emery setting his teams up to be compact, well-organised and difficult to break down and his Villa side is no different. Their preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1 with two narrow central midfielders who will screen the backline and two wide midfielders who will look to take players on and move the ball vertically.
Zarko Lazetic likes to set Maccabi up in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 depending on the game, but the focus is on his team being compact and tough to crack. They will play on the wing and look to counter quickly after winning the ball back. The Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv prediction also hinges on this tactical battle and one that will come down to the two number 10s’ performances. Ben Lederman has made things happen for Maccabi, providing one assist in two Europa League games. Villa will be able to rely on John McGinn, their talisman in this competition.
Villa have the edge
Villa’s recent form has been good with three wins and only two losses in their last five games in all competitions. Their most recent outing was a gutsy 1-0 home win over Manchester City in the Premier League before a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool last weekend. Their only home Europa League fixture was a 1-0 success and Maccabi failed to score in their only away game in the competition so far.
They were hammered 1-3 at home by GNK Dinamo Zagreb and 0-3 at home by FC Midtjylland, results that put Maccabi on a two-game losing streak. However, the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv odds suggest Villa remain favorites. It is still early in the season so they may be in a transition period under Lazetic, who took over in June 2024. Dor Peretz is a bright spark in their side, netting two of their four goals across their last five fixtures, and Sayed Abu Farkhi is their most dangerous player in Europe, scoring once in his two appearances in the Europa League.
Villa to win at odds-against
The bookmakers have Villa at 13/50 and Maccabi at massive underdogs for this match, which is surprising when you consider Villa have won two in a row at Villa Park. Our Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv prediction is that the home team have more quality, better form and more to gain from a positive result. Over 2.5 goals looks very short at 47/100 for a game where Villa have scored one goal in one home match and Maccabi have an away record of 0.00 goals scored and 0.00 conceded per-game in the Europa League in 2025/26.
The visitors will be tough to get at but Emery’s tactics are usually solid and his side are fast and direct. If Villa can keep Maccabi’s wings quiet and full-backs back, the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv prediction is that they can suffocate their attacking play and it would not be a surprise if they nicked a goal on the counter. I expect Villa to secure the three points. For those considering the game, these Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv betting tips suggest that Villa’s tactical discipline makes them strong favorites.
