Europa League
2026-01-22 - SC Freiburg vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; UEFA Europa League: 07th Round
Europa Park Stadion – Freiburg
Thursday, 22nd January 2026 - kickoff 18:45 CET
SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg have quietly been one of the most reliable teams in this Europa League campaign. They are still unbeaten after six matches, winning four and drawing two, and that consistency has already put them in a strong position ahead of the knockout phase. At this stage, it’s less about survival and more about securing the best possible draw for the next round.
What really stands out is their defensive control in Europe. SC Freiburg have conceded just three goals in six group matches, the best defensive record in the competition so far. That solidity has carried over domestically as well.
SC Freiburg have lost just once in their last five Bundesliga games and were unfortunate not to win last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Augsburg, where they again looked organised and competitive.
With confidence high and home advantage on their side, SC Freiburg will see this as a game they should be winning comfortably.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
This Europa League campaign has gone badly wrong for Maccabi Tel Aviv. They have failed to win any of their six group games and arrive in Freiburg on the back of five consecutive European defeats.
The defensive numbers are alarming. 18 goals conceded, and just two scored — making them the weakest defensive side left in the competition.
Things aren’t improving at home either. Their domestic form is shaky, as shown by last weekend’s heavy 4-1 defeat to rivals Maccabi Haifa.
Confidence looks low, and recent European away trips suggest they struggle badly when facing well-structured teams, especially on German soil. They lost to VfB Stuttgart 4-1 in their recent trip to Germany, where they stood no chance.
At this point, pride and damage limitation appear to be their main objectives.
The Betting Verdict
Everything points in SC Freiburg’s direction. They are unbeaten in Europe, defensively rock-solid, in good domestic shape and facing a side that’s leaking goals at an alarming rate.
Maccabi Tel Aviv look short on confidence and resilience, especially away from home, while SC Freiburg rarely give opponents cheap chances.
A comfortable SC Freiburg win makes the most sense here, with SC Freiburg to win and over 2.5 goals looking like a realistic betting option.
The Pick :
SC Freiburg 3-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take SC Freiburg to win & over 2.5 goals at odds of 1.61 at 12Play Sports
