Rowe, Orsolini and Pobega seal a comfortable win on neutral ground as Bologna finish 10th and book a playoff spot.
Bologna wrapped up their Europa League league phase in style, sweeping aside bottom side Maccabi Tel Aviv with a convincing 3–0 victory on Matchday 8. Playing on neutral ground in Bačka Topola, Serbia, Vincenzo Italiano’s side never looked in trouble and comfortably secured qualification for the playoff round, finishing 10th in the standings with 15 points.
The Rossoblù briefly flirted with a top-eight finish during the night, sitting eighth for over 15 minutes while Roma were trailing in Athens against Panathinaikos. However, Roma’s late comeback ultimately pushed Bologna down to 10th place—still a strong result that keeps their European journey alive.
Bologna controlled the match from the outset, dictating tempo and territory against a Maccabi side already eliminated. The breakthrough came in the 35th minute, when Jonathan Rowe found the net to give the Italian side a deserved lead at halftime.
Any doubts were quickly erased just after the restart. Only two minutes into the second half, Riccardo Orsolini doubled Bologna’s advantage, capitalizing on sustained pressure and putting the result firmly beyond Maccabi’s reach. Bologna continued to manage the game with maturity, limiting the Israelis to very few attacking opportunities.
Deep into stoppage time, the Rossoblù added a third goal to cap the performance. Tommaso Pobega, introduced late on, struck in the 94th minute to seal a comprehensive 3–0 win and underline Bologna’s authority on the night.
With this result, Bologna advance to the Europa League playoffs, where they will look to build on a solid league-phase campaign and push for a place in the round of 16.
Match Report: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0–3 Bologna
Scorers:
35’ Rowe (Bologna), 47’ Orsolini (Bologna), 90+4’ Pobega (Bologna)
Maccabi Tel Aviv (3-5-2):
Melika; Ben Hamo (Shahar 79’), Heitor, Shlomo (Asante 51’); Ben Harosh, Andrade (Helio Varela 52’), Lederman, Sissokho, Revivo; Dor Peretz (Davida 79’), Madmon (Ben Simon 67’).
Head coach: Romann.
Bologna (4-2-3-1):
Skorupski; Zortea, Vitik, Casale, Miranda; Freuler, Moro (Pobega 86’); Orsolini (Cambiaghi 71’), Ferguson (Odgaard 86’), Rowe (Bernardeschi 52’); Castro (Dallinga 70’).
Head coach: Vincenzo Italiano.
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (Georgia)
Yellow cards: Shlomo (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
