Real Madrid vs Maccabi Tel Aviv prediction and H2H — 8 January 2026
Real Madrid
Maccabi Tel Aviv
As part of the 21st round of the EuroLeague regular season, Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv are set to clash. The game will take place in Madrid on Thursday, January 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 20:45 Central European Time. I’m offering a bet on the total points for this matchup.
Match preview
Real Madrid head into this contest not in the best of spirits. In recent rounds, Los Blancos took down Dubai and ASVEL, showcasing impressive long-range accuracy and dominance on the boards. However, sandwiched between those wins was a crucial defeat to Barcelona in the ACB.
Home court in Madrid remains a formidable advantage. Real rarely drop games on their own floor, and their scoring output consistently tops 80 points per game. The team’s leaders drive the offense, allowing them to maintain a high tempo.
Real have suffered just one home defeat so far this EuroLeague season. However, defensively, the Blancos sometimes struggle against fast breaks from their rivals. Still, Scariolo’s squad are quick to adjust and regain control, minimizing turnovers.
In their last outing, the Madrid giants convincingly dispatched ASVEL on the road. With 12 wins from 20 games, Real sit comfortably in sixth place, well-positioned in the playoff hunt.
Maccabi Tel Aviv approach the game with mixed results. In recent rounds, they’ve picked up some important EuroLeague wins, but remain far from their best and are currently outside the play-in zone, sitting only 14th in the standings.
Overall, the season has been a rollercoaster for the Israeli side: Maccabi post high scores in fast-paced games but too often concede heavily on defense.
Offensively, the team relies on quick transitions and perimeter shooting. These traits make Maccabi dangerous even on the road, setting the stage for a wide-open contest. In their last EuroLeague outings, the Israelis failed to deliver, suffering comprehensive defeats to Bayern and Barcelona.
At times, Maccabi lose focus during half-court possessions against strong opponents, leading to big scoring runs against them. These defensive lapses could turn this matchup with Real into a high-scoring affair.
Match facts
- Real have lost just one of their last five matches.
- Maccabi have been beaten in both of their previous away games.
- Real average 92 points per game at home, while Maccabi average 77 points per game on the road.
Players to watch
Trey Lyles made the switch to Madrid from the NBA this summer, where he played for the Sacramento Kings. In Spain, the Canadian forward has quickly found his footing, consistently scoring around 15 points per game and often dominating on the glass.
H2H
Maccabi haven’t managed to beat Real in Madrid since 2010.
Prediction
Real are clear favorites, and considering both teams’ current form and recent trends, a bet on the hosts looks more than reasonable. It’s worth noting the game will take place behind closed doors due to safety concerns. Still, I doubt this will stop the home side from covering a -4.5 point spread.
