Will Atalanta wear down the Israelis? Prediction for the Hapoel Tel Aviv vs. Atalanta Conference League match
On Thursday, 27 August 2026, at 20:00 CET, the neutral DVTK Stadion in Miskolc, Hungary, will host the second leg of the UEFA Conference League 2026/27 play-off qualifying round, with Hapoel Tel Aviv nominally at home against Italian side Atalanta.
The first leg in Bergamo produced a major upset, as the Israeli outfit managed to hold out for a goalless draw (0–0), leaving qualification for the league phase wide open.
Hapoel Tel Aviv punched well above their weight in the opening clash, withstanding heavy Italian pressure at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia courtesy of a heroic display from goalkeeper Assaf Tzur and a disciplined defensive partnership between Mayembo and Tchitcho.
However, their nominal home advantage is largely nullified with the match being played in Hungary. Hapoel will once again be forced into a deep 5-4-1 low block, relying on set pieces and counter-attacks spearheaded by Omri Altman and Emmanuel Boateng. Keeping a second consecutive clean sheet against a Serie A giant will be a monumental task.
Atalanta, on the other hand, went into the first meeting with a degree of complacency and paid the price with poor finishing in front of goal. La Dea boast an exceptional array of top-tier talent, featuring Giacomo Raspadori, Gianluca Scamacca, Lazar Samardžić, Éderson, Nicola Zalewski, and Nikola Krstović.
The coaching staff will have thoroughly addressed those shortcomings. Atalanta will take to the pitch fully focused, unleashing their trademark high-intensity pressing across the park from the opening whistle to avoid a tense finish or a penalty shootout.
Atalanta are expected to assert complete dominance in possession, relentlessly stretching Hapoel's backline through the half-spaces and aggressive wide overlaps from Bellanova and Zalewski. Hapoel will focus strictly on absorbing pressure and maintaining compact lines in front of their penalty area.
The sides have met only once before, in the first leg of this play-off round:
- 20/08/2026 (Bergamo, Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia): Atalanta 0–0 Hapoel Tel Aviv.
What to bet on in this fixture?
Atalanta are in a completely different class when it comes to tempo and technical quality. Once the Bergamo outfit find the breakthrough, the Israelis will have no choice but to open up, paving the way for a commanding away win by at least a two-goal margin. My prediction: Atalanta Asian Handicap (-1.5).
