Maccabi Haifa vs Rennes prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-29 17:45.
After nearly two months of interruption due to the conflict in Gaza, the Israeli Premier League resumed last weekend, and Maccabi Haifa took advantage of it to get back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva. Although things are going well domestically with a fourth spot in the league standings, the Greens are still looking for their first win in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) this season (D1, L2).
Maccabi will be playing their second consecutive UEL outing at Budapest's Puskás Arena, after losing 2-1 here to Villarreal, thus consolidating their position at the bottom of Group F. With three points separating them from third-placed Panathinaikos and one game in hand, a European spring is still within reach for the reigning Israeli champions, but they will have to improve on their poor record against French opposition (W3, D1, L6).
Visiting Rennes won convincingly (3-0) in the reverse H2H two months ago, marking their third victory in four UEL outings so far (L1) and contributing to their current three-point lead at the top of the group. The Red and Blacks will aim to secure back-to-back competitive wins for the first time this season, after a 3-1 victory against Reims last weekend ended a concerning streak of five winless matches in Ligue 1.
In what could possibly be a good omen, Les Rennais won 2-1 against Panathinaïkós in their last UEL trip, and on the previous occasion that they won a UEL away match by such a scoreline in 2022/23, they followed it up with a 1-0 triumph over Dinamo Kyiv on neutral ground in Poland. A quick start here is likely to settle any nerves, with Rennes’ three UEL wins this campaign seeing them strike first within ten minutes.
Key battle: Tjaronn Chery contributed to both of Maccabi’s goals last weekend (G1, A1), leading his team to victory in his last ten goal scoring appearances. For the visitors, Amine Gouiri could have an early impact on the match, having scored six of his career’s seven UEL goals within the first 33 minutes.
Hot stat: Maccabi Haifa are the only UEL group stage side yet to score after half-time.