Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-06 20:00.
[p]Ajax are out to prove that their European heritage is not merely a thing of the past, as Francesco Farioli’s men have begun this UEFA Europa League (UEL) league phase nearly perfectly. Matchday one saw them trounce Turkish outfit Beşiktaş 4-0, a scoreline they nearly replicated in their last continental outing when beating Qarabağ 3-0. Sandwiched in between was their only blemish, being a 1-1 draw away to Slavia Prague. [/p]
[p]Since that stalemate in the Czech Republic, the multiple UEFA title winners have indeed been perfect with six straight wins on the trot in all competitions. Making it lucky number seven would not only see them break the deadlock of one win each in their two prior matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv, but take a 3-2 lead in H2Hs against sides from Israel too. [/p]
[p]Maccabi themselves are looking to establish supremacy over teams from the Netherlands, having won and lost three of their eight matches against Dutch opposition in the past (D2). Manager Žarko Lazetić will be feeling the pressure to make that a reality, since his troops have not only begun their league phase campaign with a dismal three defeats, but his resting of some players and a missed penalty at the weekend saw them drop off the top of the Israeli Premier League standings.[/p]
[p]The Yellows went down 2-1 to both Braga and Real Sociedad either side of a 2-0 loss to Midtjylland, putting their proud record of having made the knockout rounds in each of their last three appearances in the main draw of a UEFA competition in jeopardy. The travelling fans will be hopeful their team’s impressive record on the road in Europe will come and bail them out here, with Maccabi winning five of their last seven away games on the continental circuit (D1, L1).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ajax will be looking to Kenneth Taylor to get them off to a fast start, since he scored the match opener in five of his last seven goalscoring appearances. Maccabi’s Dor Turgeman is a specialist in getting out of the blocks quickly himself, since 11 of his last 13 goals in all competitions were before half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Both of these sides saw exactly one first-half goal scored in each of their UEL league phase games this season. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Peter Stavrinou[/i][/p]