Maccabi Tel Aviv vs FC Porto prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-29 20:00.
[p]Maccabi Tel Aviv face an almost impossible task to sneak into the top 24 of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) table, needing to overturn a significant goal-difference deficit here as well as have multiple other results fall their way. Perhaps the most they can hope for is to ensure that they bow out of the competition with back-to-back wins at their temporary âhomeâ in Belgrade, while also ensuring that opponents Porto are knocked out alongside them. [/p]
[p]There are more realistic and important ambitions for Maccabi to go after, namely defending their Israeli Premier League title. Theyâve got a fight on their hands to keep up with Hapoel Be’er Sheva at the top of the domestic standings however, and the fact that they only played a league match on Monday night may come into consideration for manager Ćœarko LazetiÄ as he weighs up how to approach this fixture. [/p]
[p]Portoâs destiny isnât entirely in their own hands, but an away victory in Belgrade will give them a fighting chance of getting into the top 24 given that at least one of Midtjylland and Fenerbahçe will drop points when they meet each other on Thursday. A UEL win on the road would be a rare positive result for the Portuguese club, who, following a 2-2 draw at Anderlecht, have now won just one of their last 15 such games in the competition (D5, L9).[/p]
[p]They are also bringing some dreadful recent form into this final matchday, unwillingly constructing a five-game winless run (D1, L4) across three competitions, with the first three of those results contributing to VĂtor Bruno getting sacked. Porto even started as favourites on four of those occasions – a tag theyâll also take with them to Serbia this week – only to find themselves conceding the opening goal every time and unable to claim the ascendancy. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Dor Peretzâs outstanding scoring form over the last two months has also seen him strike before half-time in two of his last three UEL appearances. Samu Aghehowaâs yellow-card ban means that none of Portoâs starters on Thursday will have netted more than one goal in the competition this season, so Brazilian attacker Galeno will be hoping to break an 11-match drought since scoring from the spot at Anderlecht. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Maccabi Tel Avivâs last 11 games have all produced more than 2.5 total goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]