Fiorentina vs Maccabi Haifa prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-03-13 17:45.
[p]A sensational comeback in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) last 16 tie means Fiorentina remain on course to repeat their run to the 2022/23 final. La Viola scored a 90th-minute goal to beat Maccabi Haifa 4-3 last week, although manager Vincenzo Italiano was in no mood to celebrate, warning his players they “cannot be that superficial” in Europe.[/p]
[p]They followed up that result with a 2-2 draw against Roma in Serie A on Sunday evening, although they were left with a feeling of what could have been after conceding a stoppage-time minute equaliser. Even so, that extended the club’s unbeaten run to five matches (W2, D3) across all competitions, while they have lost only one of their last 12 outings at Stadio Artemio Franchi (W9, D2).[/p]
[p]The visitors will look to put a rare puncture in that record, as they target a first quarter-final in a UEFA competition since the 1997/98 Cup Winners’ Cup. However, a miserable record of six UECL away games without a victory (D2, L4) inspires little confidence for the Greens, who have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their eight European fixtures on the road this season (W4, D1, L3).[/p]
[p]As if that’s not enough, Messay Dego’s side were also beaten 2-1 by Maccabi Bnei Reineh at the weekend, meaning they are at risk of suffering three successive defeats for the first time since June 2020. That result was a costly one too, as it ended their three-year reign as Israel Premier League champions, with rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv taking the title. They will therefore be desperate to give the fans something to cheer about by reaching the next round.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Fiorentina’s Nicolás González has helped his team to victory in each of the six UECL games he has scored in. Fighting him for supremacy might be Maccabi Haifa forward Anan Khalaily, who is attempting to net in a third game running for the second time this season, while eight of the nine matches he has scored in have contained 3+ goals. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: 18 of Fiorentina’s last 23 UECL fixtures have produced 3+ goals.[/p]