Tuesday 05/08/2014, 20:00, Champions League Qualifiers, Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maribor
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maribor Preview
It is only fair to say that both teams are probably surprised by their positive performance in the Champions League Qualifiers. Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maribor can reach the final stage of the playoffs and everything is possible after the first leg resulted in a narrow margin victory for the hosts. Maccabi Tel Aviv defended brilliantly for 90 min. but eventually went down by the odd goal and will now try to reverse that result.
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maribor Odds
At Totepool
Maccabi Tel Aviv 1.85, Draw 3.40, Maribor 4.50
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maribor Tips
When the match started, it looked like Maccabi Tel Aviv was going to be the more offensive team, as they used three strikers from the very beginning. It is not common for the visiting team to field such an offensive starting formation, but this is exactly what they did. Despite having three players deep into enemy territory, the visitors failed to score and don't have too many options for the second leg.
Maribor was running a hot streak at the moment and have no intention to allow the visitors to stop them in their tracks. Ibraimi and Mendy played together in the offensive but none of them found a way to the net and it was a defender who scored the decisive goal in the final minute of overtime. It was a huge victory for the Slovenian team who now needs to score once on the road to be almost certain of qualification.
The biggest problem for Maccabi Tel Aviv is that even though they are considered to be playing at home, they won't enjoy the support of their fans. Due to the ongoing war, the match will not be played in Israel, but in Cyprus where not many fans are expected to attend. So far, this proved to be a deadly combination for the teams from this country playing in European competitions, as all of them were eliminated.
Key Facts
- Maribor played five games in the last three weeks and lost none of them, while winning four in a row, all of them in front of their fans.
- Maccabi Tel Aviv kept a clean sheet in three of the last four games, allowing the losing goal in the fifth minute of overtime.
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maribor Prediction
Home pitch advantage shouldn't be factored in here, so there is no point in backing the hosts to win outright. Maribor proved to be a strong defensive team and now that they only have to defend a narrow margin win, they should be able to stop the Israelis in their tracks.
Bet: Maribor or Draw @ 1.85 with Totepool
