Maccabi Haifa carries a slender advantage into the second leg of the third round qualifying against Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League. The Greens earned a good 2-1 victory in the previous week’s match in Slovakia. They are hoping to thwart any comeback attempts from Bratislava in the rematch.
Preview (Maccabi Haifa vs Slovan Bratislava)
Last week, three goals in the first 15 minutes at the Tehelne Pole Stadion raised hopes for more, but no other team scored, and Maccabi won 2-1. Frantzdy Pierrot and Dia Saba’s goals were crucial in determining the outcome, and they might play similar roles on Tuesday. Messay Dego’s club competed in the Champions League and domestic Super Cup before the start of the Israeli top division; in the latter, they defeated Beitar Jerusalem 3-1 in the final week of July.
The Greens aim for consecutive participation at the highest level of Europe. They experienced the group stage of Europe’s top club competition for the first time in 13 years last season. The playoff round awaits the victor of this week’s match. The Israeli team has won both of its home Champions League matches. A third victory will be sufficient to achieve the immediate goal of qualifying for the second round. Slovan Bratislava will see Maccabi’s propensity for giving up goals at the Sammy Ofer Stadium as a positive indicator leading up to Tuesday’s match.
Despite securing victories over Sheriff Tiraspol and Hamrun Spartans, the Greens have given up a goal in each contest. Furthermore, the Israeli club’s lone shutout in 2023–24—a 4-0 victory over Hamrun in the first leg of their first qualifying round match—offers optimism for a successful result. The Sky Blues have never participated in the competition’s current group stage. They are making their third qualifying round appearance for the first time since 2014–15. It will be difficult for them to overcome their past. It’s interesting that Vladimir Weiss’s team won both of their away qualifying matches without giving up a goal, defeating Swift Hesperange 1-0 and Zrinjski 2-0, respectively. This victory has increased Slovakia’s confidence that they will advance.
Team News
Dolev Haziza, a wide attacker, had to be replaced during the first leg and is questionable for this week’s game. Pierrot and Saba were decisive in the previous match. They should start up top for the home team with few changes anticipated. In order to win on Tuesday, Slovan Bratislava will likely use a similar lineup to the one that fell to Slovakia 2-1 a week ago. They will play with a 4-3-3 formation.
It is unknown if wide attacker Vladimir Weiss, who has scored three goals in the qualifying rounds, will be available after missing last week’s practice. If Maccabi wins at home again, they should advance to the playoff round at Slovan’s expense because the visitors haven’t been able to replicate their prior road successes in Israel.
Maccabi Haifa 2 – 1 Slovan Bratislava
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