Who will get the better start?
In the 2nd round of the qualifying phase for the UEFA Champions League there is already a prominent duel, as Maccabi Haifa will take on Olympiakos Piraeus and especially the guests from Greece have a greater tradition in Europe.
No doubt, however, Olympiakos would have liked an opponent who is not so prominent. Maccabi have a lot of quality in their squad and will certainly make it anything but easy for the Greeks, but the visitors are equipped.
In the run-up to the match between Maccabi Haifa and Olympiakos Piraeus, the betting odds show that the visitors from Greece are slightly favoured going into this game. However, the fact that this duel will still be open after the first leg, which kicks off at 7pm on Wednesday, is considered quite realistic.
Maccabi Haifa – Statistics & current form
Maccabi Haifa has a great tradition in European football. The club from Israel has played in the UEFA Champions League several times in the past. The road there is a long one, the qualification in the duel with Olympiakos alone will be a difficult undertaking. In addition, there is still uncertainty about the current form, the match against the Greeks is the second competitive match of the 2022/23 season.
The first encounter was the Super Cup against Hapoel Beer Sheva, which was lost on penalties. Maccabi Haifa won the championship in Israel in the previous season and are among the hottest candidates again this season, but they have good competition. The end of last season, which is necessary to assess the longer-term form curve, did not read too outstanding overall.
In the last seven competitive games, Maccabi Haifa suffered four defeats. There were also some weaker results in preparation, even though there was a lot of testing. Now it’s time for the real thing, which makes this game a first real stocktaking exercise.
Maccabi Haifa rely on home strength
Maccabi Haifa also played internationally in the previous season, then in the Conference League, because they failed to qualify for the Champions League. In the Conference League, the team was already eliminated in the group stage, and the performances on the international stage were not too good. Nationally, the situation was somewhat different, as Maccabi Haifa won 18 of the 26 games in the domestic league.
Especially at home, the record was very strong. Ten wins, only one defeat in 13 games: Maccabi presented itself very well at home and, above all, stood extremely compact. In the 13 home games in the domestic league, only nine goals were conceded. That should be an indication of what to expect in this match. That’s why, ahead of the Maccabi Haifa vs Olympiakos Piraeus match, our prediction is also that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
Predicted line-up of Maccabi Haifa:
Cohen – Sundgren, Goldberg, Planic, Cornud – Lavi, Mohamed, Abu Fani, Atzili, Tchibota – Pierrot
Last matches played by Maccabi Haifa:
Super Cup
17/07/2022 – Maccabi Haifa (3)1 – 1(4) Hapoel Beer Sheva
Friendly club matches
12/07/2022 – Vitesse Arnhem 1 – 0 Maccabi Haifa
09/07/2022 – KV Mechelen 1 – 0 Maccabi Haifa
Cup
25/05/2022 – Hapoel Beer Sheva 3.2 – 2.1 Maccabi Haifa
Ligat HaAl Championship Group
22/05/2022 – Maccabi Haifa 4 – 0 Maccabi Netanya
Olympiakos Piraeus – Statistics & current form
Compared to Maccabi Haifa, Olympiakos is the slightly bigger name, especially in recent years in the Champions League. There, the Greeks have played a role more often and have been able to annoy one or the other top club. Before the match between Maccabi Haifa and Olympiakos Piraeus, the odds also show the Greeks as slight favourites in the first leg. However, this will not be an easy task, as a lot of resistance can be expected.
Olympiakos have not yet played a single competitive match, and the two games against the Israeli representatives in the qualifying phase for the Champions League are the first acid tests. Last year’s champions in Greece now have the chance to start the new season with a good result and a good game.
Both clubs have one thing in common and that is a very large squad. The visitors have seen a lot of movement on the market, some loan returns and still players who are to be released but are still part of the squad. As a result, there are over 40 players in the line-up, which does not make it easy for the coaching team to make decisions either.
Olympiakos wants to get individual class on the pitch
Individually, the Greeks have advantages. With players like Vaclik, Semedo, Vrsaljko, M’Vila or Soares, there are also some well-known players in the ranks of the guests. If they manage to get this individual class on the pitch, Olympiakos Piraeus will have a good chance to set the course for the next round.
At the end of the season, the Greeks had a very solid record, as they did not lose any of their last seven matches. In addition, there were hardly any defeats in the league anyway, this team had the best defence and the best offence in Greece. Nationally, therefore, it is fair to say that Olympiakos Piraeus are the measure of all things.
All in all, there is a lot to suggest that the visitors have a very good chance of a positive result. Therefore, before the match Maccabi Haifa vs. Olympiakos Piraeus, our value tip is that the visitors will win. Bookmaker 888Sport, which Wettbasis tested, offers interesting odds of 2.55.
Predicted line-up of Olympiakos Piraeus:
Vaclik – Vrsaljko, Sokratis, Manolas, Reabciuk – M’Vila, Camara, Joao Carvalho, Valbuena, Zinckernagel – El Arabi
Last matches played by Olympiakos Piraeus:
Friendly club matches
10/07/2022 – Olympiakos Piraeus 1 – 0 AZ Alkmaar
02/07/2022 – RB Salzburg 3 – 1 Olympiakos Piraeus
24/06/2022 – Ried 2 – 0 Olympiakos Piraeus
Super League Playoff Grp.
17/05/2022 – AEK Athens 2 – 3 Olympiakos Piraeus
14/05/2022 – Olympiakos Piraeus 1 – 1 PAOK Thessaloniki FC
Maccabi Haifa – Olympiakos Piraeus Direct comparison / H2H-balance
Two head-to-head meetings between these two teams have already taken place, that was in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League group stage. In Greece, the two tied 3-3, while in Israel, Maccabi Haifa won 3-0, giving Maccabi a narrow lead in the head-to-head comparison.
Maccabi Haifa – Olympiakos Piraeus Tip
The start of the season is still associated with a certain uncertainty for many clubs. However, the fact that such an important match is coming up at this time is part of the nature of things. Maccabi Haifa are strong at home, while Olympiakos Piraeus have a slightly better individual line-up.
In the run-up to the match between Maccabi Haifa and Olympiakos Piraeus, our tip is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored overall. This is not unusual for a first leg. Besides, both teams have shown in the past that they have good defensive lines.
