Gent vs Maccabi Haifa prediction and betting tips on February 21, 2024
On Wednesday evening, the return leg of the 1/16 finals of the Conference League between Gent and Maccabi Haifa will be played at the Ghelamco Arena in Belgium. Will Gent manage to seek redemption on home soil? Here's the prediction for this match from our website's experts.
Gent
Belgians secured the second position in their Conference League group stage, conceding the top spot to Maccabi Tel Aviv, precisely the Israeli side they are facing now, Maccabi Haifa. Despite a home victory of 2-0, the "Buffaloes" suffered a 1-3 defeat in the return fixture. It's worth noting that Hein Vanhaezebrouck's side is enduring a rather mediocre run of form currently. Gent claimed victory in their last league match against Eupen (2-0), one of the underdogs.
This win finally ended their winless streak of seven matches in all competitions, including five in the Jupiler League. Currently, Gent sits merely in fifth place in the league table, trailing the leader Union Saint-Gilloise by a significant 20 points. At home, the "Buffaloes" have managed just six wins in thirteen matches, suffering two defeats.
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa struggled to make an impact in the Europa League group stage, finishing third behind Villarreal and Rennes. Their crucial away victory against Greek side Panathinaikos in the final matchday enabled them to leapfrog the Greeks in the standings.
Ahead of the match in Belgium, Messay Dego's team comes off a 1-1 draw at home against Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli championship. Currently, Maccabi Haifa leads the league. They've amassed 49 points in 22 matches, leading their closest competitor by just three points.
Interesting Match Facts and Head-to-Head History
- The first leg between these teams ended in a minimal 1-0 victory for the Israeli club, although the "Buffaloes" arguably didn't deserve to lose based on their performance.
Gent vs Maccabi Haifa Prediction
The "Buffaloes" appear to be the favorites for this match, although it won't be straightforward for them. We believe Gent may secure victory in the home match, yet it's uncertain whether the fate of qualification will be decided in regular time.Our bet is "Gent to win" with odds of 1.93.
