Gent vs Maccabi Haifa prediction 21.02.2024

• Competition: Europa Conference League 1/16 Finals, Second Leg
• Date: Wednesday, 21st February 2024
• Kickoff: 17:00 UTC / 18:00 CET
• Venue: KAA Gent Arena (Gent)

Following a 1:0 victory for the Israeli champions, Maccabi Haifa, on a neutral pitch in the first leg, the second leg of the Europa Conference League 1/16 Final will see them go head-to-head with Gent at the KAA Gent Arena in Belgium.

In the past two seasons, Gent were only the fifth-best team in Belgium. However, they kicked off this year in an impressive manner, suggesting they could enjoy more success. Unfortunately, their performance following the winter break was disappointing, as they lost six out of seven matches across all competitions. They finally broke this losing streak with a 2:0 victory against Eupen in the most recent round.

Maccabi Haifa has consistently proven to be Israel’s top team, having clinched the last three league titles. Currently, they are leading the league with 49 points, three ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv who is in second place, even though they’ve played one more game. However, their success has not been as prominent in Europe, given that they’ve only reached the knockout phase five times. Advancing to the 1/8 Finals would undoubtedly mark one of the most significant achievements in the club’s history.

Gent vs Maccabi Haifa pick: Under 2.5 goals

Gent’s performance has been dismal since the winter break, securing only four points in eight games and netting seven goals. It’s not that they struggle to create opportunities; their problem lies in failing to convert these chances. This was evident in the first leg against Maccabi Haifa, where despite 20 goal attempts and 1.65 expected goals (xG), they suffered a 1:0 defeat.

Conversely, while Haifa has been consistently scoring against lesser teams in local competitions, they have struggled in the Europe League Group phase this season. Against superior teams, they only managed to score three goals over six rounds, averaging 0.5 per game. Despite scoring against Gent in the first leg, their performance was underwhelming. It is difficult to anticipate a goal from them at the KAA Gent Arena.

Given Gent’s poor performance in the previous game, Haifa’s weak offensive in the Europa League, we are firmly convinced that betting on under 2.5 goals is the most sensible choice for this match.