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Maccabi Haifa vs Crvena zvezda

Maccabi Haifa to draw 1-1 with Crvena zvezda- 11/2!

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Maccabi Haifa vs Red Star Belgrade

August 17, 2022

8:00 pm GMT+1

Secondary tip of the day

Maccabi Haifa vs Crvena zvezda

Both teams to score- 1/1!

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Match preview

Given that Crvena zvezda come into this tie as slight-favourites, will they leave Israel with a first leg advantage?

Red Star Belgrade were European Champions as recently as 1991, but then went 27 years without qualifying for the Champions League group phase.

Nevertheless, since 2017, the Serbian champions have always featured in a group stage of some kind, twice in the Champions League and thrice in the Europa League.

In fact, Crvena zvezda reached the Europa League round of 16 last year, bowing out to Rangers, their longest continental adventure since lifting the European Cup 31 years ago.

This season, the Serbian champions began in the third qualifying round, easily swatting aside Pyunik.

Dejan Stanković's team won 5-0 at home, before last Tuesday’s 2-0 victory in Yerevan, featuring goals from Guélor Kanga and Milan Pavkov.

Overall, Red Star Belgrade have now won 18 of their last 20 qualification ties, so come into this full of confidence.

Maccabi Haifa though are hopeful of springing a surprise, having won back-to-back Israeli Premier League titles, despite not being champions for a decade beforehand.

In Europe, the Greens appeared in a first UEFA group stage since 2013, this coming in the Europa Conference League.

Having not got into the Champions League since 2009, Barak Bakhar’s side are desperate for this historic achievement.

So far, Maccabi Haifa have caused a huge upset by hammering Olympiacos 4-0 in Greece, before seeing off Apollon Limassol, also thanks to a 4-0 win, this coming at home.

Last Tuesday, they then found themselves 2-0 after just 27 minutes in Nicosia, but that first leg advantage did prove insurmountable.

This tie is likely to be a much tighter affair, but will there be a winner at Sammy Ofer Stadium?