Maccabi Haifa FC vs Gent Prediction & Betting Tips - Conference League

Prediction published on 13/02/2024, 15:00  by Kennedy Kechula in Conference League Predictions

Maccabi Haifa will host the first leg of their Europa Conference League knockout playoff round with KAA Gent. Israeli side Maccabi dropped into Europe’s third-tier club competition after finishing third in their Europa League group. Messay Dego’s men won just one game in six outings and finished the group with five points. As they arrive for this match in fine form, they will be confident of prolonging their European campaign this season. The Israeli heavyweights have won three of their last five games and are currently on a two-game winning run. They defeated Beitar Jerusalem 2-0 away from home last time 0ut. The two losses Maccabi have suffered in their last five outings are their only setbacks since November. This match will be played in Hungary due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

KAA Gent advanced to this stage after they finished second in their Conference League group. Hein van Haezebrouck’s men won four of six games and finished with 13 points. Were it not for a 3-1 defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in their final group match, the Belgian side would have finished top. That loss ended their unbeaten start to the competition. La Gantoise haven’t been able to recover since that loss and have won just twice since then. Gent come into this match without a win in six outings and have lost five times. They were defeated 2-1 last time out at home by Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League. The second leg of this tie will be played six days later with the winner on aggregate advancing to the round of 16.