Maccabi Haifa and Benfica will go head to head on the final matchday at Sammy Ofer Stadium, with the visitors still vying for top spot in Group H of the Champions League.
While the visitors are already through following last week’s win over juventus, they trail PSG on goal difference after drawing both meetings with the French side 1-1.
In their only previous meeting with Benfica back on the opening matchday, a 2-0 defeat in Lisbon set the tone for Maccabi Haifa’s campaign, in which they have been beaten four times out of five while conceding 15 goals in the process.
However, after a 2-0 victory over Juventus in their most recent home match, they are now aiming to record consecutive home wins in European competition for the first time since October 2011.
While that success went down in the record books and provided a small glimmer of hope, Maccabi conceded seven in Paris last time out and definitely cannot reach the last 16.
Benfica hosted Juventus at Estadio da Luz last week looking to secure the double over their Italian counterparts and seal a spot in the Champions League’s last 16.
The Eagles have now collected 11 points from five Group H matches to sit second, just behind first-placed PSG on goal difference.
After extending their unbeaten run to 20 matches, Roger Schmidt’s side added one more to their tally on Saturday, and they currently hold top spot in the Primeira Liga table, now six points clear after beating Chaves 5-0.
Benfica have qualified for the Champions League knockout round for just the second time in their last five attempts, after doing so last year, when they pushed Liverpool all the way in the quarter-finals. With the last-16 draw to be held next Monday, thoughts will soon be turning on going ever further.
Maccabi Haifa vs Benfica head to head
These two teams have previously met on just one occasion in the Champions League on September 6, where Benfica claimed a 2-0 home victory.
Benfica 2-0 Maccabi Haifa 06/09/22
Maccabi Haifa latest home form
Maccabi Haifa have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have won each of their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Ashdod 3-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded four.
Maccabi Haifa 1-3 PSG 14/09/22
Maccabi Haifa 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv 01/10/22
Maccabi Haifa 2-0 Juventus 11/10/22
Maccabi Haifa 1-0 Hapoel Hadera 17/10/22
Maccabi Haifa 3-1 Ashdod 29/10/22
Maccabi Haifa latest away form
Maccabi Haifa have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They lost 7-2 to PSG in their last away game in the Champions League. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded 16.
Hapoel Jerusalem 3-0 Maccabi Haifa 18/09/22
Juventus 3-1 Maccabi Haifa 05/10/22
Maccabi Bnei Raina 1-0 Maccabi Haifa 08/10/22
Ironi Kiryat Shmona 2-3 Maccabi Haifa 22/10/22
PSG 7-2 Maccabi Haifa 25/10/22
Benfica latest home form
Benfica have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their 11 matches this season. They managed to defeat Chaves 5-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 19 goals and conceded six.
Benfica 5-0 Maritimo 18/09/22
Benfica 1-1 PSG 05/10/22
Benfica 4-2 Rio Ave 08/10/22
Benfica 4-3 Juventus 25/10/22
Benfica 5-0 Chaves 29/10/22
Benfica latest away form
Benfica have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have been unbeaten in their 10 most recent matches. They managed to defeat Porto 1-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded three.
Juventus 1-2 Benfica 14/09/22
Vitoria Guimaraes 0-0 Benfica 01/10/22
PSG 1-1 Benfica 11/10/22
Caldas 1-1(P) Benfica 15/10/22
Porto 0-1 Benfica 21/10/22
Maccabi Haifa news
Maccabi Haifa are likely to field a three-man central defence, featuring Abdoulaye Seck who scored a brace in their 7-2 defeat to PSG.
Daniel Sundgren recently joined the hosts’ injury list, and the defender is set to be out of action until early next year, with Dolev Haziza and Mahmoud Jaber also absent.
Benfica news
Schmidt could prefer to name a familiar starting XI on Tuesday, with Fredrik Aursnes, Joao Mario, Rafa Silva and Goncalo Ramos expected to feature.
Silva scored twice in the win over Juventus and also in stoppage time on Saturday, but he is yet to find the net throughout 11 Champions League away matches.
Prediction and Odds
Maccabi Haifa have at least proven they can pose a threat on home soil, but keeping opponents out at the other end has been a far greater challenge for them.
That said, a Benfica team with momentum on their side are set to score more than once, finishing their group campaign in style.
Odds: 1 3.10 X 2.05 2 1.89
Probable outcomes
Maccabi Haifa 0-2 Benfica
Maccabi Haifa 1-3 Benfica
Maccabi Haifa 0-4 Benfica
Maccabi Haifa 1-4 Benfica
Maccabi Haifa 2-4 Benfica
