Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Nice Match Analysis and Prediction

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Maccabi Tel Aviv and Nice will face off for a spot in the Europa Conference League group stage over the next week, starting with Thursday’s qualifying playoff round first-leg tie at the Bloomfield Stadium.

The French outfit enter the third-tier tournament at this stage, while their Israeli hosts have brushed aside Zira and Aris Thessaloniki in the previous rounds to make it this far.

Beginning the 2022-23 season with an early elimination from the Toto cup Ligat Al was not the ideal preparation for Maccabi Tel Aviv to initiate proceedings, but they are still in contention for a spot in the Europa Conference League proper.

Having gotten the better of Zira 3-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round, the 24-time Israeli champions were seemingly home and dry after claiming a 2-0 advantage over Aris in the first leg of their third-round tie before the Greek side threatened a second-leg comeback.

Andre Gray scored from the spot for Aris before Cheick Doukoure netted a second for his side, but in between Aris’ goals, Eran Zahavi had come off the bench to score what would prove to be the crucial goal for Maccabi.

An opening 1-1 stalemate with newly-promoted Toulouse saw Nice begin their new era in a slightly disappointing style without Christophe Galtier in the hotseat, and they played out another draw at the weekend against Strasbourg.

Nice were awarded a penalty in the 35th minute when Gerzino Nyamsi fell Amine Gouiri, with Andy Delort stepping up to fire home, but Kevin Gameiro snicked the previously impenetrable Kasper Schmeichel early in the second half to restore parity for Les Coureurs.

Now focusing in continental competition for over a year, Nice aim to translate their domestic improvements into better fortunes on the continent dropping out in the group stage of the 2020-23 Europa League.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Nice head to head

The two teams have not previously met in any competition and this will be their first meeting in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifying playoff-round tie.

Maccabi Tel Aviv latest home form

Maccabi have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They defeated Aris 2-0 in their last home game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded two.

Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 Maccabi Netanya 07/05/22

Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-1 Hapoel Be’er Sheva 16/05/22

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-0(P) Maccabi Netanya 14/07/22

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-0 Zira 28/07/22

Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 Aris 04/08/22

Maccabi Tel Aviv latest away form

Maccabi have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having lost two of their three most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Aris in their last away game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded five.

Maccabi Haifa 1-3 Maccabi Tel Aviv 10/05/22

Hapoel Tel Aviv 0-2 Maccabi Tel Aviv 21/05/22

Westerlo 2-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv 02/07/22

Zira 0-3 Maccabi Tel Aviv 21/07/22

Aris 2-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv 11/08/22

Nice latest home form

Nice have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their five most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded seven.

Nice 1-3 Lille 14/05/22

Nice 1-1 Cercle Brugge 09/07/22

Nice 0-2 Fulham 16/07/22

Nice 1-0 Torino 30/07/22

Nice 1-1 Strasbourg 14/08/22

Nice latest away form

Nice have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Toulouse in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded seven.

Bordeaux 0-1 Nice 01/05/22

Reims 2-3 Nice 21/05/22

Benfica 3-0 Nice 15/07/22

Roma 1-1 Nice 23/07/22

Toulouse 1-1 Nice 07/08/22

Maccabi Tel Aviv news

Vladimir Ivic will have to make do without the suspended Dan Glazer after he was sent off just before the hour mark in the 2-1 defeat to Aris Thessaloniki.

That opens a spot in the midfield for Eyal Golosa to partner Joris van Overeem, while left-back Ofir Davidzada is still nursing a groin injury.

Nice news

The Nice duo of Hichem Boudaoui and Kasper Dolberg missed the draw with Strasbourg due to back and shoulder injuries respectively.

Morgan Schneiderlin, Alexis Trouillet and Lucas Da Cunha are not expected to be part of the group either, while either Alexis Claude-Maurice or Aaron Ramsey could replace Rares Ilie.

Prediction and Odds

There could be some complacency that may have crept into Maccabi Tel Aviv’s play during their second leg with Aris, and the hosts certainly head into the contest as underdogs.

Nice were largely indebted to Schmeichel for keeping the scoreline at 1-1 at the weekend, but their attacking forces should earn them a win.

Odds: 1 2.28 X 2.00 2 2.15