Maccabi Petach Tikva vs Braga - Europa League
In the first leg in Portugal, Braga secured a 2-0 victory. Consequently, Braga will advance with another win, a draw, or even a loss by the smallest margin. To turn the tables, Maccabi Petach Tikva needs to win by a minimum of three goals. A two-goal victory for Maccabi Petach Tikva would lead to extra time of 30 minutes, followed, if necessary, by a penalty shootout.
Maccabi Petach Tikva and Braga are in the second phase of the four-stage selection process for the Europa League. The winner of this match will face Servette from Switzerland, who are pre-qualified for the semi-finals. The betting recommendation for this Thursday’s match is a win for Braga. For the over/under goals market, the suggestion is to go for the under 2.5 goals option.
Predictions for Maccabi Petach Tikva vs Braga
Braga to Win the Match
Maccabi Petach Tikva has yet to score in the new season. Their offensive efforts have been minimal in the two matches they’ve played so far. To stay alive in the Europa League qualifiers, they need a significant improvement in quality. Similarly, Braga did not display their full potential in their previous encounter. Hence, the prediction of another Braga victory comes recommended for this Thursday’s second-leg match in the 2024/2025 Europa League qualifiers.
Goals Over/Under – Under 2.5 Goals
Despite their low offensive output, Maccabi Petach Tikva will have to take the initiative against Braga. While Braga may adopt a more cautious approach, they are unlikely to stay solely on the defensive. Therefore, opting for the goals over/under market for predictions in Thursday’s second-leg match of the 2024/2025 Europa League qualifiers, the recommendation is for the under 2.5 goals option.
Latest News and Stats for Maccabi Petach Tikva
Four shots on target. That’s what Maccabi Petach Tikva managed in their first two matches of the season. All of these attempts came in the match against Maccabi Tel Aviv during the Israeli Super Cup, which ended in a 2-0 defeat, showing no sign of resistance. Their performance against Braga was even worse.
In the first leg of the Europa League qualifiers quarter-finals, the match concluded without a single shot on target.
The team barely created any threats against the Portuguese squad. They had just 35% ball possession and managed to generate only three shooting opportunities throughout the game. Coach Dan Roman set up Maccabi Petach Tikva with five defenders, three midfielders, and two forwards. For the return leg, needing a victory by at least three goals, the coach is likely to adopt a more offensive strategy.
Latest News and Statistics of Braga
The first leg against Maccabi Petach Tikva marked the debut of coach Daniel Sousa with Braga. He took over the position following the resignation of Artur Jorge, who left the club before last season’s end to take a job offer from Botafogo. The new manager lined up the team with four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers, similar to the setup used by his predecessor.
The start was not particularly thrilling, as Braga only managed two shots on goal in the first half. However, they became far more aggressive in the second half, creating 14 shooting chances, with half of them on target. The scoring opened at the 11-minute mark thanks to Ricardo Horta, assisted by Bruma. Three minutes later, Zalazar secured the win with a penalty.
