Israel champions Maccabi Haifa will host Greek Super League champions Olympiacos on Wednesday in the Champions League second qualifying round. The first leg will be played in at Haifa’s Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Neither of these teams have started their domestic campaigns, although Maccabi Haifa are coming off of a loss in the Israeli Super Cup. Maccabi Haifa drew 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes with Hapoel but lost 4-3 on penalties.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/SSqdSZ6Ysc— Maccabi Haifa FC (@mhfootballclub) July 16, 2022
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/SSqdSZ6Ysc
Fitness could be lacking between these sides when they meet. Maccabi Haifa may have played a match already, but they are still progressing through the preseason toward defending their title in Israel.
Olympiacos failed to get past the Champions League qualifiers last season. They reached the third qualifying round before being dumped out by Ludogorets.
Manager Pedro Martins has a strong squad heading into the first leg. On paper, Olympiacos are the stronger side and during the offseason, the Greek Super League side have brought in further players to strengthen the squad.
Former Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid full-back Sime Vrsaljko has joined Olympiacos on a free transfer. He will be in line to make his debut for the club. Right wing Philip Zinckernagel has arrived from Watford in very smart move by Olympiacos. He too could start.
Martins has also signed centre-forward Aboubaker Kamara to go along with incumbent attacker Youssef El Arabi. El Arabi scored 19 goals combined in the Europa League and Super League last season.
Maccabi Haifa have been active in the transfer market as well. Their big signing is Frantzdy Pierrot, who has arrived from France’s Guingamp this summer.
The team’s new No. 9 scored 15 goals in 36 Ligue 2 matches last season. He should provide plenty of goals this term. Manager Barak Bakhar is likely to get Pierrot time on the pitch to get goals versus Olympiacos.
Bakhar will likely be without forward Ben Sahar due to injury, which could give Pierrot the chance to start. Right-back Raz Meir is also a doubt to make the squad due to an injury.
Martins, on the other hand, may be without a host of key players due to not being eligible to play for the club at the moment. Several players won’t be in line to play for Olympiacos until the end of the month.
It is going to be hot in Haifa on Wednesday with highs of 30 forecasted. The heatwave sweeping across Europe could play havoc with the players.
Wednesday’s second qualifying round match should finish in a 1-1 draw with neither side able to get the upper hand in the end.