Greek champions Olympiakos will host Maccabi Haifa at the Karaiskakis Stadium for the 2nd leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday with this upcoming tie nicely poised with the scores level at 1-1.
The winners of this tie are due to meet Apollon Limassol in the 3rd qualifying round of these Champions League qualifying stages and Olympiakos possess an impressive pedigree.
🔴⚪🦁 #Olympiacos #UCL #OLYMAC #Countdown #2days #Manolas @ChampionsLeague @mhfootballclub pic.twitter.com/VWcHlmxT8G— Olympiacos FC (47🏆) (@olympiacosfc) July 25, 2022
🔴⚪🦁 #Olympiacos #UCL #OLYMAC #Countdown #2days #Manolas @ChampionsLeague @mhfootballclub pic.twitter.com/VWcHlmxT8G
The hosts breezed to another domestic league title at the end of last season, claiming the Greek Super League by a significant margin of 19 points.
It will be Olympiakos' aim to put their pre-season form aside and focus instead on their impressive home record over the last 12 months, where they have lost just three of their last 28 competitive games.
Martins has a large squad at his disposal and will have to make some big decisions about who starts and who misses out, with the likes of Pipa and Vrsaljko vying for a place at right-back while midfielders Camara, Kunde and Valbuena will be looking for starting places.
A 1-1 draw against Olympiakos in last week’s 1st leg at their Sammy Ofer Stadium ended Maccabi Haifa's four-game losing streak across all competitions.
But nevertheless, the Israeli visitors may feel they have missed an opportunity to gain a foothold in this 2nd qualifying round tie.
Although the scores are still level at 1-1, a four-match losing streak beforehand in all competitions does not bode well for Maccabi Haifa who had previously suffered defeats against Hapoel Be’er Sheva (in the domestic State Cup and Super Cup), both of which were on penalties.
In addition, pre-season friendlies against Mechelen and Vitesse also ended in defeats while results away from home at Champions League level have also been disappointing where the Israeli outfit have been concerned.
Six defeats out of their last seven outings on the road in this competition have seen Maccabi Haifa being handed losses at Bordeaux, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Borac Banja Luka, Genk and Kairat and this upcoming trip to the Karaiskakis Stadium cxould be as equally difficult for the visitors.
With regards team news, Maccabi Haifa midfielder Mahmoud Jaber is out of action after sustaining a thigh injury in earlier this month's Israeli Super Cup and will miss this encounter.
Olympiakos with home advantage should have what it takes to seal a result here.