The excitement is building as we head closer to the group stages of the 2022/23 Champions League. On the 17th of August we have the first leg of the Champions League playoff tie between Maccabi Haifa and FK Crvena Zvezda at the Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Maccabi Haifa have the home advantage and will want a lead to take with them to Belgrade next week.
Laku noć, zvezdaši!⚽ 3' Aleksandar Pešić🅰️ Mirko Ivanić⚽ 8' Osman Bukari🅰️ Mirko Ivanić⚽ 84' El Fardu Ben🅰️ Mirko Ivanić⚽ 88' Mirko Ivanić🅰️ Gelor Kanga#zvezdatv #crvenazvezdafk pic.twitter.com/sTpCOIZ87D— ZvezdaTV (@ZvezdaTV_fkcz) August 13, 2022
Laku noć, zvezdaši!⚽ 3' Aleksandar Pešić🅰️ Mirko Ivanić⚽ 8' Osman Bukari🅰️ Mirko Ivanić⚽ 84' El Fardu Ben🅰️ Mirko Ivanić⚽ 88' Mirko Ivanić🅰️ Gelor Kanga#zvezdatv #crvenazvezdafk pic.twitter.com/sTpCOIZ87D
Maccabi Haifa come into the game having last played a competitive fixture in this competition last week.
The Ligat Ha’al season does not begin until next weekend so all their competitive fixtures have come in Champions League qualifying up to this point.
Maccabi Haifa’s most recent fixture was the away leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Apollon Limassol of Cyprus.
The game did not go according to plan and Maccabi Haifa found themselves 2-0 down after only 26 minutes. They managed to avoid conceding another goal and held on to win the tie 4-2 on aggregate having recorded a comprehensive win in the first leg.
Home form in the Champions League is good and Maccabi Haifa are undefeated in their last 6 matches at the Sammy Ofer Stadium.
That run includes wins over Borac Banja Luka, Maribor, Genk, and Apollon Limassol. There have also been draws with Kairat and Olympiakos, the latter of which was this season.
Trends show both teams have scored in 5 of Maccabi Haifa’s 6 most recent home Champions League games.
FK Crvena Zvezda make the trip to the Sammy Ofer Stadium on the back of a comfortable 4-0 win over Voždovac in the Serbian Super Liga on the weekend. That result leaves them 3 points clear at the top of the table having played 5 games.
FK Crvena Zvezda have played 7 competitive fixtures this season and have yet to taste defeat. In fact, they have won all 7 matches, with 2 of the wins coming in Champions League qualifying.
FK Crvena Zvezda entered the tournament at the third qualifying round stage and beat FC Pyunik 7-0 on aggregate, including a 2-0 victory in the second leg which was played away.
However, that was the first win for FK Crvena Zvezda in 4 attempts away from home in the Champions League. Prior to that victory, there were defeats at Kairat and Sheriff plus a penalty shootout loss following a 1-1 draw at Omonia Nicosia in 2020.
Team news and Maccabi Haifa are set to start with Frantzdy Pierrot of Haiti in attack, supported by Dolev Haziza and Dean David on the flanks. Ali Muhammad provides a goal scoring threat from midfield.
FK Crvena Zvezda will have experienced striker Milan Pavkov leading the line. Aleksandar Katai and Osman Bukari are likely to be the duo selected to play behind the striker.
We expect to see goals in this game and for both teams to find the back of the net. Maccabi Haifa have been tough to beat when playing at home in recent Champions League games but FK Crvena Zvezda have got enough about them to come away with a draw.