Benfica vs Maccabi Haifa Predictions

• At least four goals have been scored in three of Benfica’s five home matches this season
• At least four goals have been scored in five of Maccabi Haifa’s last eight contests.
• At least four goals have been scored in three of Benfica’s last four home Champions League games.

Goals look assured when Greens go to the Luz

An open, attacking affair is anticipated when Benfica host Maccabi Haifa in Champions League Group H on Tuesday night. The Portuguese giants are priced up as if they can’t lose to the Israeli champions and, although it’s still hard to envisage a win for the Greens, there is much more value in the goal markets.

Maccabi Haifa have the capability to score goals anywhere – as their recent four-goal destruction of Olympiakos in Pireus clearly shows. In Omer Atzily and Frantzdy Pierrot they have a lively combination up front and the coach demands they receive support from attack-minded players all over the pitch.

Barak Bakhar is, without doubt, the best Israeli club manager of his time, having led Hapoel Be’er Sheva to three league titles before taking the Greens to back-to-back championships and now the Champions League. But his record in European away ties does not inspire confidence that Maccabi Haifa will return home with any points.

Coach may regret keeping things open in Lisbon

At Be’er Sheva he oversaw three wins, 10 draws and 11 defeats away from home in Uefa competitions and so far at Maccabi Haifa his away record is two wins, two draws and seven losses. His predisposition to play an open style can bring some chaotic results, such as a 7-2 Europa League play-off defeat to Spurs two years ago.

So while backing over 3.5 goals offers great value here given five of Maccabi’s last eight games have come in cover the mark and three of Benfica’s last five at home too. We have to admit the oddsmakers are right to keep the Eagles short for this game and expect the home side to run out winners in the end.

A 3-1 Benfica victory is taken in correct score betting as the Lisbon side have scored at least three goals in six of their nine competitive games this season. It’s always hard to assess how a team from the Israeli league will fare at a higher level, but the Greens scored in both legs against Crvena Zvezda and Olympiakos and can notch at the Luz too.