Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Gorica Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Maccabi Tel Aviv are one of the strongest sides participating in the 1st Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League. They were one of the two outstanding teams in Israel last season and ultimately finished 2 points behind champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva but 23 points clear of the 3rd place team. They went 21 games unbeaten between December and the end of the campaign and are one of the few sides in this round who could potentially go all the way to the groups, something they last managed in 2013.

Maccabi were of course in the Champions League group stage last season and although they lost all 6 matches it should offer some indication into their comparative quality against Gorica who have only won 1 of their last 14 Europa League games and have lost all of their last 7 qualifying ties.

They finished 4th in Slovenia last season which isn’t anything to get too excited about given there are only 1o teams in the league. Interestingly they won more games away than at home and ended the season with 3 consecutive home defeats so they don’t exactly have a formidable home record to rely on if things don’t go well here.

In truth they are unlikely to progress from this tie and the Israelis should have enough to put 2 goals between themselves and the Slovenians here. They will have learnt from their experience in the Champions League last term and are arguably a better side now. Against Gorica, who ended last season with a negative goal difference in a fairly weak league, they should be far too strong and backing Maccabi Tel Aviv -1.5, -2.0 Asian Handicap at 2.050 looks to offer real value here.