Shakhtar Donetsk vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Predictions

• Four of Shakhtar Donetsk’s last five competitive games have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
• The hosts have only lost one of their last 13 home matches in the Europa League.
• Under 2.5 goals have been scored in four of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s last five away matches.

Shakhtar to grind out victory

Goals from Alan Patrick and Tete helped Shakhtar to a routine 2-0 victory during last week’s first-leg in Tel Aviv and the Ukrainian champions will fancy their chances of repeating that trick on Thursday.

Luis Castro’s side reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season and they have only lost one of their last 13 home games in the competition, with that sole defeat coming after extra time.

Matches involving Shakhtar have not yielded many goals of late, as under 2.5 have been scored in four of their last five competitive games.

Shakhtar also scored just two home goals during this season’s Champions League group stage, but they were still able to take four points from matches with Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Goals have also been at a premium in games involving Maccabi of late, particularly away from home, as four of their last five matches on the road have seen under 2.5 goals scored.

The Israeli outfit have triumphed in six away games on the bounce, but their Europa League record on the road is not so good, as they have won just one of their last eight away matches in the competition.

We are predicting more away misery for Maccabi on Thursday, although given the lack of goals involving both sides of late, our overall prediction is for under 2.5 goals to be scored in the match.