Young Boys vs Maccabi Haifa Predictions

• Young Boys have won six of their last nine European home games
• Maccabi Haifa have failed to score in four of their last six Champions League away defeats
• Under 2.5 goals has landed in three of Young Boys’ last four Champions League games

Israeli’s group stage dream in the balance

Maccabi Haifa’s long journey through Champions League qualifying looks set to end in disappointment at the hands of Young Boys in the second leg of their play-off tie.

The Israeli champions are one of only two sides left that entered qualifying at the first round stage and have already dumped out Hamrun Spartans, Sheriff and Slovan Bratislava.

And while a goalless draw in the first leg of the tie with Young Boys means they are still very much in with a chance of making the Champions League group stage draw for the second year running, their away record is a concern.

They lost in Moldova to Sheriff in the second round of qualifying, while they were soundly beaten in all three of their Champions League group stage games last season, including a 7-2 thumping by Paris Saint-Germain.

Bern Boys too hot for Maccabi to handle

Their away record domestically last season was patchy too and while they can make life hard for Young Boys, the Swiss champions look the right side to be on for this clash.

Young Boys are odds-on to qualify for the group stage for the second time in three years and have a good record at home in Europe, winning six of their last nine continental matches at the Wankdorf Stadium.

Despite drawing a blank in Israel, Young Boys look to have the better attacking options with Jean-Pierre Nsame and Cedric Itten amongst the goals regularly during the early part of the season.

That superior cutting edge should prove decisive in a meeting between two sides that looked well matched,