Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
Beşiktaş have turned their Europa League campaign around with two consecutive victories following a pair of defeats. On home soil, the Turkish side will host tournament outsiders Maccabi Tel Aviv. The visitors have significant issues both in attack and defence, and it seems unlikely they will take any points from this encounter.
Beşiktaş
Beşiktaş's recent successes in the Europa League have improved their standing in the tournament. Their defence held firm against Olympique lyonnais (1:0), where the French side failed to capitalise on their 2.81 xG advantage. However, Beşiktaş also had opportunities to score more, with 12 shots and 1.82 xG. Against Malmö, the Turkish club attacked effectively, managing 14 shots and scoring twice. Notably, in the Turkish league over the weekend, they suffered a defeat to Göztepe (2:4) but still managed to score two well-deserved goals (12 shots and 1.38 xG).
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv sit at the bottom of the group table with four losses and only two goals scored. Although they occasionally create chances, they struggle against more formidable opponents. In their match against Ajax (0:5), the Israelis managed 11 shots but registered only 1 xG. Their primary issues lie in defence, conceding an average of 2.75 goals per match in the Europa League. They've faced the Turks before, though 13 years ago, and were defeated both times (2:3 and 1:5).
Beşiktaş vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction
Beşiktaş are in a stronger position due to their more consistent play. It's important to note that Maccabi not only haven't registered any points but also make numerous defensive errors, which the Turkish club are set to exploit.
