Matchday 6 of the 2024/25 Europa League group stage between Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) and RFS (Latvia) will take place on December 12 at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade, Serbia. Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. RFS: prediction, betting odds, and statistics.
Predicted lineups for Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. RFS
Maccabi Tel Aviv (4-3-3): Roy Mishpati – Stav Lemkin, Nemanja Stojic, Raz Shlomo, Sagiv Yehezkel – Dor Peretz, Joris van Overeem, Gavriel Kanichowsky – Ocher Davida, Dor Turgeman, Weslley Pinto Batista.
RFS (3-5-2): Josue Ondoa – Ziga Lipuscek, Herdi Prenga, Daniels Balodis – Lasha Odisharia, Dmitrijs Zelenkovs, Stefan Panic, Adam Marhiev, Roberts Savalnieks – Janis Ikaunieks, Alen Kwadwo.
The starting lineup for each team is based on their previous match in this tournament.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
The Israeli club secured their first victory in the group stage in the fifth round, defeating Besiktas 3-1. This win allowed Maccabi to climb from second-to-last place in the Europa League standings to 31st. The team has reduced the gap to the playoff zone to two points. However, Tel Aviv's club has failed to keep a clean sheet, conceding in six consecutive Europa League matches.
- At least three goals have been scored in 8 of Maccabi's last 9 Europa League matches.
- The team has an uncompromising streak of 12 matches in the second most prestigious European competition (6 wins, 6 losses).
- No fewer than two goals have been scored in the second half in 6 of the club's last 8 Europa League games.
RFS
Unlike their upcoming opponents, the Riga team has yet to secure a victory in the main stage of the Europa League (2 draws, 3 losses). Their winless streak in this tournament has extended to six matches in regular time, following a 0-2 defeat to PAOK in the last round. RFS's run of conceding goals in the Europa League surpasses Maccabi's, with a streak of seven matches. In the standings of the second-tier European competition, the team is in 34th place, with a negative goal difference (4:10).
- Both teams scored in 5 of Riga's last 7 Europa League matches.
- The team found the net in 7 of their last 9 matches in this tournament.
- RFS won with a handicap (+1.5) in 8 of their last 10 Europa League encounters.
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. RFS: Match Prediction
The Israeli team managed to defeat Besiktas in the previous round, but it's worth noting that this was not an away game in Turkey, but on neutral ground in Hungary. The upcoming match will also be played away from their home country, but Maccabi has become accustomed to playing away from their stadium. I believe the club has every chance to build on their success, considering the level of their upcoming opponent and the fact that RFS's domestic league season ended in November, making it difficult for the Riga team to maintain match fitness.
Even on their home turf in the last Europa League round, the Latvian club could not put up a worthy fight against a not particularly strong opponent – PAOK, deservedly losing. Over a longer stretch in the Europa League, the team's results are disappointing, with losses in 4 of their last 6 matches in regular time (2 draws).
I believe that the Israeli club, now on a winning path, should handle such an opponent. My prediction: Victory for Maccabi Tel Aviv