Maccabi Tel Aviv sit pretty after that 5-0 thrashing of Sheriff last week. The aggregate lead looks massive already, and they play this second leg at Bloomfield Stadium knowing a win would seal progression in Europa League qualifying round two. Sheriff have shown they can grind out results elsewhere, like that 1-0 win and 0-0 draw against Aluminij earlier in July, but those games came against far less threatening opposition.
Standings tell their own story too. Maccabi sit third in the Israeli Premier League with 49 points from 26 matches. Sheriff lead the Moldovan Super Liga, yet that domestic dominance has not translated across the continent. The first leg exposed gaps in their defence that Maccabi exploited ruthlessly.
Injuries hit Maccabi hard though. Ion Nicolaescu remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament tear, Denny Gropper battles fitness issues, and Hisham Layous carries an unknown injury. Still, the squad depth has carried them through so far. Sheriff have no reported absences to speak of, which might help them field a full side but does little to fix the tactical problems on show last week.
Expected lineups for this return fixture remain unclear from recent searches. The first leg predictions included Maccabi names like Melika in goal and a midfield featuring Peretz and Sissokho, while Sheriff lined up with Timbur between the posts. Fresh updates for July 30 have not surfaced, so both sides will likely stick close to what worked or adjust minimally.
And the head-to-head tells the same tale. Only one meeting appears in current records, that same 5-0 result from July 23. Sheriff need something extraordinary here, but the 5-0 deficit leaves little room for error. Maccabi should control proceedings and expect to advance without much drama.
Recommended Bets
Maccabi Tel Aviv -1.5 @1.75 — They won the first leg 5-0 and lead 5-0 on aggregate, so another comfortable margin looks likely at home.
Under 3.5 goals @1.90 — The first leg produced five goals but the return fixture often sees both sides play more cautiously once the tie is largely decided.
Maccabi Tel Aviv to win @1.25 — With a five-goal cushion and home advantage, anything other than a home win would count as a surprise given the form shown.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
