Maccabi Tel Aviv sit on a commanding 5-0 lead after dismantling Sheriff Tiraspol last week. That result leaves little doubt about who holds the advantage heading into this second leg at Bloomfield Stadium.
Sheriff picked up a win and a draw in their earlier Europa League qualifying ties against Aluminij, yet they have struggled to find any real momentum against stronger opposition. Their domestic form shows them sitting top of the Moldovan Super Liga with 10 points from four matches, but that level hasn't translated here.
Maccabi will be without Ion Nicolaescu after his cruciate ligament tear, while Denny Gropper and Hisham Layous also miss out through fitness and injury concerns. Still, the squad depth should prove more than enough given the cushion they already hold on aggregate.
And the first-leg thrashing came just seven days ago, so the memory of that 5-0 scoreline remains fresh for both sides. Sheriff simply couldn't cope with the intensity or the clinical finishing on show.
Expect the home side to manage the game rather than chase more goals unnecessarily. They've already secured the tie in practical terms, and another controlled performance should see them through without drama.
Recommended Bets
Maccabi Tel Aviv -1.5 handicap @1.85 — the 5-0 first-leg result and Sheriff's lack of attacking threat make another comfortable win likely.
Under 3.5 total goals @1.70 — Maccabi lead by five on aggregate and have little incentive to push for a high-scoring affair.
Maccabi Tel Aviv to win both halves @2.40 — the visitors have shown they struggle to stay competitive over full matches against this level of opposition.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
