Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction & Tips
The first leg of the 16th finals of the Europa League between the Israelis of Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Ukrainians of Shakhtar Donetsk will be played at the home of the first, at Bloomfield Stadium. The home team remained unbeaten on their field in the group stage with 2 wins and 1 draw but in their only previous appearance in the second stage of the competition Maccabi failed to score either in the first leg or in the return. Maccabi fresh from 6 victories in the league but never able in the past to overcome Shakhtar Donetsk in the four head to head in the cup. Luis Castro’s team, which has been relegated to the Europa League after finishing third in their Champions League group (ahead of Inter, ed), has just resumed the championship after a two-month break and this could be the the only limit of a team that is favored on paper.
After a long two-month winter break, Shakhtar himself looked a bit ‘rusty’, having drew 0-0 in his first 2021 league game at Kolos Kovalivka.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is back from 6 consecutive victories in the league and in all competitions are unbeaten in 14 consecutive games.
Eight of Shakhtar Donetsk’s last 10 away games in the Europa League have produced over 2.5 goals, for a sizeable 4.2 per game.
Shakhtar are unbeaten in their last 9 first leg of a Europa League knockout round (W5, D4).
That Shakhtar is stronger seems obvious judging by the staff of the two teams but let’s go with caution by choosing Double Chance X2. We raise the final odds with an Over 1.5 which has occurred in the last 8 appearances of the Ukrainians in this competition.
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Shakhtar Donetsk FREE TIPS
Shakhtar Donetsk – Win @ 1.85
Both teams to score / YES @ 1.80
Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.90
