CFR Clujv Maccabi Tel Aviv
Wednesday 24th July 1900hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League Qualification
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Bet Victor
Odds: 11/10 (odds taken 23.00 GMT, Tuesday 23 July)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21/20 | 21/10 | 27/10 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on July 23, 2019 at 23.00)
The Romanian champions host their Israeli equivalents on Wednesday as CFR Cluj take on Maccabi Tel Aviv. The winners will likely face Celtic in the next round.
Champions League Qualification Betting at Bet Victor
CFR Cluj – Will Celtic do as expected and build commanding first leg ?
Cluj are beginning to reestablish themselves following their financial problems that dogged them for a number of years. 2017/18 seen them clinch their fourth league tirle and their first in six years. That resulted in them participating in the Champions League qualification last year but came undone to Malmo at this stage. It was a narrow defeat but defeat nonetheless and they will be looking to go further this time around. They earned that by pipping FCSB by two points in last season’s Romanian Championship. Having not been competing in Europe for a sustained period of time their coefficient had reduced significantly and it seen them draw a very difficult opponent in Astana, in the first round. It was looking ominous for Cluj having lost the first leg 1-0 and then going down a goal in the return game. A brilliant hat-trick form their French striker Billel Omrani seen them complete an excellent turnaround to qualify.
Cluj are only a couple of games into their domestic season and are unbeaten so far. Saturday’s 4-1 win will have put them in a good place coming into this game and another big performance is needed.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Preview – Can Estonian champs cause a massive surprise and upset Celtic?
Maccabi Tel Aviv are the most successful team in Israeli football and have been dominant in recent years. Last season’s title was their fourth in the last nine years having finished runners up on three other occasions. This signaled a revival for the Tel Aviv club and they are improving year on year. Current manager Vladimir Ivic has been in charge for one of those title victories having taken over from Jordi Cruyff in 2018. He’s made the team even more stronger under his reign. Last year’s title was won by 31 points and they lost only once in the league all season. Last year’s European campaign came to an end in the playoff round of the Europa League in somewhat disappointing fashion. A 3-1 defeat to Sarpsborg from Norway in the first leg was too big a deficit to turn round and ensured they never reached the group stages of that competition.
Englishman Nick Blackman has rejoined the club having scored 10 goals in their league winning campaign of 2017/18. He adds further firepower to what is a strong list of options in attack for Ivic.
Key-Facts – CFR Cluj v Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Cluj won their second Romanian league title on the bounce last season and defeated Astana in their first qualification tie
- Maccabi Tel Aviv are coming off an extremely dominant season where they won their domestic title by 31 points and lost just once
- The winners of this game will face Celtic or Nomme Kalju in the next round, with the Scottish Champions big favourites
CFR Cluj v Maccabi Tel Aviv Betting Advice
This looks to be one of the more competitive second round games and the prize on offer for the victor is likely to be a clash against Celtic in the next round of qualifying. The Scottish Champions are expected to brush aside their Estonian opponents at the same stage. Neither team can afford to think about what’s ahead, though, and concentrate on these two games which are likely to be very evenly matched. Cluj will have gained some confidence from the home win over Astana last time out. Before that they had lost their last two home European matches.
With these teams closely matched, this first leg could well be a tactical affair. Seven of Cluj’s last nine home games have seen two or fewer goals scored in them. They will look to give little away ahead of traveling to Israel next week for the return game. The visitors will attempt to keep things tight too, confident in their strong home form to progress from there. Eight of Maccabi’s last 10 league games last season also went under 2.5 goals. That looks a strong selection for tomorrow’s game as well.
