Strasbourg V Maccabi Haifa
Thursday 25th July 2019 – 19:45 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League Second Round
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 21/20
Bookmaker: Boylesports
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25 | 15/4 | 42/5 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 22nd July 2019 at 19:24)
Preview: It is France versus Israel in the second round of the Europa League, as last season’s French cup winners, Strasbourg, do battle against the second best side in Israel, Maccabi Haifa. The Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, France, is the venue for the first leg encounter.
Europa League betting at 22Bet
Strasbourg Preview
At one stage, Strasbourg were in a prominent position to secure a long awaited return to European competition through the league. But some horrific form in the final third of the season scuppered those plans, as the team fell completely out of contention to finish marooned in mid-table. Fortunately for them, the French Cup – otherwise known as the Coupe de la Ligue – was their saving grace.
Beating Gungamp in the cup final on penalties meant a spot in the Europa League qualifying rounds for ‘Le Racing’, whose most recent taste of continental football was back in 2006 when reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. The question is, has their drastic form recovered sufficiently during the off-season in time for them to have a good crack at these qualifiers?
Just two wins in their final sixteen league games (W2 D8 L6) was truly alarming form, and tainted what was otherwise a very promising and satisfactory season up until that stage. Even at home their form tailed off, to the point that they finished the campaign winning just once at their Stade de le Meinau between February and May (W1 D4 L3). Their overall record at home (W6 D8 L5, GF31 GA25) was only better than seven other sides in Ligue 1.
However, results during pre-season might suggest a team gradually returning to something resembling positive form again. With friendlies against FC Zurich (W2-1), Standard Liege (W0-2) and Toulouse (W3-1) all producing winning outcomes for Thierry Laurey’s team.
Maccabi Haifa Preview
Facing their second opponents of the tournament are Maccabi Haifa, the Israeli club that finished a country mile behind champions Maccabi Tel Aviv in last season’s Israel Premier League. Slovenian side Mura were no match for them in the first round, though, winning both home and away to record a 5-2 aggregate victory which moves them ever so slightly nearer to a first appearance in the Europa League group stage since 2013.
The Greens, a nickname adopted due to the colour of their crest and kits, comfortably won the first leg against Slovenia’s Mura but needed to come from behind in order to prevail in the away encounter. Goals from Muhammad Awad and a Yuval Ashkenazi brace made it two wins from two in the competition and extended Haifa’s unbeaten streak away from home in Europe to five matches (W2 D3). Although, only a couple of those games were recent enough to qualify as relevant to us.
A 1-1 draw in Estonia against Nomme Kalju, back in 2016, being their most recent foray in Europe before this season. Therefore we are somewhat reliant on recent league form for an indication as to how they might fare in France. Maccabi Haifa were a distant second in the league and lost almost a third of their matches (W16 D10 L10), although most of those losses were incurred at home.
Away from home, Haifa won on three more occasions and posted superior numbers in both scoring categories (away record in 2018-19 Israel Premier League: W9 D6 L3, GF22 GA16). So, in theory, the Israelis should appreciate this outing a lot more than the return leg back home.
Strasbourg V Maccabi Haifa Key Facts:
- Strasbourg finished last season’s Ligue 1 with one win in their final eight home games (W1 D4 L3).
- Maccabi Haifa had a better record away from home in last season’s Israeli Premier League (W9 D6 L3).
- The French Ligue 1 is ranked 5th in the latest UEFA Club Coefficients, above Israel’s Premier League in 23rd.
Betting Summary
UEFA Club Coefficients has France up in 5th, with Israel down in 23rd. That is all good and well but Strasbourg contributed little towards it, having not featured in European competition for over a decade. The Ligue 1 outfit also ended the previous campaign in dreadful form and, although results have picked up in recent friendlies, there is no guarantee they will suddenly find some rhythm so soon here.
The visiting side are actually rather good at playing the role of visiting side. Their league form last season was significantly better when on their travels, while a 3-2 victory over Slovenia’s Mura in the previous round made it no defeat in their last five away European games.
At such short odds, Strasbourg are an uneasy betting proposition. Especially as they lack much experience of football in Europe similar to their opponents, if not more so. The 21/10 with Betfair on Maccabi Haifa or Draw (Double Chance) is one option. A more appealing bet is both teams scoring. A high number (68%) of Strasbourg’s home games in Ligue 1 last season produced both teams to score while Haifa are evidently a stronger proposition on their travels.
