Both battling for a spot in the playoff round of the competition, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Porto will lock horns on gameweek eight of the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Yellows suffered a damaging defeat in Norway last week, whilst the Dragons' progression into the next stage was thrown into serious doubt following a shock home loss.
Match preview
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Losing just two of their 19 top-flight contests in the Israeli Premier League this season, Maccabi Tel Aviv have no issues dominating on the domestic front, but Thursday's hosts have been unable to really make their mark on the Europa League stage so far in 2024-25.
That being said, it looked as if the Yellows would be heading for a much-needed victory on the continent last Thursday night, when Dor Peretz opened the scoring in the contest against Bodo/Glimt, although a brace from Kasper Waarts Hogh inspired the Norwegians to a complete comeback.
Heading into Thursday's final matchday of the revamped league phase in this campaign's competition, Maccabi Tel Aviv are sitting precariously in 29th spot in the 36-team rankings, three points behind Turkish giants Besiktas in the lowest of the playoff spots at this stage.
Playing their European home matches in Belgrade, Serbia, the Yellows have struggled to find a consistency at their temporary base, with the Israeli giants winning just one of their three matches at the venue, with that sole success coming against Latvian minnows Rigas Futbola Skola in December.
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After a third-placed finish in the Primeira Liga during the 2023-24 campaign, former Champions League winners Porto find themselves battling down in UEFA's second-tier club competition this time around, with the Portuguese outfit one of the favourites for the title at the beginning of the league phase.
However, a worrying record of only two wins from their first seven matches of the league phase has left the Dragons on the verge of exiting the Europa League on Thursday night in Serbia, with the visitors currently one point and one place outside of the top-24 positions.
Porto were presented an excellent opportunity to put one foot in the playoff round last Thursday night, although Jose Tavares's troops were unable to find the net at their home base against Olympiacos, who managed to snatch all three points courtesy of Ayoub El Kaabi's strike.
Since returning from a mini-break following Christmas, the Dragons have endured a five-game winless run across all competitions, although they did manage to halt a four-match losing streak on Sunday afternoon, when centre-back Otavio bagged his first goal of the term to force a share of the points with Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga.
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Team News
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After providing the assist for Peretz's opener last time out, 21-year-old Dor Turgeman should retain his spot at the top of the Maccabi Tel Aviv attack.
Despite conceding three goals at Bodo/Glimt on matchday seven, the Yellows should stick with a centre-back pairing of Idan Nachmias and Nemanja Stojic.
There are a pair of suspension issues for Porto to contend with on Thursday night, as both Samuel Aghehowa and Nehuen Perez are unable to feature in Serbia.
The Dragons are also without the services of 37-year-old Spaniard Ivan Marcano, with the centre-back suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury.
The visitors' options in defence are limited further by the absence of Wendell, with the left-back expected back in February from a thigh strain.
Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:
Mishpati; Asante, Stojic, Nachmias, Revivo; Sissokho, Van Overeem, Davida, Peretz, Layous; Turgeman
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Mario, Pedro, Djalo, Moura; Gonzalez, Mora, Varela; Borges, Galeno, Gul
We say: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-3 Porto
With progression into the playoff round highly unlikely for Maccabi Tel Aviv, we could see a care-free approach from the hosts on Thursday night.
That should allow more space in attacking areas for Porto, who have the quality to take advantage and book their spot in the knockout stages.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
