Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Porto

Stadion Partizana forms the backdrop for Porto’s ‘make or break’ Europa League away match against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Facing a significant goal-difference deficit, Maccabi Tel-Aviv may need a miracle to secure a playoff spot after a 3-1 defeat at Bodo/Glimt last weekend saw them fall three points behind 24th-placed Besiktas. Winning against Porto wouldn’t guarantee progression, considering they’ll also need numerous results elsewhere to go their way. After a 2-1 win against RFS in their last outing on their temporary home venue in Belgrade, Zarko Lazetic’s men may feel confident about pulling off back-to-back European home wins for the first time this term (W1, L2). Even if they don’t, the Yellows should entertain the crowd, with their last 11 matches across all competitions featuring over 2.5 goals. Chances are they’re not going to make it. Indeed, they’ve lost three of their four continental clashes against Primeira Liga clubs (W1).

That must be music to Porto’s ears as the visitors bid to bounce back from an embarrassing five-game start to the new calendar year (D1, L4). A narrow 1-0 home loss to Olympiacos last week left the Dragons on the brink of an early Europa League elimination, condemning them to a third winless league-phase match in the past four (D1, L2). It’s up to new boss Martin Anselmi to pick up the slack and help Porto overhaul a slender one-point deficit on the top 24 on his touchline debut. However, the visitors have failed to win all three Europa League away games this season (D1, L2), conceding an average of 2.33 goals per match! Furthermore, they’ve emerged victorious from just one of their last 15 Europa League travels (D5, L9).