Matchday 6 of the 2024/25 Europa League group stage between Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) and RFS (Latvia) will take place on December 12 at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade (Serbia). Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. RFS: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Tamás Bognar (Hungary)
Matches – 6 (International matches, 2023/24–2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 28;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.7;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 67%.
Predicted lineups for Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. RFS
Maccabi Tel Aviv (4-3-3): Roi Mishpati – Stav Lemkin, Nemanja Stojic, Raz Shlomo, Sagiv Yehezkel – Dor Peretz, Joris van Overeem, Gavriel Kanichowsky – Oskar David, Dor Turgeman, Weslley Pinto Batista.
RFS (3-5-2): Devis Epassy – Žiga Lipušček, Herdi Prenga, Daniels Balodis – Lasha Odisharia, Dmitrijs Zelenkovs, Stefan Panic, Adam Marhiev, Roberts Savalnieks – Janis Ikaunieks, Alen Kwadwo.
Each team's lineup reflects their previous match in this tournament.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
The Israeli club secured their first victory in the group stage during Matchday 5, defeating Beşiktaş 3-1. This win lifted Maccabi off the bottom of the Europa League standings, moving them to 31st place, and reduced their gap to the playoff zone to two points. However, Tel Aviv's side has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six Europa League matches.
- At least three goals have been scored in 8 of Maccabi's last 9 Europa League matches.
- The team's uncompromising streak in the second most prestigious European club competition stands at 12 matches (6 wins, 6 losses).
- At least two goals have been scored in the second half in 6 of the club's last 8 Europa League matches.
RFS
Unlike their upcoming opponents, the Riga team has yet to secure a win in the main stage of the Europa League (2 draws, 3 losses). Their winless streak in this tournament extended to six matches in regular time after a 0-2 defeat to PAOK in the previous round. RFS's streak of conceding goals in the Europa League surpasses Maccabi's, reaching seven matches. The team is currently 34th in the standings of the second-tier European competition, with a negative goal difference (4:10).
- Both teams scored in 5 of Riga's last 7 Europa League matches.
- The team has found the net in 7 of their last 9 matches in this tournament.
- RFS has won with a handicap (+1.5) in 8 of their last 10 Europa League matches.
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. RFS: Match Prediction
The Israeli team managed to defeat Beşiktaş in the previous round, but it's important to note that this was not an away match in Turkey but on neutral ground in Hungary. The upcoming match will also see the nominal hosts play outside their home country, but Maccabi is accustomed to playing away from their stadium. I believe the club has every chance to build on their success, considering the level of their upcoming opponent and the fact that the RFS season in the domestic league ended in November, making it difficult for the Riga team to maintain match fitness.
Even on their home turf in the last Europa League round, the Latvian club failed to put up a strong fight against a relatively weak opponent, PAOK, and deservedly lost. Over a longer stretch in the Europa League, the team has had disappointing results, losing 4 of their last 6 matches in regular time (2 draws).
I believe that against such an opponent, the Israeli club, now on a winning path, should prevail. My prediction: Maccabi Tel Aviv to win
