Freiburg can take a significant step towards automatic qualification to the Europa League‘s round of 16 with a victory against visitors Maccabi Tel Avi on Thursday at Europa Park Stadion.
With the home side fifth in the league phase table with 14 points, a win against second last Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are 35th with one point, could be enough to guarantee a place in the top eight if results go their way on Thursday.
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Freiburg vs Maccabi Tel Aviv prediction: Only one winner?
Key stats
- No other team have conceded more goals in the Europa League this season than Maccabi Tel Aviv (18)
- Freiburg have scored at least two goals in three of their last four matches in all competitions.
- The hosts have conceded at least two goals in three of their past four fixtures.
Correct score prediction: Freiburg 4-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv are on the brink of elimination from Europe, and they will head to Europa Park Stadion devoid of confidence given their fate is all but sealed.
Freiburg might fail keep a clean sheet considering their defence has been leaky of late, but their offensive firepower should be more than enough to get them over the line on Thursday.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Freiburg predicted to win by the bookmakers
- HOME: 1/5 (1.2) – 83.3%
- DRAW: 6/1 (7) – 14.3%
- AWAY: 12/1 (13) – 7.7%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Freiburg are the expected winner of this clash, with a probability of 83.3%, and the bookmakers have little confidence that Maccabi Tel Aviv will be able to take anything from Europa Park Stadion.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: First ever meeting
Thursday's meeting will be the first time that Maccabi Tel Aviv have met Freiburg, but it will not be the first time they have met a Bundesliga side, with the team in fact having faced Stuttgart in their previous European fixture.
The visitors were beaten 4-1 by Stuttgart on December 11, a game in which they only produced two shots on target and trailed 3-0 by the 50th minute.
Freiburg preview: Incredible home record
While Freiburg have drawn two, lost one and won two of their last five games in all competitions, they are undefeated in their last 11 matches at Europa Park Stadion, with the club emerging as victors on eight occasions in that time.
Centre-backs Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart are almost certain to be positioned ahead of shot-stopper Noah Atubolu.
Predicted lineup: Atubolu (GK), Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Makengo, Eggestein, Osterhage, Beste, Suzuki, Grifo & Matanovic
Last five results:
- Augsburg 2-2 Freiburg
- RB Leipzig 2-0 Freiburg
- Freiburg 2-1 Hamburger SV
- Wolfsburg 3-4 Freiburg
- Freiburg 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Poor European record
Maccabi Tel Aviv will know that anything other than a win will see them exit the Europa League, but they have been beaten in their past five Europa League outings.
If the visitors look to field a back three, then fans should expect to see a trio of Itai Ben Hamo, Mohamed Camara and Heitor.
Predicted lineup: Mashpati (GK), Hamo, Camara, Heitor, Harush, Noy, Shahar, Revivo, Andrade, Varela & Farchi
Last five results:
- Maccabi Haifa 4-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 Bnei Sakhnin
- Hapoel Jerusalem 1-3 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-1 Ironi Tiberias
Player to watch: Vincenzo Grifo
Freiburg attacker Vincenzo Grifo may rank as the club's top scorer in all competitions (10), but he has been considerably less effective in recent weeks.
The Italian has scored three goals in his last eight matches for the club, but all three goals came from the penalty spot, and he will be keen to end his open-play drought.