Preview:Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Pafos FC - prediction, team news, lineups

After a dramatic first leg of this Champions League second qualifying round tie, Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Pafos FC at TSC Arena on Wednesday.

The Yellows have won four their last six matches, while the Cypriot club are on a four-game unbeaten streak ahead of this midweek clash.

Match preview

Zarko Lazetic's Maccabi qualified for the 2024-25 Europa League's league phase, and they will be looking to go one step further this year.

In the first leg, the Yellows came from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw at Alphamega Stadium thanks to a 100th-minute goal from Elad Madmon, and the manager will be relieved that his team are going into the away leg on even terms.

That stalemate means that Lazetic's side have now tasted defeat in just one of their last eight matches across all competitions, going back to April.

Knowing that this tie hangs in the balance, the hosts will draw confidence from their impressive home record that features five wins, two draws and one loss since February.

However, given that they were beaten 2-1 by Hapoel Be'er Sheva in their last competitive match as the nominal home team, Maccabi fans would be forgiven for harbouring doubts.

Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Carcedo's Pafos were competing in the Conference League's league phase last season, and though they are underdogs, they have set their sights higher this term.

The Cypriot club may not be losing as things stand, but they will be frustrated that they took the lead through Mons Bassouamina only to concede deep into stoppage time.

That being said, the result did bring Carcedo's side's unbeaten run to four matches and given that they have now lost just one of their last 10, fans may be cautiously optimistic.

However, the visitors will need to win on the road in midweek, and after failing to win any of their four most recent away games - drawing three and losing one - they will have to defy their travelling record to progress.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Champions League form:

Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions):

Pafos FC Champions League form:

Pafos FC form (all competitions):

Team News

Maccabi may feel compelled to start on the front foot as the home side, and attacking trio of Osher Davida, Dor Turgeman and Weslley Pinto Batista will be ready up front.

In the central third, Dor Peretz will captain the team alongside Ben Lederman and Issouf Sissokho, all of whom will be shielding Mohamed Camara and Nemanja Stoic at centre-back.

As for Pafos, lone striker Anderson Silva will be backed up by Vlad Dragomir from an attacking midfield position, while Pepe and Muamer Tankovic provide width.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Derrick Luckassen and David Goldar will be protecting Neofytos Michael between the sticks, flanked by full-backs Joao Correia and Kostas Pileas.

Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:

Gerafi; Asante, Stojic, Camara, Revivo; Peretz, Lederman, Sissokho; Davida, Turgeman, Batista

Pafos FC possible starting lineup:

Michael; Correia, Luckassen, Goldar; Pileas; Bruno, Sunjic; Pepe, Dragomir, Tankovic; Silva

We say: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 Pafos FC

Maccabi have had to come from behind in the first leg, but their commendable home record that features one loss on their own turf since February is hard to overlook.

Additionally, Pafos have struggled on the road in recent weeks, and given that they need to win to progress, they could be eliminated on Wednesday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.