Israel’s Maccabi Haifa will host Switzerland’s Young Boys on Wednesday night in their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg.
Maccabi, the Israeli Premier League champions, will face their toughest test in the Champions League qualifying rounds against the reigning Swiss champions.
Young Boys will start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. The Bern-based club’s Swiss Super League win in 2022-23 enabled them to bypass the previous qualifying rounds.
The Swiss club have played four Super League matches, posting two wins and two draws.
Manager Raphael Wicky’s team scored 10 goals and conceded six times in their four Super League matches. The club is coming off a 1-1 draw with Luzern.
Maccabi Haifa, on the other hand, began the Champions League in the first qualifying round.
The Greens defeated Hamrun Spartans 6-1 in the first qualifying round before downing Sheriff Tiraspol 4-2 in the second qualifying round.
Despite facing tough opposition in the third qualifying round against Slovan Bratislava, Maccabi won the tie 5-2 on aggregate.
The Greens won both legs and now go into the playoff round with plenty of momentum.
Young Boys defender Ulisses Garcia is a doubt to play due to an injury. He is currently their only player listed as unlikely to play due to injury.
Wicky uses a 4-4-2 diamond midfield formation. Two strikers are supported by a No 10 playing behind them.
Striker Cedric Itten co-leads Young Boys with two goals this season. He is tied with Joel Monteiro and Jean-Pierre Nsame in goalscoring.
Nsame scored twice at the weekend in Young Boys’ 5-0 win over FC Breitenrain in the Swiss Cup.
He came off the bench but could start against Maccabi. New signing Darian Males could also start the match. Males is an attacking midfielder and arrived from Inter Milan this summer.
Maccabi coach Messy Dego will line up the starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Striker Frantzdy Pierrot is likely to lead the line once more. He scored against Slovan Bratislava a week ago.
Dia Saba should start in attack on the right wing. He too scored against Slovan.
Left-back Sun Menahem is unlikely to play following a concussion. Midfielder Basam Zaarura is ruled out through suspension.
Defensive midfielder Show was recently acquired from Russia’s Ludogorets. He is expected to make his debut and could play as one of Maccabi’s two holding midfielders.
Maccabi should make the most of their home-field advantage in the first leg against Young Boys. The Israeli team should post a 2-1 win.
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