Young Boys vs Maccabi Haifa Prediction: Will the rivals be more effective in attack in the return match?

In the first game of the decisive qualifying round of the Champions League, Young Boys and Maccabi were scoreless. Will the rivals be more effective in attack in the return match?

Young Boys had a great last season, winning both the Swiss championship, with a 16-point margin, and the National Cup. In the new season, the team is also looking good, and so far, they have not lost a game. In the Swiss Super League, the Young Boys won both home games - against Lausanne (2:1) and Winterthur (5:2); and both away games ended in draws - 2:2 with Iverdon and 1:1 with Lucerne. In addition, Young Boys beat Breitenrein 5:0 on the road in the new National Cup.

In the first match against Maccabi, the Swiss, contrary to the goal trend, failed to prove themselves in attack. On the other hand, the team didn't allow their opponents to create anything at their own goal, getting a draw, which is a great result before the home game.

The team from Haifa made some noise in the Champions League last year, with memorable group matches against PSG, Juventus, and Benfica. Head coach Barak Bakhar left the club in the off-season, but as the current qualification shows, and with a new coach in Messai Dago, Maccabi can repeat the success. Before the meetings with Young Boys, Haifa managed to pass Malta's Hamrun (6:1 on aggregate of two meetings), Moldova's Sheriff (in extra time), and Slovan Bratislava (5:2 on aggregate of two matches).

In the domestic arena, Maccabi also looked confident at the start of the season, managed to take the Israeli Super Cup by beating Beitar (3:1), and also beat Maccabi Petah Tikva (2:0) in the semifinals of the Toto Cup (Israeli League Cup).

Maccabi Haifa is a very strong team, and this is shown by the entire qualifying stage of the current Champions League, where the Israeli club has already passed three opponents. But Young Boys are by far the strongest team in Switzerland, having won all the national tournaments last season with a clear advantage. If Rafael Vicky's team misses out on the Champions League group stage, it could be considered a shame for Swiss football. The class of Young Boys makes it possible not to let that happen. We bet on the Swiss.