Istanbul BFK vs Maccabi Netanya Prediction: Turks easily outplay inexperienced Israelis

One of Turkey's strongest teams, Istanbul BFK, will start their new European Cup campaign with matches against Israel's Maccabi Netanya. Check the team conditions and choose several betting options.

After a triumphant 2019/20 season, when they won the Turkish championship for the first time in history, the following year the team failed, finishing only 12th in the national championship standings. Last season, Istanbul can hardly be completely at the top of the table, but fourth place is certainly better than 12th. Plus, that result has enabled the club to return to the international arena.

Istanbul's last European campaign, in the 2020/21 season, ended in the Champions League group stage, finishing in last place in the quartet with PSG, Manchester United and Leipzig. The club's best European appearance was a Europa League round of 16 exit to Copenhagen in 2019/20.

Maccabi Netanya is one of Israel's oldest clubs. However, they reached their peak in the 1970s and 1980s, when Maccabi Netanya won the national championship five times. Last season the team finished in 4th place. Not the top result, but even that has been a rare occurrence for the club in recent years.

In European competitions, Maccabi is not a frequent visitor. This year's trip is only the fifth in the team's history. In its first four, Netanya won only 1 qualifying round - in the 2009/10 season against Sliema Wanderers of Malta.

The class of Basaksehir and Maccabi Netanya are not comparable. The fourth team in Turkey and the fourth team in Israel are teams of a different planet. Moreover, Istanbul is having the best time in their history right now. The Istanbul side has qualified for both the Champions League group stage and the Europa League play-offs. Basaksehir is likely to be comfortable in the upcoming game.

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