Europa League - Maccabi Haifa v FC Schalke 04 Odds and Betting Preview.

HAIFA, ISRAEL - Tonight’s Group J clash sees two teams full of European football experience come head to head in the final game before the knockout stage. The Greens (Maccabi Haifa) are strong at home and have won both home games in the group. They go into the tie as favourites with best odds being offered by bet365 at 10/11 (bet £11 make £10 profit). Schalke are at best 3/1 with William Hill and the top price for a draw is 13/5 with bet365.

Schalke will qualify at the top of Group J regardless of the result, for Maccabi Haifa there is everything at stake. Sitting in second the Israeli team are only one point off third and fourth, it is therefore imperative that they win tonight to guarantee their place in the next stage of the competition. Schalke won fairly comprehensively in their last clash and the Greens know they face stiff opposition, the question is whether they will make the most of their home advantage and take it to the Germans.

In terms of the half-time/full-time result a decisive Maccabi/Maccabi result is favoured by the punters. William Hill are offering a top price of 2/1 while they also offer the top price for a draw/Maccabi result at 4/1. A comprehensive Schalke/Schalke result seems on the cards with 7/1 the best odds offered by Boylesports. The bookies don’t see a Schalke comeback as a likely event with the best price for Maccabi/Schalke as long as 35/1 with Paddy Power.

Despite Maccabi Haifa being favourites to emerge victorious, the favoured score line is a 1-1 draw. William Hill are offering the top price of 13/2 for 1-1 and they are also quoting the best price for a 1-0 win in favour of Maccabi Haifa at 7/1. A one goal Schalke victory is 11/1 at best with Coral and Paddy Power. For those who see a game full of goals Betfred are quoting 25/1 for a 3-2 Maccabi win as well as the top odds of 100/1 for a huge 4-1 victory for Schalke.

With goal machine Klaas-Jan Huntelaar rested alongside Raúl, others will have to step up to the plate for Schalke. Marica is favourite to open the scoring for Schalke, rated a 9/1 shot at best with bet265 while the overall favourite to open the scoring is Maccabi Haifa’s Dvalishvili, he is rated a 11/2 chance with William Hill.

 

Maccabi Haifa v FC Schalke 04 match betting