FCSB will host Maccabi Tel Aviv at the National Arena on Tuesday in the first leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League second-round qualifying clash. The home side clinched the Romanian Liga I title last season for the first time since 2015 and are now seeking a return to the Champions League group stages after a decade-long absence.
They were drawn against Virtus in the opening round of the qualifiers thrashing the Sammarinese side 7-1 on the road before picking up a 4-0 win in the return leg to guarantee passage to the second round.
Maccabi Tel Aviv are the current champions of Israel and are pushing for a spot among Europe's elite this season. They have been absent from the Champions League since the 2015-16 campaign, although they have been regulars in the lesser Europa and Conference League in recent years.
The visitors marked their return to competitive action with a 2-0 victory over Maccabi Petach Tikva in the Super Cup last Monday and will be looking to build on that this week.
FCSB vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Tuesday's game will mark the first-ever meeting between FCSB and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- The hosts have had four competitive meetings against Israeli opposition, winning two of those games, drawing once and losing once.
- The visitors have had four meetings against Romanian opposition in European competitions. They have won two of those games, drawn once and lost the other.
- Maccabi have kept clean sheets in each of their last five competitive outings.
- FCSB had the second-best defensive record in the Romanian top flight last season with a goal concession tally of 39.
FCSB vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction
FCSB are undefeated in their last five competitive outings picking up three wins and two draws in that period. They have lost just once on home turf all year and will be looking forward to the midweek clash.
Maccabi have won each of their last five competitive games and are undefeated in their last eight. They have, however, had mixed results on the road of late and could see defeat here.
Prediction: FCSB 1-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv
FCSB vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: FCSB to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Under 2.5 goals (Four of the visitors' last five matches have produced fewer than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: NO (Both sides have found the back of the net in just one of the visitors' last five matches)