Preview: Maccabi Haifa vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups

Though Juve have lost four of their last seven outings all told, they were 3-1 winners last week; lifting them three points clear of the Israeli champions in the table.

Match preview

Amid a sluggish start to the 2022-23 season, after two Champions League matches, Juventus found themselves stranded at the foot of Group H without any points on the board, sitting alongside their third matchday opponents.

Having given Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica a six-point head start, victory at the Allianz Stadium was surely essential for either club if they were to start hauling in the pace-setters, and claiming the win was far from a straightforward procedure for Max Allegri's ailing side.

Though their visitors struck the post twice and pulled themselves back to within one goal in the 75th minute, Juve had an inspired Angel Di Maria display to thank for their 3-1 success, with the Argentinian maestro registering a hat-trick of clever assists - and if Dusan Vlahovic's finishing had been sharper, he may have had five.

Adrien Rabiot was twice on the scoresheet too, but it was Di Maria's craft that truly separated the sides, and the latter's absence in Saturday's dismal defeat to Milan was sorely felt by the Bianconeri.

Beaten 2-0 by the Italian champions at San Siro, Juventus were in charge of possession but barely offered an attacking threat, and Rafael Leao also struck the post twice as they crumbled against one of their supposed title rivals.

Any push to reclaim the Scudetto after two barren years now seems light-years away, as Juve sit eighth in Serie A after nine rounds, and their decline has largely been due to awful away form: they have picked up only two points from four road trips this season, as well as losing in Paris.

For only the second time in 40 years, Juventus have failed to win any of their first four league games on the road, and as they still trail Group H's leading pair by four points - following a draw between Benfica and PSG last week - they must now win in Israel if they are to remain contenders to reach the Champions League knockout stages.

After losing 1-0 both home and away to Juventus in the 2009-10 group stage, Maccabi Haifa have now been beaten in all three of their encounters with Italy's most decorated club, but they will have witnessed enough chinks in the Bianconeri's armour last week to aim for at least a first point on Tuesday.

The Greens are rooted to the bottom of Group H, still waiting to get off the mark after three straight defeats, but the impact of goalscorer Dean David in Turin - with the striker finding the net after fellow substitute Omer Atzili clipped the post - is fuel for the fire upon their return to Sammy Ofer Stadium.

However, Haifa have now lost each of their last nine Champions League group fixtures, scoring just two times in the process, so are clearly long-shot outsiders to overtake their visitors and at least claim a place in the Europa League playoff round.

Having joined qualifying in the second round this summer, thanks to lifting another Israeli Premier League title last season, Barak Bakhar's side have already come a long way to feature among Europe's elite, and even if they crash out next month they are well placed to book a return ticket for next year.

Despite a second league defeat of the season on Saturday - losing 1-0 to Maccabi Bnei Raina - they remain at the domestic summit, and now aim to make history by claiming a major scalp in the Champions League.

Maccabi Haifa Champions League form:

L

W

D

L

L

L

Juventus Champions League form:

L

L

W

Juventus form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

W

L

Team News

Surely a relief for under-fire Max Allegri, Juventus can welcome back chief creator Angel Di Maria in midweek, following a domestic suspension that kept him out of their win over Bologna and Saturday's defeat to Milan.

Amid a crucial fortnight for the Bianconeri, which now concludes with their trip to Haifa and then the Turin derby, they are set to make changes from the side so easily swept aside at San Siro. Therefore, the laboured Manuel Locatelli and Arkadiusz Milik could make way to accommodate Di Maria and Leandro Paredes, or even teenage midfielder Fabio Miretti.

As Mattia De Sciglio is ruled out by a thigh injury suffered in last week's reverse fixture, Alex Sandro could start on the left flank again, though Filip Kostic may be used as a wing-back if Allegri opts for a 3-5-2 formation.

Long-term absentees Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa remain sidelined, but the latter is now back in training and continues to close in on a return to the squad.

Following their immediate impact from the bench in Turin, both Omer Atzili and Dean David are pushing for inclusion in the home side's first XI, so Mavis Tchibota may find his place up front under threat.

Maccabi Haifa captain Tjaronn Chery and Israel international Mohammad Abu Fani will feature in midfield, but Mahmoud Jaber and Suf Podgoreanu are once more ruled out by injury.

Maccabi Haifa possible starting lineup:

Cohen; Sundgren, Seck, Batubinsika, Goldberg, Cornud; Mohamed, Fani, Chery; Atzili, Pierrot

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Bremer, Sandro; McKennie, Paredes, Rabiot; Di Maria, Vlahovic, Kostic

We say: Maccabi Haifa 2-2 Juventus

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