The Belgians finished second in the group stage of the Conference League, conceding the top spot to the Israeli team, Maccabi Tel Aviv. Despite securing a 2-0 home victory, the “Buffaloes” lost the return match 1-3. It’s worth noting that Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s team is not in the best form at the moment. Gent won their last league match against Eupen (2-0), one of the lower-ranked teams. This victory finally ended their winless streak in all competitions, spanning seven matches, including five in the Jupiler Pro League. Currently, Gent occupies the fifth position in the league table, trailing the leader, Union Saint-Gilloise, by a considerable 20 points. At home, the “Buffaloes” secured six wins and suffered two defeats in 13 matches.
In the fall, Maccabi Haifa struggled in the Europa League, finishing third in their group behind Villarreal and Rennes. A crucial away win against Greek side Panathinaikos in the final match allowed them to surpass the Greeks in the standings. As they approach the match in Belgium, Messi Dayego’s team comes after a 1-1 draw against Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli league. Currently, Maccabi Haifa leads the domestic championship with 49 points from 22 matches, holding a three-point lead over their closest competitor.
