FCSB vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction: FCSB can secure first-leg advantage

FCSB host Maccabi Tel Aviv in the first leg of an intriguing Champions League second-round qualifier. Steaua have already been in action in the competition having got past San Marino side Virtus in round one and the Romanian league is well underway.  

The Israeli Premier League is yet to kick into gear and Maccabi Tel Aviv will play their first competitive contest of the season having joined the Champions League in the second round of qualifiers.  

FCSB vs Maccabi Tel Avic Odds 

FCSB are 11/8 chances to secure a first-leg advantage, Maccabi are 7/4 and the draw is available at 11/5.

Team News 

Marius Stefanescu and Vlad Chiriches returned from suspension for the second leg against Virtus and that duo are expected to keep their place in the starting lineup.  

Florinel Coman has left for Qatar and Octavian Popescu, who has been lined up as a replacement for the free-scoring Coman, is still out injured. William Baeten has not been registered for the competition.  

Maccabi trio Roy Revivo, Osher Davida and Dor Turgeman are away on international duty at the Olympics, while Felicio Milson has been heavily linked with a move to Greek side AEK Athens.  

Football Odds

FCSB to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv @ 11/8

FCSB should be well up to speed for their second-round Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Tel Aviv, having already contested four competitive games this season.  

Two of those matches came in the first-round of this competition where the Red and Blues hammered San Marino side Virtus 11-1 on aggregate.  

Elias Charalambous' men racked up 55 shots on goal over those two matches, and while those numbers can be taken with a pinch of salt, given the standard of opposition, it is a welcome confidence boost for FCSB. 

Last season's top scorer and key forward Florinel Coman left for Qatar after Euro 2024 and it would have been easy for FCSB to sulk without the Romanians goals. However, that certainly hasn't been the case and the Red and Blues have cut a dangerous outfit.  

Steaua were held to a 2-2 at Slobozia at the weekend, but they were clearly the better side before conceding a last-gasp leveller and Charalambous made a fair few changes to his side in preparation for the clash with Maccabi. 

The Yellows play their first competitive contest of the campaign in Bucharest and there has been a fair amount of change in the summer, with Zarko Lazetic replacing title-winning gaffer Robbie Keane in the dugout.  

FCSB look better prepared for this tie and the Red and Blues can take a first-leg advantage.  

Over 2.5 goals @ 10/11 

Maccabi were a free-scoring side under Keane and the Tel Aviv outfit hit 75 goals in 36 Israeli top-flight matches last term.  

Lazetic looks to have continued that forward-thinking approach, judged on the Yellows' 2-0 Super Cup victory over Maccabi Petach Tikva, and that was a game where Lazetic's side showed plenty of attacking intent.  

FCSB scored 11 goals against Virtus, they hit 55 efforts on goal, and although that was against poor opposition, it could pay to back over 2.5 strikes at the National Arena.  

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 50% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.