Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Olympiacos
Match Time & Date:
07/03/2024
18:45
Prediction: 2-1
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium will be packed when Olympiacos and Maccabi Tel Aviv lock horns in the Europa Conference League last 16, first leg. The Thrylos are on a seven-game winning run in all competitions and, unlike domestic competitions, fans will be allowed to enter the stadium this time out. A man to keep an eye on in the home team will be Morocco forward Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored a brace in a 3-0 win over Volos at the weekend. The good news for the hosts is that pacey winger Gelson Martins has overcome his injury.
The Yellows, on the other hand, are eyeing their fifth consecutive triumph in all competitions. As Maccabi have been scoring goals for fun of late as well, we are tempted to put our money on over 2.5 goals, but the in-form hosts are definitely closer to winning the first leg than the visitors, who often struggle on the travels in European competitions. As for the away side, defender Derrick Luckassen is back to contention after missing the last Conference League game through suspension.
Highlighted Player (Kostas Fortounis):
Born in Trikala Greece on 16 October, 1992, Kostas Fortounis made his senior debut for his hometown club Trikala in the 2009/2010 Gamma Ethniki campaign. After playing 13 games for the club he moved to Asteras Tripolis at the end of the season.
In 2011 the Greek midfielder moved to Germany, signing a deal with Kaiserslautern. Fortounis made 70 league appearances for Kaiser, scoring two goals from 2011 to 2014. On 22 July, 2014 he returned to Greece, signing a four-year contract with Olympiacos. It has to be noted that he played for the Thrylos during his youth career (2003-2008).
Kostas Fortounis made his Greece debut against Belgium in February, 2012 and he represented his homeland at the 2012 European Championship finals. However, he was left out of the Greece 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. His main position is attacking midfielder, but he is capable of playing as a winger as well. Fortounis won two Greek Superleague titles (2014/2015, 2015/2016) with Olympiakos.
Highlighted Team (Maccabi Tel Aviv):
Maccabi Tel Aviv are the oldest and probably the biggest clubs in Israel. The club was founded in 1906 and they have been playing an important role in the Israeli League ever since. In 2015 Maccabi won their 21st trophy in the national championship and the same season they clinched their 23rd Israeli Cup title.
The club’s fiercest rivals are Hapoel Tel-Aviv and they welcome their opponents at Netanya Stadium. The capacity of the venue is 13 610. The likes of Beitar Jerusalem Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Maccabi Haifa are considered Maccabi Tel Aviv’s bitter rivals as well. In 1969 the club won the AFC Champions League and they repeated the success two years later, beating Aliyat Al-Shorta in the final.
The likes of Jordi Cruyff, Paulo Sousa, Rade Prica, Moanes Dabour and Vincent Enyeama are the high-profile footballers who were part of the team in the past. The colour of Maccabi’s home kit is yellow and blue.
Brighton
Southampton
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
Aston Villa 
