M. Tel-Aviv Vs RFS

Both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Rigas Futbola Skola head into the final round of group-stage fixtures in the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League with slim hopes of advancing to the knockout phase playoffs. Their clash on Thursday represents a crucial opportunity for both teams to keep their aspirations alive. Maccabi Tel Aviv, coming off their first victory of the campaign, will look to build on that momentum, while Rigas Futbola Skola, who have yet to secure a win, must earn all three points to stand any chance of progressing.

For Maccabi Tel Aviv, their journey in the Europa League began with a setback after they were eliminated from Champions League qualifying. Instead, they entered the league phase of Europe's second-tier competition with high hopes but faced a challenging start. The team was unable to gain any traction in their first four matches, suffering losses to formidable opponents such as Braga, FC Midtjylland, Real Sociedad, and Ajax. Despite their early struggles, Maccabi Tel Aviv displayed resilience when they traveled to Turkey to face Besiktas in their fifth fixture. A win in this match gave them their first points of the campaign, which they had desperately needed.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s victory over Besiktas was impressive, demonstrating their ability to compete at a high level despite their earlier defeats. They took the lead early in the match thanks to a goal from Gabi Kanichowsky, and when Dor Peretz doubled their advantage, it looked like the Israeli side would secure a crucial three points. Besiktas fought back, pulling one goal back to make it 2-1, but Maccabi Tel Aviv's Weslley Patati sealed the win with a third goal late in the game. This victory marked the beginning of a much-needed positive run for the team, who followed it up with a 2-1 away triumph over Maccabi Bnei Reineh in the Israeli Premier League.

However, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s domestic form has been somewhat inconsistent, and they have slipped off the top of the Israeli Premier League standings. Following two draws, including a 1-1 stalemate away at Hapoel Haifa, where Guy Melamed’s second-half penalty canceled out Patati’s opening goal, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s league position has weakened. Despite this, they remain unbeaten in their last five matches across both domestic and continental competition, and with three group-stage fixtures remaining, they have narrowed the gap to the playoff spots for the knockout phase to just two points. A win on Thursday would further strengthen their chances of advancing, with the Israeli side still holding hopes of a successful campaign.

On the other side, Rigas Futbola Skola faces an uphill battle as they prepare for Thursday’s clash at Partizan Stadium in Serbia. Unlike Maccabi Tel Aviv, who have at least managed to pick up points, Rigas Futbola Skola has struggled to turn their performances into wins. After falling short in Champions League qualifying, they managed to progress through two rounds of qualification to reach the Europa League league phase. However, their performance in the group stage has been disappointing, with just two draws from five matches and no victories to show for their efforts.

Rigas Futbola Skola’s points in the league phase have come from two draws at home. In October, they earned a 2-2 draw against Galatasaray, followed by another 1-1 draw with Anderlecht in November. Both results were hard-fought, but they were unable to secure the crucial wins needed to boost their chances of advancing. In between these draws, Rigas Futbola Skola faced a tough away trip to Eintracht Frankfurt, where they were defeated 1-0, further denting their hopes. The most recent setback for the Latvian side came when they hosted PAOK at home late last month. Despite an early goal from Kiril Despodov putting the visitors ahead, Rigas Futbola Skola was unable to recover after Fyodor Chalov extended PAOK’s lead in the second half, ultimately losing the match.

Rigas Futbola Skola’s struggles have continued into their domestic season, where they are still recovering from a narrow loss to Malmo in a recent friendly. However, their domestic form had been strong prior to that, as they secured a domestic double in November, which briefly lifted their spirits. Now, with only three games left to play in the Europa League group phase and a three-point gap to close in order to qualify for the knockout stage, Rigas Futbola Skola finds itself in a must-win situation. If they are to have any chance of advancing, a victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv is essential on Thursday. With their Europa League future hanging in the balance, they will be hoping to turn their fortunes around and secure their first win of the group stage.

Thursday’s encounter will be crucial for both teams, as they aim to keep their European hopes alive. For Maccabi Tel Aviv, it is an opportunity to build on their recent win and improve their position in the standings. A victory would put them in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs, which would be a significant achievement given their difficult start to the campaign. For Rigas Futbola Skola, this match represents their last chance to stay in the race for a place in the knockout phase. Anything less than a win will likely end their hopes of progression, and they will need to be at their best to secure the three points they desperately need.

The pressure is mounting for both teams, and Thursday’s match promises to be an intense and high-stakes affair. With the Europa League knockout phase within reach for both sides, they will need to leave it all on the pitch to keep their dreams of European glory alive. Maccabi Tel Aviv will have the advantage of momentum following their first win, while Rigas Futbola Skola will need to summon all their strength to get their first victory and stay in the hunt for qualification. It’s all to play for as both teams prepare for what could be a defining moment in their respective campaigns.