Pre Match
With six points from the first three matches, Maccabi Tel Aviv lined-up against in form Villarreal that maintained it’s 100% record in the group following the 4-0 victory over Maccabi in MD3. Just like the match in Spain which kicked off over an hour late due to the heavy down pour, similar weather conditions were more than evident in the build-up to the reverse fixture in Tel Aviv.
Maccabi’s coach Georgios Donis made two changes from the side which beat Hapoel Hadera in the league on Sunday as Eytal Tini stepped into the heart of defense replacing Sheran Yeini alongside Luis Hernandez with Maor Kandi on the right and Enric Saborit on the left completing the back-four. Tal Ben Chaim made way for Eyal Golasa, who formed a midfield trio with Dan Glazer and Dor Peretz while Dan Biton and Yonatan Cohen kept their place in support of Aleksandar Pesic upfront.
First Half
Villarreal dominated the game right from the start but didn’t seem to trouble Daniel Tenenbaum in Maccabi’s goal. The only time the Brazilian born custodian was put under pressure, was due to a mishit back-pass he had to come out for and clear the danger. On the stroke of halftime however, Carlos Bacca picked the ball near the halfway line, tore through the middle of Maccabi’s defense and before releasing Alex Baena who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Second Half
With a 1-0 deficit at the interval Maccabi came out of the dressing room for the second half with all guns blazing. Two minutes after the restart, Maccabi were back on level terms as Villarreal’s defense struggled to deal with Maor Kandil’s cross which was knocked down by Dor Peretz before Aleksandar Pesic blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
In the 54th minute, Dan Glazer was forced to come off after suffering a head injury as Georgios Donis introduced Nick Blackman. Kandil shot wide 55 and Eyal Golasa shot over the crossbar on 58 but a minute later Maccabi should have completed the comeback. Golasa sent a perfect long ball over Villarreal’s defense into the path of Pesic who charged forward but with only the keeper Geronimo Rulli to beat sent his shot over the crossbar.
Villarreal’s keeper Unai Emery made no less than four changes in the 63rd minute, but Maccabi continued to look dangerous as Yonatan Cohen had a shot blocked for a corner on 71.
In the 80th minute, good work from Golasa released Dan Biton who should have got something more than his shot which was blocked for a corner. Kandil headed from the goalmouth to prevent Villarreal from taking the lead on 84. A minute later, Donis made a double substitution as Avi Rikan and Sheran Yeini replaced Biton and Pesic. Saborit had a chance to put Maccabi in front on 88 but shot high and wide, only to be shown the red card a minute later for a foul on Ruben Pena.
Tenenbaum pulled a last gasp to deny Gerard Moreno’s injury time close range header before Eden Karzev and Ofir Davidzada came on for the final seconds replacing Cohen and Golasa. Villarreal tried but Maccabi managed to hang on and celebrate the point at the final whistle.
