Maccabi Tel Aviv will face tomorrow (19:45) their toughest challenge this season when Robbie Keane’s side line-up against Belgian outfit KAA Gent on MD2 of the Conference League group stage.
Gent, which were ranked in pot A of the group stage draw, entered the competition in the qualifying round after finishing their domestic Jupiler League in 5th spot. After knocking out Slovakian side MSK Zilina 10-3 on aggregate in the 2nd qualifying round Gent were teamed up with Polish outfit Pogon Szczecin in the 3rd qualifying round. A 5-0 victory in the first leg in Belgium was followed by a 2-1 defeat in the return leg in Poland but the 3-3 aggregate win saw Gent reach the Playoffs. A 2-0 victory over Apoel Nicosia at home and a 2-1 victory in Cyprus sealed Gent’s passage to the group stage with a 4-1 aggregate win. But the winning streak in the competition ended with a 1-1 draw on MD1 against Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk.
Hugo Cuypers gave Gent a 67th minute lead but former Maccabi Panamanian forward Eduardo Guerrero leveled the score three minutes later to ensure the points are shared.
The domestic campaign in Belgium began in July as Gent are unbeaten from their opening 9 league matches. Gent that won 5 and drawn 4 have 19 points and are trailing league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise on goal difference only. After an impressive start, Gent suffered a dip in form which saw them draw 3 of their last for league matches and 4 of the last five in all competitions.
Photo: KAA Gent Facebook ()
Gent host Maccabi at the Ghelamco Arena which was opened in 2013 and has a capacity of 20,000 fans.
The Belgians are coached 59-year-old Hein Vanhaezebrouck who has been in charge since 2020 for what is his second tenure at the club.
Under Vanhaezebrouck, Maccabi expect to face an opponent that plays mostly with three central defenders and two forwards.
Former Maccabi Netanya defender Omri Gandelman who joined Gent in the summer is the player known most, but the Belgian’s leading player is 21-year-old Nigerian striker Gift Orban.
Cuypers, who was on target for Gent against Zorya is set to miss the match through injury and in his absence Vanhaezebrouck could field alongside Orban Moroccan forward Tarik Tissoudali. Germany’s U21 international, Jordan Torunarigha, is Gent’s leading defender and is set to be partnered at the heart of defense by Japan’s Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Marocco’s Islael Kandouss.
Photo: KAA Gent Facebook ()
