Maccabi Tel Aviv’s historic first game in the Group Stage of the Champions League was played on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, greatly reducing the number of fans at Ramat Gan Stadium. The 1,000 fans who had left their dinner tables enjoyed a good dessert as Nir Klinger’s team played a solid and stubborn first half. After 45 minutes with no goals, the teams took a break. The second half opened with the guests putting pressure on Maccabi’s defense and an attack by Ze Roberto at the 64th minute ended with a tackle by Tel Aviv's defender John Pantsil. Dutch forward Roy Makaay made an accurate penalty kick and set the Yellows’ first loss in the Group Stage.
