This coming Tuesday night July 21st, European football returns to Bloomfield Stadium as Head Coach Slavisa Jokanovic and his players will attempt to overturn the first match result from Malta
The Yellow-and-Blue will host Hibernians with one goal in mind, to advance to the next stage of UEFA Champions League qualifying. One of the big advantages for Maccabi in European play has always been having the home crowd, the 12th player behind them and it's been almost a year-and-a half since the club last hosted one at Bloomfield Stadium.
This coming Tuesday the supporters will paint the stands yellow and help Maccabi advance to the next round. In order to help you get ready we've decided to breakdown the last BIG SIX European games played at home!
July 23, 2013, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Gyori 2:1
After a solid away win in Hungary, the Yellow-and-Blue were welcomed back to a sold out Bloomfield Stadium to complete the job they had started the week before, and that's exactly what they did. Maccabi, coached by Paulo Sousa came out flying and scored the first goal of the match in the 25th minute as Tal Ben Chaim took a terrific ball from Mahran Radi and put it into the back of the Gyori goal. In the 79th minute an own goal doubled Maccabi's score to make it 2:0 before Leonardo Martinez cut the lead in half with just minutes left in the match. As the final whistle blew Maccabi advanced to the third round of Champions League qualifying to face a tough opponent in Swiss side Basel.
August 6, 2013, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Basel 3:3
There's possibly no other match that showed the power of a packed Bloomfield Stadium than in a game that Maccabi didn't even win and were eliminated from Champions League qualification. Going down by three goals in the first 31 minutes could have silenced the supporters but that was not the case as they helped lift the player's spirits and urged them on not to give up hope. In the 34th minute a terrific play by Barak Itzhaki resulted in a Basel own goal to begin the unthinkable comeback. Just two minutes later a huge goal by Eran Zahavi cut the Basel lead to 2:3 giving Maccabi a good feeling about themselves heading into the locker room at halftime. Just 10 minutes into the second half, Mahran Radi scored a unbelievable goal drawing Maccabi even at 3:3 as the fans went into ecstasy. However, Maccabi needed two goals to move onto the next round and couldn't get another one by Basel as the game ended 3:3.
September 19, 2013, Maccabi Tel Aviv – APOEL Nicosia 0:0
Maccabi Tel Aviv played their first match of the Europa League group stages at home with over 11,000 fans in attendance at Bloomfield Stadium in an attempt to help the club begin their European campaign on the right foot. Maccabi controlled the flow of the match but couldn't break through for the stingy APOEL defense that was frustrating the home side. But just prior to the final whistle, Eran Zahavi was pulled down in the box giving the Yellow-and-Blue a last minute penalty that Barak Itzhaki would ultimately miss as the match would end with the clubs splitting the points.
November 11, 2013, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Frankfurt 4:2
After an away loss to Frankfurt, Maccabi hosted the German side at Bloomfield Stadium in an unforgettable match. Within the first 35 minutes Maccabi put the pedal to the metal as Barak Itzhaki with a brace and Eran Zahavi with a goal of his own, shell shocked the visitors. In the second half though, Frankfurt began to mount a comeback scoring two goals to cut the Maccabi lead to 3:2. However, it was Zahavi who put the exclamation mark on the match as his chip shot penalty put away the game giving Maccabi one their greatest European victories.
December 12, 2013, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Bordeaux 1:0
In the last match of the group stages, Maccabi faced Bordeaux for a second time after defeating the French side on the road in the first round of games. The driving rain and cold temperatures didn't keep any of the fans away as Bloomfield Stadium was filled to the rafters to witness Monas Dabbur collect a penalty in the 74th minute in the Bordeaux box. Eran Zahavi stepped up and scored from 11 metres sending the soaking wet Yellow-and-Blue supporters into delirium as Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced to the Round of 32 in the Europa League.
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February 20, 2014, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Basel 0:0
After meeting Basel in the third round of Champions League qualifying earlier in the season, the club's were drawn together again, but this time in the Europa League Round of 32. Bloomfield Stadium was sold out once more as both Paulo Sousa and Basel coach Murat Yakin played a game of chess on the football pitch that ended in a scoreless draw sending the decisive match back to Switzerland.
