In his first match in charge, Maccabi’s newly appointed coach Georgios Donis made several changes to the side which won the Super Cup last week. Veteran captain Sheran Yeini returned the heart of defense as he lined up alongside Eitan Tibi with Enric Saborit and Maor Kandil as the two full backs. Dan Glazer, Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan were the three man midfielders while Eduardo Gurrero and Eylon Almog made their senior European debuts upfront alongside Nick Blackman.
With Sudova beating Flora Tallinn in a penalty shoot-out Maccabi will travel to Lithuania and face the side which knocked them out of the Europa League qualifier last season.
Maccabi’s frontline trio tried testing Riga’s keeper from long range in the opening stages but on all three occasions the shots missed the target. In the 25th minute Dor Peretz came close as he blasted a fierce drive which Riga’s keeper Robert Ozols managed to punch before the danger was cleared. Right on the half hour mark Guerrero was given the time and space on the right as he floated a pinpoint cross which found Blackman unmarked. But the header the Englishman directed bounced off the base of the post. Two minutes later Macabi struck the woodwork once again, this time Avi Rikan curled a shot from the edge of the area which beat the keeper but hit the crossbar.
Peretz had another shot blocked and Almog forced Ozols to stretch himself and turn his shot out for a corner which Eitan Tibi headed over.
Maccabi were awarded a penalty on 58 as Blackman fed Rikan who was tripped by a defender inside the area. Blackman stepped up and blasted the spot kick into the net and give Maccabi a well deserved lead.
In the 71st minute Riga’s crossbar was rattled once again this time for a Peretz right foot shot after Almog had his initial effort blocked. Blackman was tripped on the edge of the area by Herdi Prenga on 74 giving Biton a chance to open his account only to see the wall deny the midfielder.
Donis introduced Ben Chaim to mark his return to Maccabi as the winger came on for Almog in the 81th minute while Itay Schechter replaced Peretz for the final 7 minutes.
A counter attack which began with Dan Glazer who fed Ben Chaim in the 85th minute resulted with Schechter being denied by Riga’s keeper. Within a minute Maccabi were awarded a second penalty as Schechter was impeded and Blackman fired in his second spot kick.
