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Seeking a second qualification

Maccabi managed only once in the past to reach the Europa League round of 32 – it happened during the 2013/14 season. Paulo Sousa guided Maccabi to second place in the group which also included Germain outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, French side Bordeaux and Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia which was then coached by Georgios Donis.

In the three other seasons Maccabi reached the Europa league group stages, the team didn’t advance through 2016/17 (3rd), 2011/12 and 2017/18 (4th).

In the 2013/14 season Maccabi reached the final Match Day 6 knowing that only a defeat at home to Bordeaux and a victory of APOEL Nicosia over Frankfurt could prevent a historic qualification. Maccabi completed the job and beat the French side thanks to an Eran Zahavi penalty.

In the match which took place two days short of seven years ago on December 12th 2013, Maccabi’s current players Sheran Yeini, Tal Ben Chaim and Eytan Tibi played as did Barak Itzhaki who started the match and Team Manager Yoav Ziv who made a second half substitute appearance.

What is Maccabi’s record on the final Match Day?

Historically, the sixth and final group stage match day is also Maccabi’s most successful. Maccabi’s has an 83% success rate on the final match day of the Europa League with 3 victories and 1 draw (3-3 away to Dynamo Kiev in 2011/12). The best success rate of all Maccabi’s match days.

And how do Maccabi fair in the knockout stages?

Besides the group stage matches, every European tie (in qualification or after the group stages) is a knockout phase.

Maccabi played 53 knockout ties in Europe (50 ties and 3 one-off matches this season). The summary: Maccabi successfully won 33 and were eliminated in 20.

The latest goal Maccabi scored which changed the outcome of the two legged tie was Liran Cohen’s 88th minute goal in the return leg against HJK Helsinki in the 2004/05 Champions League 2nd qualifying round.

After the 0-0 draw in Helsinki, Cohen scored the goal which secured Maccabi a place in the Playoff ahead of a historic qualification to the Champions league group stages.