Maccabi opens it’s 22nd season in European competitions – more than any other Israeli club (Maccabi Haifa are 2nd playing their 20th season).
Last season’s EUROPA League Round of 32 return leg against Shakhtar Donetsk was Maccabi’s 147th match in Europe (An Israeli record) winning 59 matches, losing 56 and drawing 32 with a total goal tally of 192-187.
The match in Podgorica will be Maccabi’s first appearance in the Conference League qualifying campaign, having competed 10 times in the Champions qualifiers, 10 times in the Europa League qualifiers (5 of which in its’ previous name: UEFA Cup) as well as once in the Cup Winners Cup.
Maccabi advanced 16 times from their first encounter in Europe (a double headed tie on regular seasons and a one-off-match last season) and were knocked out on 5 occasions.
Maccabi’s highest victory in a match that began a European campaign was a 6-0 win over Lithuanian outfit Zalgiris Vilnius in the 2001/02 season.
Maccabi met 62 opponents in Europe from 38 different countries. FK Sutjeska Niksic is the second Montenegrin side to face Maccabi in Europe as FC Mogren were the opponents in 2010/11 EUROPA League qualifying round.
Two years earlier FC Mogren were also the Montenegrin opponents that played Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the 2008/09 season.
Twenty five players scored for Maccabi in the opening European match as Baruch Dego scored the only hatrick for a Maccabi player in the opening, is sharing top spot with Nosa Igiebor whop also has 3 goals to his name in opening matches.
Maccabi’s leading goal scorer in European competitions is Eran Zahavi with 15 goals, ahead of Eliran Atar (13) and Baruch Dego (9).
