The Conference League Round of 32 first leg against PSV Eindhoven will be Maccabi’s 160 match in European competitions – more than any other Israeli club.
Maccabi twice in the past advanced to a European knockout phase in the 2013/14 and the 2020/21 seasons. On both occasions Maccabi ended the group stage in 2nd place to reach the round of 32.
In 2013/14 Maccabi faced Swiss outfit FC Basel and after a 0-0 draw at Bloomfield, were eliminated after suffering a 3-0 defeat at the St. Jakob Park stadium. Two players from the current squad participated in these matches: Sheran Yeini andTal Ben Chaim.
Last season Maccabi was drawn for a double headed tie against Shakhtar Donetsk as the Ukrainian side won 2-0 at Bloomfield and 1-0 in Kiev.
Maccabi played six matches against Dutch opponents and have a record of 3 victories, 2 defeats and 1 draw.
In the 2001/02 season Maccabi played against Roda JC Kerkrade in the 2nd round of the UEFA Cup, suffered a 4-1 defeat in Holland and won 2-1 in Tel Aviv to lose 3-5 on aggregate.
In the 2004/05 season Maccabi played Ajax in the Champions League Group stage were beaten 3-0 at the Amsterdam Arena and won the return leg 2-1 at Ramat Gan’s national stadium.
Maccabi’s third Dutch opponents was AZ Alkmaar in the 2016/17 Europa League group phase. Maccabi beat AZ at the AFAS stadium in Alkmaar 2-1 before ending their match at Netanya in a 0-0 draw.
Eran Zahavi will not be the first Israeli to play against Maccabi in Europe but will be the first former player to do so as part of an international competition.
Manor Solomon started for Shakhtar Donetsk against Maccabi in both legs of the Europa League Round of 32 tie last season.
In the 2014/15 season, Sintayehu Sallallich made two substitute appearances for NK Maribor in the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round.
