Preview:

Carrying a 3-0 lead from last week’s first leg in Hungary, Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola for the return leg of the Europa League Playoff.

This was a return to familiar grounds for Coach Zarko Lazetic and his coaching staff who spent the past two seasons at TSC, but also for the Maccabi players as the 4500 capacity stadium hosted their Conference League matches last season.

On his first return to his former hunting ground where he guided TSC last season in the Europa League group stage, Lazetic was aiming to secure Maccabi a place in tomorrow’s Europa League draw in Monaco.

Lazetic, made three changes to his starting line-up as Roy Revivo stepped in for Ofir Davidzada at left back. Other than that Maccabi’s defensive line remained unchanged Tyrese Asante and Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders with Sagiv Jehezkel on the right completing the back-four in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Joris van Overeem returned to the midfield anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsy and Dor Peretz completing Maccabi’s midfield trio.

Henry Addo returned to the side on one wing with Osher Davida on the opposite flank supplying the width to Maccabi’s formation. After scoring the opener against the Serbians last week, Dor Turgeman kept his place upfront in a bid to add to the two goals he scored for Maccabi this season.

While new signing Nemanja Stojic joined Maccabi after the deadline for this stage, the Serbian defender was unable to make a return to his former club as well but instead limited to watch both his former and new teammates from the stands.

On the bench Lazetic named amongst the substitutes goalkeeper Osher Melika, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Eran Zahavi, Dan Biton, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada, Issouf Sissokho, Matan Baltaxa, Hisham Layous, Ido Shahar and Nir Bitton.

First Half

Maccabi and Lazetic couldn’t have wished for a better start as they took the lead with less than two minutes on the clock and at the end of a spectacular team effort. Tyrese Asante picked Osher Davida with a long diagonal ball before the winger knocked it down for Dor Peretz. Maccabi’s captain on the night flicked the ball to Gabi Kanichowsky who slipped it for Henry Addo. With only the keeper to beat the Ghanian forward kept his calm and found the bottom far corner with a clinical finish.

Three minutes after scoring his debut goal for Maccabi, Addo celebrated a brace with Kanichowsky adding another assist. The diminutive midfielder chipped the ball over the defense before Addo volleyed home his second in style. Maccabi continued to dominate as they were rewarded for their efforts in the 12th minute as Asante scored his debut goal. TSC’s defense failed to clear a corner which fell to Asante at the far post before the Dutch defender swept the ball home from close range to give Maccabi a 3-0 early lead. 

In the 17th minute Dor Turgeman came close to join in the celebration as he curled a free kick from 25 meters out which narrowly missed the target. Maccabi took their foot off the pedal a bit allowing TSC to gradually gain possession but Joris van Overeem, Asante and Raz Shlomo thwarted any attempts to reach Roi Mishpati. In the 35th minute Davida tested Veljko Ilic with a powerful drive which the keeper pushed for a corner. Maccabi’s well drilled corner saw the ball reach Roy Revivo who blasted his effort high over the crossbar. Two minutes later at the opposite end Mishpati was drawn into the action but Maccabi’s keeper was well positioned to catch the long range effort which was fired at him.

On the brink of halftime Maccabi charged forward for yet another counter attack but Turgeman who picked the ball on the edge of the area, managed to send his dipping low drive wide of the post.

Second Half

With a 3-0 lead at halftime and 6-0 on aggregate, Lazetic, made two changes at the restart. Idan Nachmias came on for Sagiv Jehezkel at right-back while Hisham Layous came on for Osher Davida on the left wing.

In the 52nd minute TSC came close to cut the deficit as Aleksandar Cirkovic picked Milos Pantovic unmarked at the far post before the forward who had the goal at his mercy headed wide. Maccabi extended their lead to 4-0 on 56 as van Overeem picked the ball in the middle of the park and fed Peretz whose flick released Turgeman through. The 20-year-old striker charged forward and slotted his shot beyond the reach of Ilic to score his third goal of 

In the 62nd minute Aleksa Pejic managed to make his way through past Maccabi’s defensive line, but a last gasp tackle from van Overeem prevented the TSC player from having a shot on goal. Lazetic reacted with a triple change as he introduced Nir Bitton for Shlomo at the back, Ido Shahar replaced Peretz in midfield while Elad Madmon came on for Turgeman upfront.the campaign.

A minute later TSC had their best chance as Pejic blasted a shot which beat Mishpati and hit the underside of the crossbar only to land in front of the goal-line before the danger was cleared. With the tie clearly put to bed, Maccabi kept pushing forward trying to increase their lead as Shahar and Layous could have done better on 81 only for the winger to miscue his shot at the keeper. Bitton required medical treatment in the 84th minute for a cut above his eye and returned to the field a couple of minutes later with a blue bandage over his head.

In the 89th minute Maccabi scored the fifth as Roy Revivo broke into the box and fired a left foot shot which was saved by Ilic before Shahar pounced on the lose ball and tapped in the rebound from point blank range.Inside injury time TSC scored a consolation goal as a poor clearance of a corner fell to Prestige Mbounngou whose toe poke went in off the post to set the score on 5-1.

 

A day after completing his transfer from Red Star Belgrade, Nemanja Stojic held his first practice session at the PenguinPickUp training complex. The Serbian central defender met his new teammates who were preparing for the return leg in Serbia against the club he played until this summer.

Maccabi and Stojic are set to take off to Serbia later today ahead of Thursday’s return leg as Zarko Lazetic’s side is carrying a 3-0 lead from last week’s match in Hungary.

For Lazetic, Stojic and the Maccabi players this match is set to be a return to a familiar surroundings. Lazetic and Stojic coached and played for TSC respectively, while Maccabi hosted its Conference League home matches at the stadium in Backa Topola.

Nemanja Stojic joined Maccabi from Red Star Belgrade after an agreement was reached between the two clubs for the transfer of the Serbian international who signed a three-year deal with an option to extend by a further season.

The 26-year-old central defender (190cm) represented his country’s national team twice and was included in Serbia’s squad for the Euro Finals

Shortly after successfully completing his medical and signing his contract, Stojic, who will wear the number 18 jersey at Maccabi told the official website: “Maccabi is a club with a rich history I heard about from a young age as the biggest in Israel. I am very happy to be here and join Maccabi and work again under Zarko Lazetic and his staff who were so influential in my career. I hope to help Maccabi win as many domestic titles as possible and do well in Europe. Can’t wait to start.”

Stojic made his first footballing footsteps at the youth academies of Begrade clubs Partizan and Vozdovac before switching to Red Star. He had loan spells with Graficar Belgrade (twice) and Zlatibor Cajetina and moved in 2021 to Metalac Gornij Milanova. The following season Stojic joined TSC Backa Topola where he played under Zarko Lazetic scoring 8 goals in 95 appearances.

Stojic’s performances for TSC led to him being named in Serbia’s SuperLiga team of the 2023/24 season and earned him a call up to the national team followed by a summer move to Red Star.

 

Elad Madmon made a second half substitute appearance at the Haladas stadium in Szombathely Hungary and celebrated his European debut with a goal. The 20-year-old forward who joined Maccabi in the summer from Hapoel Hadera scored Maccabi’s third goal to increase the chances of reaching the Europa League group stages ahead of next week’s return leg away to Backa Topola. “I am delighted to score especially as this is for the biggest club in Israel” Madmon said minutes after scoring his debut goal in Yellow and Blue. “I hope to continue scoring in the league and in other competitions as well and if if I don’t – that we would continue playing well and enjoy ourselves.”

“A debut goal in a European match, there are no words to describe the feelings” he added: “I hope to continue this way, work hard and give everything to prove that I deserve to be on the pitch.”

On the first match of a two-legged tie which could end with a place in the Europa League group stage, Madmon added: “We played really well and hope that in the next match we will not take out foot off the pedal and continue scoring.”

On his move from Hadera to Maccabi: “I took a massive leap and I am delighted to arrive at such a massive club. Now I hope that we’d arrive ready for the next match, win it and reach the next stage”.

The 20-year-old who scored his second goal of the campaign to give Maccabi a three-goal-lead ahead of the return leg, said at the end of the match: “It is an important step ahead of next week, but we still have another game to play to complete the job there” Turgeman said, “We started the match well, scored a goal as they received two red cards and I am delighted we scored two more in the second half”.

On what was said in the dressing room at halftime following the two red cards TSC received, Turgeman added: “Our aim was to score as many goals as possible. Against 9 men who are sitting on the edge of the box it is not easy. One has to be patient which is what we were as we scored two more goals.”

On returning to Backa Topola where Maccabi suffered a 6-1 defeat to Olympiacos last season Turgeman reflected: “This memory is still in our minds but we will be a 100% prepared and hope to reach the next stage.”

On rumours linking him to a move abroad: “My head is only at Maccabi Tel Aviv and I am delighted with this victory. We are preparing for next week.”

Preview

Maccabi returned to the Haladas stadium in Szombathely where they saw off FK Panevezys last week for the first leg of the Europa League Playoff against TSC Backa Topola.

With a place in the group stage at stake and against his former club where he spent the past two years, Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, who on Sunday guided Maccabi to the Toto Cup Final as well, made some changes to his starting line-up.

Tyrese Asate who served a one match touchline ban in the last match, completed his suspension and return to partner Raz Shlomo at the heart of defense. Sagiv Jehezkel on the right and Ofir Davidzada on the left completed the back-four in front of goalkeeper Roy Mishpati.

Issouf Sissokho who impressed against Bnei Sakhnin on Sunday kept his place in the anchorman role at the expense of Joris van Overeem while Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completed Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida who scored his debut goal of the campaign against Sakhnin was named by Lazetic on one wing with Hisham Layous on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman led Maccabi’s frontline as the young striker will aim to put behind him the late penalty miss at Bloomfield.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Avishay Cohen, Roy Revivo, Idan Nachmias, Eran Zahavi, Dan Biton, Joris van Overeem, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Matan Baltaxa, Ido Shahar and Nor Bitton.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot dominating the early stages right from the start as an Osher Davida cross from the left in the third minute caused TSC’s defense all sorts of problems before the danger was cleared. Three minutes later Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky exchanged passes on the edge of the box before Maccabi’s captain on the night pulled the trigger but Veljko Ilic was well positioned to catch the ball. Maccabi continued to press as Dor Turgeman rose high to meet Sagiv Jehezkel’s cross but guided his header wide in the 11th minute.

Supported by a wall of noise created by 60 traveling Serbian fans who made the 6 hour long bus trip from Backa Topola, TSC slowly got themselves in the game. In the 23rd minute Kanichowsky and Peretz combined once again as the diminutive midfielder whipped in a cross which was met by a volley that wasn’t powerful enough to beat the keeper. Four minutes later Maccabi’s pressure on TSC paid off and the deadlock was finally broken. Hisham Layous tormented the TSC defenders down the left before squaring for Kanichoesky whose initial shot was blocked and fell to Peretz who was also denied by a defender. Turgeman latched on the loose ball and rifled in the rebound to put Maccabi in front with his second goal of the campaign.

In the 40th minute Maccabi charged forward for a counter attack through Sagiv Jehezkel before Peretz released Turgeman through. But the young forward was brought down by Mateja Đorđević as Austrian referee Sebastian Gishamer needed the intervention of VAR to send off the Serbian defender.TSC were reduced to 10 men but as the fourth official signaled two minutes of added time, Mihajlo Banjac flung himself and threatened to slice Issouf Sissokho into two. Gishamer booked the defender but was called to the screen and changed his initial decision to a red card leaving TSC with 9 players for the remainder of the game.

Second Half

With a two man numerical disadvantage TSC slowed the game in the second half as Maccabi tried to find an opening and increase their lead. Sissokho went into the referee’s book for a professional foul on Aleksa Pejic. Right on the hour mark Zarko Lazetic made a triple change as he replaced Ofir Davidzada with Roy Revivo at left back. Dan Biton replaced Layous and Osher Davida was replaced by Eran Zahavi.

With Zahavi lining up alongside Turgeman upfront the impact was almost instant as Maccabi doubled their lead three minutes later. Biton floated a cross which was headed by Turgeman across the face of goal before Peretz sent his header that Ilic couldn’t keep out as it went in off crossbar to make it 2-0.

Roy Mishpati who was hardly challenged until that stage came to the rescue almost right after the restart as he charged off his line to block Sasa Jovanovic. Lazetic made his fourth substitution on 74 as he introduced Elad Madmon for Sissokho allowing the 20-year-old forward make his European debut for Maccabi.

Eight minutes later Biton played a key role in Maccabi’s third as he floated a pinpoint diagonal cross allowing Madmon tp flick home from close range and celebrate his debut Maccabi goal. Turgeman bowed out to a round of applauds by the small number of Maccabi fans present as he was replaced by Ido Shahar for the final six minutes of regular time.