Maccabi faces Lithuania champions FK Panevezys tomorrow for the Europa League 3rd qualifying round first leg at the LFF stadium in Vilnius.

Prior to departure the team held a training session at Kiryat Shalom with new signing Issouf Sissokho training for the first time since joining the club. The team then headed to Ben Gurion airport before taking off to Warsaw and then continuing to the Lithuanian capital.

Should Maccabi see off Lithuanian champions FK Panevėžys, Head Coach Zarko Lazetic and his coaching staff could face a return to their former club TSC. The draw that could send Maccabi to Serbia might see the team return to Bačka Topola where they hosted last season’s matches following the draw

As the teams qualifying from the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League are not known at the time of the draw, the coefficient of the team with the higher coefficient of the two teams involved in each undecided UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie is used for the seeding for the purposes of the draw. Therefore, if a team in a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie has a coefficient that would entitle it to be seeded for the UEFA Europa League play-offs draw, the winner of that tie is automatically seeded for the draw.

Furthermore, as the teams entering the competition from the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League (champions path) are not known at the time of the draw, the coefficient of the team with the lower coefficient of the two teams involved in each undecided UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie is used for the seeding for the purposes of the draw. 

Should Macabi drop to the Comference League they face the winner between Moldovan side FC Petrocub and The New Saints FC of Wales.

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest for the Champions League second qualifying round return leg against Romanian champions BSCB. Last week’s 1-1 draw in Bucharest means that a victory for Zarko Lazetic’s side will see them through to the 3rd qualifying for a tie against Czech Republic champions Sparta Prague.

Lazetic made one change to the side that was held to a 1-1 draw in Bucharest with Tyrese Asante starting at right back while Idan Nachmias shifted across to the back to partner Raz Shlomo at the heart of defense. Ophir Davidzada on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four that lined up in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati.

Maccabi’s midfield engine room remained in tact as Joris van Overeem, Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz were named by Lazetic as the midfield trio.

Dan Biton who came off the bench last week to score Maccabi’s goal started on one wing with Henry Addo on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out with the captain’s armband aiming to break his European duck this season and add to his total of 30 international goals for Maccabi.

On the bench Lazetic named new signing Sagiv Jehezkel for the first time since rejoining Maccabi last week. Goalkeepers Ofek Melika and Roei Amedi were joined by Avishay Cohen, Yonas Malede, Matan Hozez, Nadav Niddam, Sagiv Jehezkel, Matan Baltaxa, Saied Abu Farchi, Shahar Rosen, Roy Nawi and Nir Bitton all waiting for a chance to make an impact.

Prior to kickoff a minute of silence was observed in memory of the 12 boys and girls who were murdered last week whilst playing football in Majdal Shams in the north of Israel.

First Half

Supported by around 400 travelling fans from Bucharest as opposed to the 200 Maccabi fans who arrived from Israel – the visitors began the match on the front foot. In the second minute, Maccabi avoided an early scare after Risto Radunovic dispossessed Dan Biton near the halfway line. FCSB”s left back charged forward only for his square ball to roll across the face of goal. Two minutes later David Miculescu caught Maccabi’s defense flat and broke into the area before dragging his shot wide of the target.

In the 15th minute Henry Addo and Darius Olaru required medical treatment following a head collision which saw the FCSB captain return to the pitch with a red bandage covering his head. Eran Zahavi tried sending Dor Peretz through on 23 but his pass into the area was too deep allowing goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu to charge off his goal line and collect before Peretz could reach. At the opposite end a minute later Marus Stefanescu tested Roi Mishpati with a fierce left foot drive from the corner of the area which was equaled by the Maccabi custodian.

Five minutes after the haf hour mark Zahavi had two attempts from the edge of the area blocked by the visiting defense. A minute later Mishpati was at full stretch to push Olaru’s half volley onto the crossbar and out for a corner.

Valerin Cretu was booked by referee Jeremie Pignard for a foul on Addo while Alexandru Baluta was also shown the yellow card shortly before the break.

Second Half

Lazetic made a change after the restart introducing Sagiv Jehezkel for his renewed Maccabi debut as the winger replaced Dan Biton. Lazetic’s FCSB counterpart Elias Charlambous made a double change himself as Luis Phelipe and William Baeten came on for Stefanescu and Baluta. Addo tried curling a shot with his right on 53 but the Ghanian forward opted for power rather than accuracy as his effort sailed high and wide.

Right on the hour mark both of FCSB’s substitutions almost paid off as Baeten whipped in a cross which exposed Maccabi’s defense but Phelipe couldn’t connect. Gabi Kanichowsky also picked a booking for protesting a referee decision on 62 as Maccabi’s players collected cautions which could prove costly at a later stage.

In the 70th minute Lazetic made another change with Idan Nachmias limping off clutching his calf muscle as he was replaced by Matan Baltaxa. A minute later FCSB’s claims for a penalty were waived by the referee after Mihai Lixandru dribbled into the area but went down way too easy following a challenge by Maccabi’s defense. Zahavi tried another shot which the keeper couldn’t hold on to before Charlambous introduced Daniel Popa for Miculescu. This was Zahavi’s last action on the night as Lazetic also swapped his strikers on 77 with Zahavi bowing out and replaced by Yonas Malede.

Second before the fourth official signaled that five minutes will be added on and the prospect of 30 minutes of extra time would decide the tie, FCSB scored their goal.

Maccabi were awarded a free kick near FCSB’s area, but the visitors managed to clear and charge for a counter attack from which Baeten managed to score.

The Romanians were celebrated at the final whistle and with the Champions League dream over, Maccabi continue their European expeditions in the Europa League as they travel to Lithuania next.

Maccabi’s European campaign will continue as they now face Lithuania’s FK Panevėžys on August 6th before hosting the return leg at Haladás stadium in Hungary on August 15th