Zarko Lazetic’s side arrived at Ben Gurion airport this morning before departing to Budapest. The team will hold its final practice session at the Bozsik Arena, the venue they host the Romanian champions.

Two days before the Olympic Games opening ceremony the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament gets underway with Israel playing Mali in Group D.

Five Maccabi players were initially named in the Israel squad for the tournament which will be played from 24 July to 9 August. However, a 2-match suspension Roy Revivo is carrying from the national team following red cards against Kosovo and Iceland, sidelined the full-back from the matches against Mali and Paraguay.

Parc de Princes in Paris will host Israel’s opening match against Mali that qualified to the tournament by winning the decision play-off against Guinea for the last of three available spots at the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, Morocco.

While Israel’s football team is making its’ first appearance in the Olympics for the first time since Montreal 1976, Mali is marking its’ return to the Olympics for the first time in two decades having featured in Athens 2004.

Sixteen countries reached the final tournament: Argentina, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Guinea, Israel, Iraq, Japan, Mali, Morocco, New Zealand. Paraguay, Spain, Ukraine, USA and Uzbekistan.

Guy Luzon’s U23 national side were draw into Group D together with Mali, Paraguay, and Japan. The top two seeds of each group qualify for the Quarter Finals which will be played on August 2^nd, with the winners facing each other in the Semi Finals on August 5^th. The battle for bronze will be played on August 8^th while the Final which will decide what country wins the Silver and Gold medals set for the Parce de Princess on August 9^th.

Dan Biton marked a second half substitute appearance against Steaua to score Maccabi’s goal in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round that ended 1-1 in Bucharest.

“The result is a fair reflection of the actual game,” Biton said “In our eyes a draw is never a good result as we always want to win at every ground regardless of the opponent.”

Maccabi will host the return leg in Budapest next week as international matches are not being staged in Israel since October 7th last year forcing Maccabi to host at a neutral venue. “We will have Bloomfield next week and will miss the support of our fans, but there will be no excuses. We will try and make the fans who follow us there happy as well as those staying at home supporting us from afar. Our aim will be to advance through. This was only the first half as we will be fully charged for the return leg.”

Preview:

For their 25th European campaign, Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the Stadionul Steaua in Bucharest to play the Champions League 2nd qualifying round first leg against the Romanian champions. While Maccabi lined-up for the 182nd European match, Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, guided the team for his first international match in charge. Lazetic, who won his first official match beating Maccabi Petah Tikva in the Super Cup, didn’t make too many changes to his starting line up.

Tyrese Asante who made his Maccabi debut as a second half substitute against Petah Tikva at Bloomfield, was handed his first start to partner Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders. Idan Nachmias at right-back and Ofir Davidzada on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati.

The midfield trio of Joris van Overeem, Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz was kept as Maccabi’s engine room in Bucharest. With no Felicio Milson in the squad, and in the absence of the five players Roy Revivo, Ido Shahar, Osher Davida, Dor Turgeman and Elad Madmon who are with the Israel Olympic team, Lazetic named Avishay Cohen on the right and Henry Addo on the left. Upfront, Eran Zahavi led the line and his team out wearing the captain’s armband aiming to add to his 30 international goals for Maccabi.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Dan Biton, Yonas Malede, Matan Hozez, Nadav Niddam, Matan Baltaxa, Saied Abu Farchi, Shahar Rosen, Roy Nawi, Bar Lin, Adir Cordoba and Nir Bitton.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot with Tyrese Asante showing no signs that this his European debut as he confidently carried the ball out of defense early on before picking Henry Addo whose cross was cleared. Maccabi continued to dominate as Eran Zahavi created himself the time and space on the edge of Steaua’s penalty area but saw his right foot shot narrowly miss the target.

The hosts began to gain control and created their chance in the 14th minute as Alexandru Baluta broke into the box from the left before curling a shot which was equalled by Roi Mishpati. In the 21st minute Asante was booked by referee Gergo Bogar for a mistimed tackle on Steaua’s Marius Stefanescu. Three minutes later Henry Addo was also cautioned while Idan Nachmias saw yellow on 28 as well for a foul on Steaua’s captain Darius Olaru.

Zahavi had another sighting of goal and pulled his trigger from the edge of the area but the 36-year-old marksman couldn’t keep his shot down as the ball curled over. While both sides enjoyed plenty of possession, none of the teams created any serious chance with Mishpati and his opposite number Steafan Tarnovanu were left untroubled before the halftime whistle was blown.

Second Half

Two minutes after the restart saw Maccabi create their best chance of the game as Addo’s backheal flick released Ofir Davidzada whose cross found Avishay Cohen. The right back who was playing as a right winger only needed to find the target but from close range side footed the ball to the wrong side of the post. A Raz Shlomo last gasp tackle in the 51st minute denied Steaua from breaking the deadlock. Four minutes later Addo threatened to break into the area from the left but was brought down by Siyabonga Ngezana before Gabi Kanichowsky’s free kick was cleared. Mishpati pulled two stunning saves in the space of two minutes as he managed to turn David Miculesco’s close range header over the bar on 55. A minute later the Maccabi custodian was at full stretch to push out Adrian Sut’s dipping header that was making its way in. Five minutes after the hour mark Zarko Lazetic made his first change as he introduced both Dan Biton and Matan Hozez for Cohen and Zahavi.

Steaua almost hit back as Baluta found himself deep inside Maccabi’s box but curled his effort wide. In the 70th minute however Lazetic’s substitution paid off as Addo dribbled into the area and before his shot was saved by the keeper only for Biton to pounce on the rebound and slot home the opener. Addo pulled a muscle, limped off and was replaced by Matan Baltaxa before the restart. In the 75th minute the hosts were back in the game as Joyskim Dawa rose high above Maccabi’s defense to guide his header past Mishpati and level the score. Steau almost scored a second two minutes later but somehow their striker dragged his shot wide. Lazetic made another change in the 80th minute as Saied Abu Farchi replaced Asante for the closing stages. Maccabi will go into next week’s Champions League 2nd qualifying round return leg in Budapest knowing that a victory will see them through to the next round.

 

The Champions League 2^nd qualifying round first leg against FCSB Steaua Bucharest will be Maccabi’s 25^th European season. This will also be Maccabi’s 12th successive European campaign which just like the total number of seasons is more than any other Israeli side.

Maccabi played 181 European matches winning 79, losing 62 with 40 matches ending in a draw with a total goal tally of 253-218.

Maccabi featured in the Champions league qualification campaign 10 teams and were successful on two attempts reaching group phase twice (2004/05 and 2015/16).

On 19 occasions Maccabi advanced past their first opponent and were knocked out after 5 double headed attempts.

Eran Zahavi is Maccabi’s leading scorer in European competitions with 30 goals to his name. Zahavi’s goal tally in European competitions for Israeli sides currently stands of 35 as he scored 5 goals whilst with Hapoel Tel Aviv which places him as the top scorer for Israeli sides in Europe. Zahavi’s total goal tally in Europe stands on 51 as he scored 16 more goals whilst at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

Baruch Dego, is the only player to score a hattrick for Maccabi in the first game and Nosa Igiebor – scored the most goals (3) in our opening match.

Steaua Bucharest will be Maccabi’s 84^th opponent in European competitions.

Romania’s Champions faced Maccabi Haifa twice in the EUROPA League group phase in 2012. Haifa won the math in Israel by 5-0 and suffered a 4-2 defeat in Bucharest. Steaua also faced Hapoel Be’ersheva in the Europa League group phase of 2018 with Be’ersheva wining 2-1 at Turner with the match in Bucharest ending in a 1-1 draw.