Maccabi Tel Aviv host Olympiacos for the return leg of the Conference League Round of 16 at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia on Thursday at 21:00.

If you would like to support Maccabi in what could prove to be another historic night, ISSTA prepared a package for an extremely attractive price.

The package which includes: a flight, accommodation and tickets for the match is priced at EUR 799.

Direct flight from Tel Aviv to Belgrade

3 nights in a 3 star hotel

Transportation: Airport – Hotel – Stadium – Hotel – Airport

Please note! Number of packages are limited so don’t miss out. To order online please click here or dial 03-7775490

 Ticket prices:

Gates 4/5/6 (unmarked) NIS 93

Silver 2: NIS 180

To purchase tickets separately please click here

A month after Maccabi Petah Tikva suffered a 4-0 league defeat at Bloomfield, they will host Maccabi at Hamoshava stadium in the Quarter Final of the State Cup. The draw which took place at the IFA’s headquarters on Thursday, teamed both clubs up for the tie that is scheduled to be played at the beginning of April.

Hapoel Petah Tikva will host Hapoel Be’ersheva while Maccabi Haifa host Maccabi Netanya. The second division are guaranteed to have a representative in the Semi Final after Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Hapoel Nof Hagallil were drawn to face each other.
As opposed to the last few years, the Quarter Finals will return to the format of a one-off knockout match. Matches are scheduled to take place on April 2^nd and 3^rd with exact dates and kickoff times to be published in due course.

Quarter Final draw:
Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Hapoel Be’ersheva
Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Netanya
Ironi Kiryat Shmona (2^nd) vs Hapoel Nof Hagallil (2^nd)

Maccabi will play its’ 180^th match in European competitions and the highest stage it reached, or any other Israeli side reached in 24 years seasons.

This will be the fourth time Maccabi advanced past the group stage and into the knockout phase of a European competition.

The 2023/24 campaign is the first time since 1992/93 when Israeli clubs joined European competitions where two clubs (Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa) are playing at the Round 16.

Olympiacos is one of 83 opponents Maccabi faced in Europe – 6 of weeks are Greek.

Maccabi faced Olympiacos in the 2010/11 at the Europa League 3^rd qualifying round. Maccabi suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium and won the return leg at Bloomfield 1-0 to advance to the Playoffs on the away goal rule.

Maccabi’s record against Greek sides in 12 encounters currently stands on 8 victories and 4 defeats.

In 6 ties against Greek opponents, Maccabi advanced 5 times and were eliminated once.

Maccabi’s highest victory against a Greek opponent (3-0) was recorded in the 2011/12 Europa League Playoff. Eliran Atar (2) and Mousa Konate were on target as Maccabi beat Panathinaikos 3-0.

The record between Israeli and Greek clubs currently stands on 12 victories for the Israeli clubs, 14 victories for the Greeks and 7 draws with a total goal tally of 48-43 in the Greeks favor.

 

Maccabi take on Greek giants Olympiacos Piraeus on Thursday (19:45) for a historic match as they play the first leg of the Conference League Round of 16 tie. The day before the game (Wednesday) the team flew out to Athens ahead of the match at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

Earlier this morning the players and staff arrived at Ben Gurion Airport from where the 2-hour-long flight departed. Later today the team will hold the pre-match press conference and final practice session at the stadium. Around 1500 Maccabi fans will have made their way from Israel to support the team at the 33,334 capacity stadium which is expected to be full.

Maccabi advanced to this stage for the first time in its history having won the group that had Breidablick of Iceland, Belgian side Gent and Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine. Olympiacos reached this stage after knocking out Ferencvaros of Hungary.

Olympiacos featured for the majority of their European campaign in the EUROPA League group phase where they finished third of their respective group. The previous encounter between Maccabi and Olympiacos was played in the 2010/11 season as the first leg of the Europa League qualifier played in Greece. Maccabi cancelled Olympiacos’ 2-1 lead from the first leg to win the return leg 1-0 thanks to Roberto Colauti winning goal to advance on the away goal rule.

Maccabi’s historic run in the Conference League reaches a new peak on Thursday (19:45) as Robbie Keane’s side face Greek giants Olympiacos for the first leg of the Round of 16. Shortly before Maccabi take on Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, we take a close look into the Greek giants.

This is the second time Maccabi face Olympiacos in the EUROPA League 3^rd qualifying round of the 2010/11 season. Roberto Colauti headed the winner at Bloomfield as Maccabi won the first leg 1-0 before Haris Medunjanin scored a consolation penalty in Greece which proved enough to secure a 2-2 draw and qualification to the Playoffs on the away goals rule.

A positive momentum before Maccabi?

Olympiacos reached the Round of 16 after spending most of their European season in then EUROPA League and finished third in a group that included West Ham, Freiburg and Backa Topola. After dropping into the Conference League Playoff phase, Olympiacos beat Hungarian side Ferencvaros 2-0 on aggregate playing one of their best matches in the past two years to restore some confidence.

Olympiacos’ recent good form is in complete contrast to last season’s big disappointment when their hopes of reaching the Champions League were ended by Maccabi Haifa in the qualifying stage. Last season’s disappointment led to the playing squad undergoing a massive overhaul.

In terms of their domestic league campaign, on the eve of the match against Maccabi, Olympiacos are currently ranked third in the Greek table. Olympiacos trail leaders Paok Thessaloniki by three points and are two points adrift of champions AEK Athens.         

Olympiacos host Maccabi at the 33,334 capacity Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium which is set to be full – a star contract to Maccabi’s previous visit 14 years ago as the match was staged behind closed doors.

 

A EUROPA League winner on the touchlines

The role of the Head Coach at Olympiacos hasn’t been the most stable recently as Jose Luis Mendilibar was appointed last month. The 62-year-old Spaniard who managed for over 15 years in La Liga at Athletic Bilbao, Valladolid, Osasuna, Levante, Eibar, Alaves and Sevilla replaced Carlos Carbahal who was dismissed after three months only. Diego Martinez began the 2023/24 campaign but he was also dismissed in December due to a poor start to the season.

It seems however that despite the managerial changes, Olympiacos are enjoying a positive momentum under Mendilibar who won the EUROPA League with Sevila last season.

Olympiacos’ big name squad

The squad of Olympiacos features a host of quality players as the leading name is 28-year-old Portuguese winger Daniel Podence who is on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Olympiacos’ captain and Greek playmaker Kostas Fortunounis and winger Georgios Masouras. Moroccan international striker Ayoub El Kaabi leads the attack with 15-league goals this season as he edged out fellow countryman and vice-captain Youssef El Arabi. 28-year-old Portuguese midfielder Chiquinnho arrived from Benfica is also a big name, but the player with the most prolific career is 34-year-old Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic. The former Partizan Belgrade, Fiorentina, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Sevila, Monaco and Hertha striker will challenge Maccabi’s defense as he normally makes an appearance from the substitutes bench.

Olympiacos’ back-line is not short of quality either and includes Panagiotis Retsos and David Carmo who arrived from Porto on loan. Brazilian full back Rodinei causes a threat from his wide position while Israeli international Doron Leidner recently recovered from a long-term knee injury and will not face Maccabi after not being registered to play.