Maccabi will kick off its 26th campaign in European competitions, and its 13th season in succession, more than any other Israeli club.
To date Maccabi played 195 matches in European competitions, winning 85 matches, losing 69 with 41 matches ending in a draw. Maccabi’s total goal tally which currently stands on 275 goals scored and 239 conceded.
A total of 231 players represented Maccabi in the various European competitions as Sheran Yeini holds the club’s European appearance record with 84 international matches. While the former captain leads the appearance chart, current captain Dor Peretz shares second place with former defender Eitan Tibi, each with 73 appearances.
Eighty nine different players scored for Maccabi in European competitions as Eran Zahavi is the top scorer with 30 goals to his name.
A day short of a year ago, on July 23rd 2024, Maccabi kicked off its European campaign with a 1-1 draw against Romanian Champions Steaua Bucharest. This was Maccabi’s only draw in European match away from home last season, out of 14 matches together with 6 victories and 7 defeats.
Maccabi advanced through the first round of entry in Europe 19 times and were eliminated 6 times.
Maccabi’s record in European season-opening matches currently stands on 14 victories, 5 draws, and 6 defeats. The biggest victory in the opening match was a 6-0 win over Lithuanian side Zalgiris Vilnius at the start of the 2001/02 season.
A total of 30 Maccabi players scored in the opening match of a European campaign. Baruch Dego (who scored the only hat-trick by a Maccabi player in an opening match) and Nosa Igiebor hold the record for most goals in a season’s opening match with 3 goals each.
The fastest goal in a European season-opening match was a 3rd minute goal scored by Andreas Prohorenkovs against Estonian side Levadia Tallinn that Maccabi won 2-0 in the 2002/03 season.
Pafos will be Maccabi’s 92nd opponent in European competitions, after winning a historic league title in Cyprus last season. This is Pafos’ second season in Europe, having reached the Conference League Round of 16 last year. It will be Pafos’ first encounter with an Israeli club in Europe.
Maccabi played 6 ties against Cypriot opponents. Maccabi were eliminated by APOEL Nicosia in the nd qualifying round of the UEFA Cup 2005/06 (1:0 loss away and 2:2 draw at Bloomfield). Maccabi had two 0:0 draws with APOEL Nicosia during the successful EUROPA League group stage of the 2013/14 season. Maccabi advanced past AEK Larnaca (1-1 away and 1-0 victory at Bloomfield) in the Conference League 3rd qualifying round of the 2023/24 season.
Prior to this season, Maccabi played in 11 Champions League qualifying campaigns. The team advanced to the group stage twice, in the 2004/05 and 2015/16 campaign.
