Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Batumi stadium in Georgia where the home matches of the 2026/27 European campaign will be staged, to play the return leg of the Europa League second qualifying round. On the back of last week’s emphatic 5-0 victory in the first leg in Moldova, Kenny Miller’s side will aim to complete the job and secure their place in the third qualifying round against the winner between Azerbaijan side Qarabag and CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria.
The Scottish coach who is missing Tyrese Asante, Kristijan Belic and Elad Madmon through injury, made a single change to his the starting line up.
Ofek Melika kept his place in goal with Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo lining up as the three central defenders in front of him. Noam Ben Harosh and Roy Revivo supplied the width as the two wing backs on the right and left respectively. Issouf Sissokho who scored his debut Maccabi goal in Moldova was named in the anchorman role with Ido Shahar and Dor Peretz completed the midfield trio. Sagiv Jehezkel pushed forward to a more attacking wide role while Helio Varela made his first start since returning from the World Cup with Cape Verde. Saied Abu Farchi who scored a brace in his last two outings, kept his place upfront aiming to continue his goalscoring spree.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Shalev Saadya and Idan Trau, Miller named Kervin Andrade, Dan Glazer, Ori Azo, Noam Scwartz, Shahar Rosen, Itamar Noy, Itai Ben Hamo, Lotem Asres, Ilay Ben Simon and Osher Davida.
First half:
Supported by 700 Yellow fans who arrived at Batumi and started the match with a pyrotechnics display immediately after the kickoff, Maccabi began the match on the front foot. Two minutes from the start, Helio Varela was given the time and space down the left flank as he charged towards the area but the Cape Verde winger curled his shot across the face of goal and wide of the post. Maccabi continued to press as Noam Ben Harosh released Saied Abu Farchi into the box minutes later. But the striker gave Sheriff’s defense the chance to clear instead of slipping the ball to either Dor Peretz or Ido Shahar who were in a better position to score.
A minute before the half hour mark Maccabi were rewarded for their efforts as Ben Harosh was fouled near the corner of the area. Revivo floated the free kick into the danger zone before it was deflected by Samba Kone into his own net to put Maccabi infront. Six minutes later Maccabi came close to double their lead as Varela cut the ball back.
In the 39th minute Varela dribbled from the left and cut inside before being fouled by Kone but Shahar’s free crashed against the Sheriff wall.
Second half
With no changes after the break Maccabi emerged for the second half knowing they lead the tie by six goals but aiming to increase that lead. Two minutes after the hour mark Miller made a double substitution as Shahar and Sagiv Jehezkel both bowed out and were placed Osher Davida and 17-year-old Ilay Ben Simon.
Maccabi tried increasing their lead as Revivo was causing Sheriff’s defense all sorts of problems down the left, but none of his crosses managed to find a teammate. Miller made another double substitution in the 79th minute as Itai Ben Hamo and Itamar Noy came on for Noam Ben Harosh and Varela. In the 87th minute Maccabi reached their best chance of the half as Ben Simon’s cross towards Dor Peretz was miscued by the Maccabi captain before the Sheriff keeper Emil Timbur punched away. The ball fell to Issouf Sissokho who almost bagged two goals in two matches but saw his effort shave the top of the crossbar.
Ben Simon and Peretz combined well in the 90th minute as the young midfielder teed up the Maccabi captain whose powerful drive was turned for a corner.
