Preview:
Maccabi returned to the TSC Arena in Backa Topola for the MD8 Europa League home match against Bologna which will be the final match of the 2025/26 European campaign. Dan Romann replaced Zarko Lazetic who was dismissed following the defeat in the derby, took charge of the team as Interim coach. Romann, who guided Maccabi to a 2-2 draw away to Ashdod in the league earlier this season, will aim to replicate that result against the Italian Cup winners who are currently 15th in the Europa League table and 8th in Serie A.
Ofek Melika kept his place in goal with Itay Ben Hemo, Heitor dos Santos and Raz Shlomo lining up as three central defenders in front of the young Maccabi custodian. Noam Ben Harush as a right wing-back and Roy Revivo on the opposite left flank completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Issouf Sissokho and Ben Lederman were named in Maccabi’s midfield engine room with Dor Peretz leading the team out with the captain’s armband in a more attacking role. Kervin Andrade was named on the wing while Elad Madmon led the line upfront.
On the bench alongside goalkeepers Roi Mishpati and Shalev Saadya, Romann named Tyrese Asante, Yonas Malede, Helio Varela, Itamar Noy, Saied Abu Farchi, Ido Shahar, Idan Weinberg, Lotem Asras, Ilay Ben Simon and Osher Davida.
First Half
The visitors began the match on the front foot and reached the first chance of the game in the third minute as Riccardo Orsolini headed Nadir Zoretea’s cross wide of the target. In the 7th minute Zortea tried cutting inside on the left and shooting from the edge of the area but his effort rolled wide of Ofek Melika’s goalpost. Maccabi tried catching Bologna’s defense by surprise two minutes later as a counter attack saw Elad Madmon slip the ball to Dor Peretz. But the 30-year-old captain’s attempt of a shot from the edge of the area was easily collected by goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.
Raz Shlomo was booked in the 15th minute by referee Goga Kikacheishvili for a foul on Nicolo Castro just inside Maccabi’s half. Four minutes later Bologna had the ball in the back of Ofek Melika’s net as Miranda sent a corner into the box before Orsolini blasted his header home. But VAR intervened and spotted a foul to cancel the initial decision and keep the score goalless. The best chance of the game so far came in the 29th minute as Peretz, Kervin Andrade and Elad Madmon combined well to leave Noam Ben Harush in a great goalscoring opportunity. But the 20-year-old full back who only had Skorupski to beat dragged his shot wide.
Four minutes after the half hour mark Lewis Ferguson forced a save from Melika but within a minute the Italians took the lead. Nikola Moro’s shot was too powerful for Melika who punched it in the path of Jonathan Rowe who swept the rebound int the top corner. Bologna continued to place Maccabi’s goal under siege with Melika forced to make another reflex save in the 37th minute this time to keep out Castro’s powerful low drive. Andrade missed a glorious chance to level the score i the 42nd minute as the 20-year-old Venezuelan was put through by Issouf Sissokho. Skorupski charged off his line before Andrade clipped the ball past him but saw it roll agonizingly wide. Inside injury time, Rowe carved Maccabi’s defense open as he dribbled into the box and teed up Ferguson whose shot was saved by Melika. The 19-year-old keeper pulled another stunning save a minute later to deny Castro from doubling Bologna’s lead before the break.
Second Half
A minute after the interval Bologna doubled their lead at the end of a lethal counter attack which saw Orsolini burst down the right and skip past three defenders before drilling a low shot that found the bottom corner. Dan Romann reacted with a double substitution as Raz Shlomo limped off and was replaced in the 51st minute by Tyrese Asante while Andrade made way for Helio Varela.
Seven minutes after the hour mark Romann made another substitution introducing Ilay Ben Simon for Madmon wit Varela pushing further up the field. In the 76th minute Kikacheishvili awarded Bologna a penalty after Ben Simon was judged to have fouled Zotea in the box. But once again VAR intervened, called the Georgian referee to the screen before the decision was overturned. Romann made another double substitution as Itay Ben Hemo and Peretz bowed out and were replaced by Ido Shahar and Osher Davida for the closing stages.
Deep inside injury time Bologna sealed the win as substitute Tommaso Pobega received the ball in the middle of the area and fired home the third goal. The full time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s Europa League has come to an end with as attention now turns to the domestic campaign.
