Maccabi will shortly begin a new European season as they host Moldovan outfit Petrocub Hincest for the first leg of the Conference League 2nd qualifying round. Maccabi arrive at this tie with a rich history representing Israel in Europe for more than 3 decades, so we took the chance to dive into some of the stats.

This will be Maccabi’s 24th season in Europe and 11th in succession – more than any other Israeli side in terms of seasons in total and consecutive run.

Since was accepted into Europe in 1992, Maccabi played 167 matches in European competitions – more than any other Israeli club. Maccabi’s record to date is 69 matches won, 60 defeat while 38 matches were drawn with a goal tally of 222 scored and 199 conceded.

Over the years, 209 players represented Maccabi in Europe. Sheran Yeini’s is Maccabi’s all-time appearance record holder featuring in 82 matches in Yellow and Blue.

77 different Maccabi players scored goals for the club in the various European competitions.

Eran Zahavi is Maccabi’s leading goal-scorer in Europe getting his name on the score sheet 17 times.

This will be Maccabi’s third season starting a qualifying campaign in the Conference League. Maccabi featured 10 times in the Champions League qualifying campaign, 10 times in the Europa League qualifying campaign (5 under its’ previous name the UEFA Cup) and once in the Cup Winners Cup qualifying campaign.

Maccabi qualified twice to the Champions League group stages, 5 times to the Europa League group stages and in the 2021/22 season to the Conference League group phase. Overall Maccabi is the club which qualified to the European group stages 8 times – more than any other Israeli club.

Maccabi advanced passed the first European tie 18 times and were knocked out 5 times. Maccabi’s record in the opening European tie currently stands on 13 victories, 4 draws and 6 defeats.

Petrocub will be the 78th opponent Maccabi faces in European competitions and as this will be the first tie against a Moldovan side – the 39^th country.

Israeli clubs met Moldovan opponents 4 times in the past with the record currently stands on 2-2. Beitar Jerusalem (1994) and Hapoel Be’ersheva (2017) advanced while Hapoel Tel Aviv (1996) and Ironi Rishon Lezion (1997) were eliminated by Moldovan clubs.

Baruch Dego and Nosa Igiebor are the only Maccabi players to have scored hattricks in the opening match in Europe.   

     

How long have we waited for that moment. A new season is just at our doorstep. Alongside it, return, the excitement and hope to experience new happy moments with Maccabi – the moments we all live for. This season, more that any other season, we are all together – the players and coaching staff on the pitch and you fans in the stands. We all have the power and responsibility to ensure that the 2023/24 season will be remembered in our glorified history as a season we will all be proud of.

We recently noticed how the IFA Disciplinary Courts increased the severity of the punishments which leaves us with no room for mistakes that could harm us. A moment before it all begins, this is a great opportunity to remind ourselves that we all have the responsibility to ensure that nothing could prevent the team from achieving a very important target – bringing back the titles to Maccabi’s trophy cabinet.
What harms us?

Over the past few seasons, the club identified several issues concerning fans’ conduct that should they improve would significantly help the success of everyone.

Pyrotechnics and missile throwing – The energies which generate the atmosphere Bloomfield and the effect it has on the players we al know. Your support from the stands is vital for the Club’s success. On the other hand, no one would like to play in front of empty stands or to be dragged across the country on the way to radius matches. As you all know so well, lighting of pyrotechnics and throwing missiles of any kind onto the playing field is strictly forbidden and is causing the club massive damages. Let us all ensure that it will simply not happen.

Pitch invasions and entering the areas surrounding the field of play – Following the incidents of last season, Maccabi is facing a suspended sentence of 3-point-deduction in the event of a pitch invasion or entering the field of play. The Disciplinary court is very strict on that matter and any pitch invasion could prove extremely costly. Wither that be the ecstatic feeling after a goal is scored, or a random child entering the field of play out of excitement – such actions cost the club massive fees through fines and even the deduction of points which could ultimately decide the title race.

Racism – The Club has shown in the past how it adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards acts if racism – including life-ban punishments towards fans found guilty. Our job is to pay attention to ourselves and our surrounding area in the stand. Just before you begin chanting, thing carefully whether this is a racist song. If you have any doubts simply don’t sing it.

Touting – We recently came across many cases of touting both of tickets and season tickets. In some cases, culprits are offering tickets which were already used or even none-existent ones, aggravating those who purchased. Therefore, it is highly recommended you only by tickets from official and authorized sources. Fans caught touting – will have their tickets cancelled immediately and the club will consider taking further action such as cancelation of a season ticket etc.

Regrettably, last season we were forced to ban or fine dozens of fans found violating some of the things listed here above. In future we will not hesitate taking action against those found guilty of harming the club or the fans.

Finally, we would like to emphasize once again that each and every one of us, is responsible for his actions and has the power to help the success of Maccabi – so let us win together.

Saied Abu Farchi will continue at Maccabi Tel Aviv for the next three seasons after signing a contract until the end of the 2025/26 season.

After signing his new contract, Abu Farchi, who scored in Maccabi’s pre-season friendly victory over Premiership outfit Bournemouth in Marbella: “From the day I joined Maccabi Tel Aviv North at the age of 10, I dreamed of playing for the senior side. To train with the first team this summer and to wear the Yellow strip is to fulfil a boyhood dream. Signing this contract is the first step on the way there. I am grateful for the opportunity and pledge to do everything to make our amazing set of fans happy.”

Maccabi’s CEO, Ben Mansford, added: “We are delighted that Saied has committed his long-term future to Maccabi. It is another young talent who wants to remain Yellow. This contract is a reward for his hard work during his time with us. We look forward to seeing Saied continue his development at Maccabi.”

Abu Farchi, has an impressive record over the past two seasons scoring 35 goals in 73 matches for Maccabi’s U16’s and U17’s. At national level, Abu Farchi represented Israel’s Under 17’s and U16’s scoring 2 goals in 11 international appearances.

 

A new European season gets underway as the first hurdle Maccabi will face is Moldovan outfit FC Petrocub Hincesti that will travel to Israel for the first leg of the Conference League 2^nd qualifying round.

Shortly before hosting the Moldovan’s at Bloomfield stadium (Thursday, 20:30) we can dive in to try and learn what should we expect in the next two matches.

Petrocub were drawn to face Maccabi after ending last season’s Moldovan Super League in the runners up spot three points adrift of Champions Sheriff Tiraspol. Petrocub is a relatively young club which was founded in 1999 and played its’ first of 15 European matches to date in the 2018/19 season.

Since then, Petrocub represented Moldova in every season and reached its’ highest stage last season before being knocked out of the Conference League 3^rd qualifying round by Hungarian side Fehervar.

Petrocub’s home stadium at Hincesti has a capacity of 1200 fans only, as a result they host their European matches at Zimbru’s 10,500 capacity stadium in Kishinev.

The formation: mostly 3 central defenders

Petrocub is a team that has retained most of the playing and coaching staff.  

Ivan Tabanov, has been Petrocub’s manager since June 2022, as the 56-year-old mostly plays with five players across the back. His formation varies between 3 central defenders as 5-3-2 to 3-4-3 and sometimes even 5-4-1.

One of the Moldovan’s characteristics is their physicality and aggression whilst relying on a transition game aiming to reach the opponent’s danger zone as soon as possible.

The striker to face Maccabi

Petrocub’s squad consists mostly of local Moldovan players, 8 of whom are members of the national team side that beat Poland 3-2 in the EURO 2024 qualifying campaign.

Central defender, Victor Mudrac, Ioan-Calin Revenco the right-back and Maxim Cojocaru the winger were all starters in that match and played a significant role in one of the biggest victories of Moldova’s football history.

Maccabi will have to pay attention to Petrocub’s captain and their biggest star Vladimir Ambros as the 29-year-old striker scored 76 goals in almost 200 appearances for the club. Marius Iosipoi who scored last season 7 league goals from his position as a winger is another player who might pose a threat.