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.

Maccabi will wrap up its European season this coming Thursday (22:00), when it hosts Bologna in the eighth and final round of the UEFA Europa League group stage.

The team traveled today to Serbia, after holding the final training session at the Kiryat Shalom training facility, led by interim coach Dan Romann. The traditional pre-match Press Conference is also scheduled to take place this evening in Novi Sad.

Maccabi arrives at the match having already lost its chance to advance to the next stages of the competition, while the Italian side are currently ranked 15th. Bologna has already secured a spot in the preliminary knockout round but also knows that even if they win on Thursday, its chances of automatically advancing to the EUROPA League Round of 16 are slim.

Yoav Gerafi will join Hapoel Haifa after an agreement was reached between the two clubs on a loan deal of the 32-year-old keeper until the end of the season.

Gerafi, who joined Maccabi in the summer and made 4 appearances in all competitions, will be loaned for the rest of the 2025/26 campaign to Hapoel Haifa where he played between 2023-2025.

Good luck Yoav

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC have decided to part ways with coach Žarko Lazetic and his professional staff.

Owner, Mitch Goldhar stated: “I spoke to Žarko and informed him of my decision. I’d like to thank Žarko for his contribution to the Club during his tenure including guiding the club to its 26th Championship”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC wish Žarko and his staff all the best for the future.

Dan Romann will step in as interim manager

The 30-year-old Maccabi captain who scored a goal which wasn’t enough to prevent the side losing their first derby in 12 years as arch city rivals Hapoel recorded a dramatic 2-1 victory, said at the end of the match: “I have no explanation for what happened here, in the minute when everything unfolded.”

Peretz shared the mood within the camp as he added: “I don’t know how to recover right now. Right now we’re hurting, we’re angry, and we’ll let everything out. There’s nothing to do, we are a family, for better or worse, and there was a painful moment here for all of us.”

Twelve days after the penalty shoot-out victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the State Cup, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for a meeting with their arch city rivals in the league. On the back of the 4-1 defeat away to Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi will aim to return to winning ways and extend their 12 year unbeaten run in derbies.

Maccabi’s Head Coach whose squad is still plagued with injuries, welcomed back from suspension Roy Revivo. The left back who served his one match touchline ban at Haifa following his dismissal in the Cup, joined Raz Shlomo, Ali Camara and Heitor dos Santos who was named at right back. Issouf Sissokho, was joined by Itamar Noy in the engine room with Dor Peretz leading the team out with the captain’s armband. Helio Varela who scored Maccabi’s goal against Hapoel in the Cup and Sagiv Jehezkel whose goal at Sammy Ofer last week was only a consolation, were both named by Lazetic on the wings. Saied Abu Farchi led the line aiming to add to his tally of 2 league goals and five in all competitions this season.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Lazetic named Kervin Andrade, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Ido Shahar, Itay Ben Hemo and Osher Davida.

First Half:

A pyrotechnics display from both sets of fans immediately after kickoff covered Bloomfield stadium with a thick layer of smoke which caused an 8 minute delay. With the smoke eventually cleared off referee David Fuxman resumed play a fact which was welcomed by a stadium which was packed to the brim.

Andrian Kraev was the first player to be booked by referee David Fuxman for a reckless challenge on Saied Abu Farchi in the 14th minute. Four minutes later Ali Camara went down clutching his calf as the tall Guinean defender was replaced by Itay Ben Hemo.

Just before the half hour mark Sagiv Jehezkel flicked Itamar Noy’s corner towards goal but Assaf Tzur managed to claw the ball which was making its way under the crossbar.

Two minutes later the deadlock was broken as Roy Revivo won possession down the left and burst forward before releasing Helio Varela. The Cape Verde international charged down the wing and cut back for Dor Peretz who swept the balk past Tzur for his 11th goal in all competitions this season.

The stop start first half saw the fourth official raise the sign with 13 minutes of additional time.

A well drilled free kick saw Jehezkel cross for Abu Farchi who flashed his header over the crossbar. Two minutes later both players swapped roles this time Abu Farchi playing in Jehezkel who wasted the chance blasting his shot over.

Second Half:

The second half saw Hapoel enjoy a lot of the possession but in the 68th minute Maccabi almost doubled their lead. Heitor dos Santos released Jehezkel who was just inside Maccabi’s half for a counter attack down the right. Jehezkel floated a cross towards Abu Farchi who glided in the air but directed his header wide of the post. Lazetic reacted with a double substitution as Jehezkel and Itamar Noy bowed out and were replaced by Ido Shahar and Kervin Andrade.

Shahar could have made an immediate impact as four minutes after his Introduction the 24-year-old picked up a Revivo cross and drilled a powerful shot which was blocked for a corner.

Lazetic made his final two changes on 88 as Abu Farchi and Varela bowed out to a standing ovation and were replaced by Noam Ben Harush and Yonas Malede.

Maccabi defended their lead until the 91st minute before Omri Altman rose high to head in the equaliser into the top corner. Hapoel pressed forward and a free kick which was sent into the box saw Chico Alves bundle the ball from a goalmouth scramble. The linesman raised his flag for offside but VAR intervened and approved the goal to complete the comeback.