Pre-season is finally over as Maccabi Tel Aviv lined-up for the first match of the 2021/22 season as FK Sutjeska of Montenegro were the first hurdle for Patrick van Leeuwen’s side in the Conference League second qualifying round 1st leg in Podgorica.
Last season, Van Leeuwen took charge of the team for the Europa League round of 32, this season, he will aim to guide the side into the group stages of UEFA’s new club competition.

With team captain Sheran Yeini ruled out of the trip to the Montenegrin capital having tested positive for COVID and Eyal Golasa still recovering from his knee injury, Van Leeuwen was forced to make changes.

The back injury that hampered Daniel Tenebaum’s pre-season allowed Daniel Peretz to make his European debut in goal. Louis Hernandez and Matan Baltaxa were named ad the two central defenders with Andre Geraldes and Ofir Davidzada completing the back-four on the right and left respectively. Eden Karzev and Shahar Piven were assigned to the two holding roles in midfield with Avi Rikan completing the trio wearing the captain’s armband. Matan Hozez and Eduardo Guerrero were named by Van Leeuwen as the two wingers while Yonatan Cohen led the attack for the striker’s role.

New signings Idan Nachmias and Osama Khalaila waited for a chance to make their official debut as the duo were amongst the 10 other substitutes on the bench.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot as the industrious Eduardo Guerrero cross couldn’t find Matan Hozez or Yonatan Cohen in Sutjeska’s box in the opening minutes. The hosts reached the first dangerous chance as Dragan Grivic narrowly missed the target with a close range header following a Nikola Janjic corner in the 20th minute. Two minutes earlier Eden Karzev went into the referee’s book and two minutes later (22) Hozez also received a booking. In the 26th minute however, Cohen received his first chance on goal as Ofir Davidzada sent in a cross from the left only to see the forward fire his shot high over the crossbar.

In the 40th minute Sutjeska’s towering striker Bozo Markovic miscued his shot that was blasted high and wide of Daniel Peretz’s goal. A minute later, Davizada found Hozez with a through ball, but the square ball the diminutive winger sent rolled across the facevof goal without anyone managing tonl push the ball home.

Second Half

With no goals in the first half and no changes at halftime, Maccabi came close to break the deadlock in the opening minute of the second half. Hozez stepped on the ball for Avi Rikan and whose shot from the edge of the area was blocked by a defender.

Two minutes later Karzev had a long range attempt of a shot also blocked by a Sutjeska defender as Maccabi stepped up their efforts.

Maccabi were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute as Karzev was sent off for a second bookable offence for what seemed like a harmless challenge in the middle of the park. As a result, Van Leeuwen made his first change as Dan Glazer came in for Hozez a minute later.

Shahar Piven blasted a shot high over the crossbar following a Louis Hernandez long throw in on 70 which proved to be the midfielders final contribution on the night as he was replaced a minute later. Van Leeuwen made a double change as Piven was replaced by Maor Kandil while Osama Khalaila made his official debut for Maccabi replacing Cohen.

In the 85th minute Glazer released a counter attack into the path of Khalaila whose cross reached Guerrero but the Panamanian couldn’t find the target. A Marko Matanovic powerful shot in the 88th minute forced Daniel Peretz to a stunning save.

Despite six minutes of time added on, Maccabi couldn’t find the opening they needed to win but at the same time managed to keep a clean sheet and prevent Sutjeska from scoring.

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club is happy to announce the 2020/21 season ticket renewal period. After an imposed break of a season due to the COVID pandemic, in the forthcoming season you could renew your season ticket from the 2019/20 season and return to your regular seat at Bloomfield. The prices of season tickets were kept without an increase from previous seasons, but that is not it – all of FOREVER members enjoy a 5% discount on the purchase of a season ticket.

Season tickets renewal and purchase times:

June 20^th – July 9^th: 2019/20 Season Tickets renewal period.

July 14^th – July 18^th: Season Tickets sale for FOREVER members who were not season ticket holders during the 2019/20 season (Didn’t have a season ticket in 19/20 but still want to be first in joining the Bloomfield stadium fever? Click here to join).

July 18^th: Opening of the Season Tickets sale to the general public.

To renew your 2021/22 season ticket at Bloomfield click here

During the forthcoming season, FOREVER members will continue benefiting a lot more Maccabi: This time round, in order to ease the purchase process, one could purchase a FOREVER membership together with the season ticket renewal – in the same deal.

Furthermore, at the start of the season, club members will enjoy exclusive benefits: A 5% discount on the purchase of a season ticket, a free ticket to the first Conference League 2^nd qualifying round home match, double points away matches as per the Points Allocation System, a nice welcoming package present – all this without even mentioning a selection of benefits and exclusive events that await you during the season. Yet to join FOREVER? Click here!

Benefits for renewed Season Tickets and FOREVER members.

Season ticket holders who renew their subscription will enjoy several benefits:

Reserving your seat in the stadium from the 19/20 season.

A 5% discounted subscription rate on the purchase of a season ticket for FOREVER members

A free ticket for a European qualifying home match – Exclusive for FOREVER members

Priority in the handling of requests to relocate a seat in the stadium – Exclusive for FOREVER members.

Priority in reserving the seat during the season ticket sale ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Spread out your season ticket subscription purchase to up to 6 payments.

Receive full points for away matches as per the Points Allocation System

Receive double points for away matches as per the Points Allocation System – Exclusive for FOREVER+ members|

How to renew a the season ticket?

Recommended! The Season Ticket Subscriber Area on the website – The easiest and fastest way to renew and purchase subscriptions. Make sure you have your user name and password available at the time of purchase In the event that the username and password are not available, please contact via a WhatsApp message on 050-3002526 submitting the Season Ticket number and an ID number.

The ‘Leann’ call centre *8778: In light of the high volume expected at the call centre, standby time could be longer than usual.

Service centre at Bloomfield stadium (Box office at Gates 10-11).

Opening hours for the call and service centers:

Weekdays from 09:00-17:30

Friday from 9:00-13:00.

Interested in changing your location in the stadium/change ownership of a season ticket? For details and explanation click on the FAQ page

For any other question you are invited to enter our FAQ page

To view the stadium regulations as well as tickets and season tickets conditions click here

 

Maccabi opens it’s 22^nd season in European competitions – more than any other Israeli club (Maccabi Haifa are 2^nd playing their 20^th season).

Last season’s EUROPA League Round of 32 return leg against Shakhtar Donetsk was Maccabi’s 147^th match in Europe (An Israeli record) winning 59 matches, losing 56 and drawing 32 with a total goal tally of 192-187.

The match in Podgorica will be Maccabi’s first appearance in the Conference League qualifying campaign, having competed 10 times in the Champions qualifiers, 10 times in the Europa League qualifiers (5 of which in its’ previous name: UEFA Cup) as well as once in the Cup Winners Cup.

Maccabi advanced 16 times from their first encounter in Europe (a double headed tie on regular seasons and a one-off-match last season) and were knocked out on 5 occasions.

Maccabi’s highest victory in a match that began a European campaign was a 6-0 win over Lithuanian outfit Zalgiris Vilnius in the 2001/02 season.

Maccabi met 62 opponents in Europe from 38 different countries. FK Sutjeska Niksic is the second Montenegrin side to face Maccabi in Europe as FC Mogren were the opponents in 2010/11 EUROPA League qualifying round.

Two years earlier FC Mogren were also the Montenegrin opponents that played Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the 2008/09 season.

Twenty five players scored for Maccabi in the opening European match as Baruch Dego scored the only hatrick for a Maccabi player in the opening, is sharing top spot with Nosa Igiebor whop also has 3 goals to his name in opening matches.

Maccabi’s leading goal scorer in European competitions is Eran Zahavi with 15 goals, ahead of Eliran Atar (13) and Baruch Dego (9).

 

Maccabi held the pre-match press conference at the DG Arena which was attended by Avi Rikan who after six years of European campaigns with Maccabi, said: “First and foremost we are not playing at home, so this will be different. We know that our opponents already played two official matches, while we are playing our first match so we will have to prepare ourselves for a tough match. Obviously we will have to try and get the best result and return home with a victory”

As the Yellow home kit that was unveiled earlier this month has already proved to be an extremely popular edition, the time has come to get excited once again. Shortly before Maccabi play their first official match of the season, the Club and official kit manufacturer, FILA, are proud to release the 2021/22 away kit.

This season the away kit is predominantly Blue that returns to take center stage of a two year absence. If you thought that FILA have run out of ideas, the giant Italian fashion house continues to surprise us time after time as a new design was pulled out of the hat.

The current edition of the away jersey boasts the return of the lateral stripes as the main element with the addition of yellow stripes that are applied in a style that resembles a paintbrush. This is a design influenced by the legendary 1984/85 jersey that also received a special retro version in the past, this time with an updated and dynamic twist.

The away kit is made out of a highly innovative Dry-Fit material that have been modified for the requirements of the players and the fans. This is perfect combination of a unique design, advanced technology and uncompromising comfort.

The 2021/22 are available now at Maccabi’s online store and as of tomorrow (Thursday) at the official store in Kiryat Shalom and the Pop-Up shop at Hazahav shopping mall in Rishon Lezion.