“I am feeling great, happy to return to the pitch, score the winning goal and delighted with our victory”, said Cohen. On recovering from COVID19 he added: “This disease is far from simple. I experienced a few tough days at home, it was draining and very tiring. We didn’t train together for almost a month as only two days ago we welcomed back the national team players from international duty. Preparations were far from ideal but I am delighted with the victory”.

Dan Glazer added: “I missed all this as a long time has passed since our last game. It is fun, and I am delighted that it resulted with a victory and an overall good performance from us. The most important thing now is continuity. We returned to action very hungry”.

Yonatan Cohen’s 10th minute goal earned Maccabi Tel Aviv a 1-0 victory over Qarabag FK in the opening match of the Europa League group stages. While Maccabi began the group stage with a victory, next week’s opponents Sivasspor suffered a 5-3 defeat from Spanish side Villarreal.

Pre-Match
Maccabi’s coach Georgios Donis, must have wished for a better way to celebrate his 51st birthday other than serve a one-match-touchline-ban due to his dismissal in the return leg of the Champions League Playoff against Salzburg.

The Greek, who was forced to sit out the opening match of the Europa League group stages against Qarabag FK of Azerbaijan, at least had a full squad to pick from. Donis, welcomed back into the squad all the players who were missing due to the COVID19 outbreak and were absent from the two legged tie against the Austrians.

While new signing Alexandar Pesic was left out of the 23-man squad, fellow new signing Luis Hernandez was named amongst the 12 substitutes as the Spaniard waited on the bench for the chance to make his Maccabi debut.

Sheran Yeini and Eitan Tibi who returned from international duty, partnered Enric Saborit as the three central defenders with Maor Kandil and Ofir Davidzada completing the back five as the two wing backs on the right and left respectively. Dan Glazer and Dor Peretz returned to the heart of midfield alongside Eyal Golasa with Yonatan Cohen and Etey Schechter assigned to lead the line upfront.

First Half
It took Maccabi 10 minutes to break the deadlock as Dor Peretz picked Yonatan Cohen with a pinpoint through ball. Cohen skipped past the advancing Shakhrudin Magomedailyev and with the goal at his mercy rolled the ball with his right into the open net.

Four minutes after the half hour mark, Peretz was instrumental once again as his clever pass released Eyal Golasa who found himself behind Qarabag’s defense. But with only the keeper to beat, Golasa flashed his shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the target. Three minutes later Donald Guerrier was left unmarked to test Daniel Tenenbaum from long range but the Brazilian born custodian pushed the ball out for a corner. Filip Ozobic also tried his luck but his effort in the 40th minute was easily collected by Tenenbaum.

Second Half
Maccabi’s assistant coach, Makis Angelinas, standing in for the suspended Donis, made two changes as Ben Biton and Eduardo Guerrero replaced Ofir Davidzada and Etey Schechter for the restart. The Panamian winger could have scored within four minutes of his introduction as he was released into the area by Enric Saborit only to see his shot blocked by Qarabag’s keeper.

In the 67th minute Jaime Romero floated a free kick into the area allowing Kwabwena Owusu who ghosted behind Maccabi’s defense to flick the ball onto the roof of the net. Avi Rikan replaced Cohen a minute later to add a pair of fresh legs into midfield.

Tal Ben Chaim came in for the industrious Golasa for the final 13 minutes and within a minute came close to set up what could have been Maccabi’s second goal. Ben Chaim charged down the left flank and sent in a cross which was headed by Rikan agonizingly wide. Luis Hernandez made his debut for Maccabi as he replaced Saborit on 84 and the five minutes of added time Scottish referee John Beaton awarded added some nerves – but his final whistle left the points in Tel Aviv.

 

“COVID has hurt us in a crucial moment but this is the time to return for a series of matches which begins tomorrow as we aim to do the best we possibly can” Peretz said. “Our best means to be tactically disciplined, to do what the coach requires from us and to get the results we expect from ourselves. This should do the job. Personally, I am feeling great”.

Ahead of the group stage opener: “To play without fans in the stadium will be tough. These are matches where the fans push us and the atmosphere is electric, but this is what we all have to deal with. I am certain that the fans will support us from home, and we will do our best to try and prolong this campaign for as long as possible. We would like to reach as far away as possible”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will kick-off their Europa League group stage this week as they host Qarabag FK of Azerbaijan on Thursday. This evening (Saturday) the Champions resumed preparations as the team held a training session at the PenguinPickUp complex in Kiryat Shalom. Maccabi’s national team players who returned from International duty, held a separate session earlier.