Maccabi Tel Aviv will begin its’ European qualifying campaign shortly (18/19.8) as the Israeli champions will face Latvian champions Riga following the draw which took place at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon.

Maccabi were seeded in the draw which included 34 clubs and according to the draw will host the knockout match at a date which has yet to be determined.

As opposed to the standard home and away two-legged tie, the newly introduced format will see both the champions league and the Europa league qualifiers played over one leg. The exception being the Champions League Playoff phase which will be played over two legs.

The Israeli champions will begin the qualification phase in the first qualifying round, and would require four rounds and a total of 5 matches to reach the Champions League group stages for the third time in the club’s history.

The draw for the second qualifying round is set to take place tomorrow (Mon August 10^th) with the matches scheduled for August 25^th / 26^th.

Champions League matches:

Q1: Aug 18/19

Q2: Aug 25/26

Q3: Sep 15/16

PO: Sep 22/23 – 29/30

Glazer: “I am happy with the performance and the result”

Last season’s player of the the season summed up the first official match of the 2020/21 season.

With Tamir Glazer on loan at Hapoel Hadera and their cousin Daniel Peretz on Macccabi’s bench, Dan added: ” Gradually we will dominate the entire league”.

“This was the first official match of the season and it was very exciting and a lot of fun” Glazer said at the end of the match. “We got a good result ahead of the return leg. I am happy with the performance and the result but we need to move forward”.

“Maccabi is a massive club and will always be prepared. Every player who was out on loan or graduated from the youth team knows he needs to be prepared to play for the first team. The squad is good enough and we showed that today as well”. 

On the senior debut of his brother Amit, he added: “It was very emotional for me. His twin brother (Tamir) also played today for Hapoel Hadra and I am delighted. Gradually we will take over the entire league”

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Pre-game

With several injuries and other absentees, Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick van Leeuwen, handed several debut appearances for the first official match of the season. Matan Baltaxa, who spent the last couple of seasons on loan with Bnei Yehuda started alongside Eitan Tibi at the heart of defense with Maor Kandil and Ofir Davidzada completing the back four on the right and left respectively. Dan Glazer, Avi Rikan and Dor Peretz were named as Maccabi’s midfield trio. Upfront, Nick Blackman and Eylon Almog were partnered by 20-year-old Panamanian striker, Eduardo Guerrero, who scored 6 goals whilst on loan at Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam last season.

New signing Ben Bitton was named amongst the seven substitutes against his former club as was 17-year-old Dor Turgeman who scored 19 goals last season for Maccabi’s U17’s.

Amit Glazer, the 20-year-old younger brother of Dan Glazer, and their goalkeeper cousin, Daniel Peretz, were also named amongst the subs, as the duo together with Ido Shahar and Bar Cohen spent last season on loan at Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam. Yonatan Cohen, Eden Kartzev, who returned from a loan spell with Kiryat Shmona and Ronen Hanzis who was promoted from the U19 completed the subs on the bench.

First Half

Seven minutes from the start, the deadlock was broken as Nick Blackman released Eylon Almog into the area before the talented winger cut inside and released a shot which Blackman converted into the net. The referee assistant raised his flag for offside, but VAR intervened and the goal was allowed to stand.

Almog had a chance to double the score on 19 as he found himself in a glorious position to score, but his shot from close range was saved by the keeper’s feet for a corner.

Two minutes later, Dor Peretz teed-up Avi Rikan who ghosted past Be’ersheva’s defense into the area, but his volley narrowly missed the target.

Two minutes after the half hour mark Blackman doubled the score with a powerful header after good work and a pinpoint cross from Eduard Guerrero down the right flank.

It took Be’ersheva until the 34th minute to launch their first threat on Daniel Tenebaum’s goal but Kayes Ghanem long range powerful drive crept to the wrong side of the post.

Four minutes later, Tibi was left unmarked to head a corner which bounced wide.

Second Half

Be’ersheva made three changes ahead of the restart before Sean Goldberg caught Maccabi’s defense napping to head a free corner wide. Be’ersheva’s Itamar Shviro managed to beat Tenebaum on 51 but was judged to have handled the ball in the process as he was booked and the goal disallowed. Be’ersheva were left with 10 men on 56 as Shviro was shown the red card for a rough tackle on Eitan Tibi. Van Leeuwen made a double change in the 58th minute as Yonatan Cohen and Ido Shahar replaced Guerrero and Rikan.

Both Cohen and Peretz had their headers caught by Ohad Levita after good crosses from Maor Kandil and Tibi. Just like Shahar, Amit Glazer was also handed his senior debut at Maccabi as he came in for Kandil for the final 20 minutes.

Bar Cohen got his senior debut as he came in for Blackman on 80 while and Eden Kartzev replaced Dor Peretz.