Maccabi Tel Aviv will play the first leg of their Europa League Playoff Round tie against Altach at 21:30 Israel Time at the Tivoli-Neu Stadium in Innsbruck. The team took a walk through the city this afternoon with the temperature clocking in at 25 degrees. Over 4,500 spectators are expected at the match tonight.

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SC Rheindorf Altach may not be a household name in European football but they have definitely turned some heads over the last few seasons advancing to the Europa League Playoff Round two of the last three years.

The Austrian Bundesliga club was founded in 1929 and advanced to play in the Europa League qualifying rounds by finishing 4th in their domestic league. They moved on to the Playoff Round by defeating Belgium club Gent 4:2 on aggregate while in 2015/16, their first continental campaign, they lost to Portuguese side Belenenses in the Playoff Round by an aggregate score of 1:0.

To learn more about the ins and outs of this up and coming club we spoke to Christian Adam, a sports journalist for Vorarlberger Nachrichten who began by examining Altach’s key players:

“There are three players who have been with the team since 2009. Keeper Martin Kobras (31), captain Philipp Netzer (31) and defender Andreas Lienhart (31). Netzer is the one who organizes the defense and has made almost 200 appearances for the club while scoring 23 goals. Kobras will get the nod in goal as the 1st choice keeper Andreas Lukse is injured. However, Kobras has played in 206 matches for the club and is more than capable.”

Adam continued breaking down the side: “Stefan Nutz is a new addition to the team and he plays behind the forward, while 23-year old Cameroon National Team midfielder Moumi Ngamaleu is the most important player recently played for his side at the Confederations Cup in Russia. Hannes Aigner may be the oldest player at 36 but he has scored many goals, 62 in 117 matches while also being a very important players in terms of team spirit.”

Due to the club’s quickness they are very deft both on the attack and on defense: “They play an offensive style mostly in a 4-1-4-1 formation and are very good in switching over from defense to attack, because of players like Ngamaleu, Christian Gebauer and Kristijan Dobras who are extremely fast paced.”

Klaus Schmidt recently came on board as the Altach’s head coach after Martin Scherb lasted a little over half a season: “This is the first time Schmidt is Bundesliga. Last season he saved second division side FC BW Linz from relegation but the problem he has now is that the squad is not built for both the Bundesliga and Europa League. Schmidt is an very emotional coach and the players like him because he is goal-oriented, modest and clear, but most importantly puts the team first.”

Attach may be a small city with a population of only 6,300 but the as Adam says the spirit is high: “There are always about 5,000 fans looking to go to matches but the home stadium, Cashpoint Arena has only 3350 seats, so for the Europa League Altach has to play in Innsbruck at the Tivoli-Neu Stadium that seats 16k spectators. The club expects to have over 6,000 fans travel the 180 km to the match on Thursday.”

Adam summed up Altach’s chances in the two legged tie as a sporting one: “They feel like they did two seasons ago when they got by a bigger club. This year they see Gent as a bigger club than Maccabi. so they believe that they have a sporting chance to go through. But there are a number of players injured and Aigner is out of the first leg due to yellow card accumulation.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv held their final training session Wednesday night in preparation for their Europa League Playoff Round match against Altach on Thursday (21:30 Israel Time) at the Tivoli-Neu Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria. Prior to the session, Head Coach Jordi Cruyff and Avi Rikan addressed the media at the prematch press conference.

WATCH: The Final Training Session

Cruyff was asked about his expectations ahead of the match:
“This is my 6th season at Maccabi and I have experience as to where we are right now. We lost a number of players this past summer but we are building a new squad and we will try to play good football. We have been able to get to the group stages over the past few seasons and that is one of our goals. I expect that the match tomorrow will be tough, but a club that wants to play in the group stages must get by some difficult matches.”

Is Maccabi the favorite?
“I don’t think that we are favorites and I believe that the sides are equal. Altach was able to advance over Gent and should be proud of that as they are a quality side. We respect our opponent and we will have to battle to advance. We are hoping to take a step toward the groups stages tomorrow but Altach has shown that they have plenty to offer. We know what to expect and we are ready for a difficult opponent.”

Approach to the match:
“We respect everyone and we always try to play our football. It would be a mistake to play differently. We know that in Europe it’s important to get a good result in the first leg but our goal is to always win. That is the mentality of the club and that’s what’s expected of us. We will try to play our game, good football and control the ball. If that’s not possible we will be organized and most importantly we will come in with the mentality to win.”

Avi Rikan was asked if it will hurt the club that the Israeli Premier League, Ligat Ha’Al hasn’t begun: “I believe that both clubs are in good shape and if we are at the Europa League Playoff Round that means we’ve already played a number of matches. I think that it will be tough for both sides. We’ve already had a number of matches this season so I think that we are coming into this contest in good shape. I don’t think that we are at a disadvantage since our league hasn’t started.”

Current Red Bull Salzburg and former Maccabi striker Monas Dabbur came on board Maccabi-Cast, the Club’s Official Podcast hosted by Lior Timor and spoke about the Yellow & Blue’s upcoming Europa League Playoff Round opponent, SC Rheindorf Attach while also talking about his current club:

“I’m doing well and we just began our season by starting off on the right foot. We were eliminated from Champions League qualifying so that was upsetting, but we are looking forward as we prepare for our Europa League Playoff Round match.”

Salzburg’s contest last week against Altach:
“Altach is a very strong and aggressive side. They played very defensively against us and I expect that they will play the same way versus Maccabi. It will certainly not be an easy match for either Club but I believe that Maccabi will be able to advance to the Group Stages.”

What Maccabi will expect to see from Austrian side:
“If they play as they did against us and again I believe they will, then they will sit back and wait for counter attacks as they have some very fast players on the offensive side of the ball and Maccabi will have to pay special attention to them. Everyone will be responsible on the defensive side of the game and they all work hard. All in all they are a legitimate European club, physically strong and quick but I still think Maccabi is the stronger side.”

Playing the match in Innsbruck instead of Altach’s home stadium:
“It’s an advantage for Maccabi that the match will be in Innsbruck as their home stadium is a quite small and homey facility. It is very hard for clubs like Rapid or Austria Wien to go there and take points so it’s definitely in Maccabi’s favor that they won’t have to play there and they can play their type of football.”

Recommendations for Maccabi:
“I’m sure Jordi will prepare the club as best as possible and the only recommendation that I can make is to make sure not to make any mistakes that will allow them to go on a counterattack.”

More about Altach:
“There’s no question that Altach is a quality side. They advanced over Gent and that says a tremendous amount. Maccabi has to be focused and make sure that they don’t make any errors. We lost the ball 3-4 times that almost led to goals by them and they had a number of dangerous one on one opportunities as well.”

Club with no stars:
“They are a club that does not have any star players. They have a very fast striker and the best player against us was their left back who helped out on the attack and also held onto the ball. But I’m sure Maccabi is ready for anything that Altach is preparing and knows exactly where to watch out.”

Austrian expectations:
“After the draw I was asked about Maccabi and they themselves know that Maccabi are favorites. The media knows about Maccabi and football in Israel and are aware that they are a strong club. But now that Altach made it by Gent there are expectations for them as well.”

Final thoughts:
“I’m sure Maccabi can win the first leg in Austria while a draw with goals is also good for them. I believe that Maccabi and my club Salzburg will both advance. I’d be happy to meet Maccabi in the group stages.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv is just 180 minutes from the Europa League Group Stage as the Yellow & Blue will face Altach on Thursday at 21:30 Israel Time in Innsbruck in the first leg of the Playoff Round. The players and professional staff departed for Austria Tuesday afternoon from Ben Gurion Airport and will land in Salzburg and from there will travel to Innsbruck.

Eitan Tibi spoke ahead of the match: “We feel good and we prepared as best as possible for the match. I hope that we will take home a good result and that’s the most important thing. We want to win and I hope that’s what will happen.”

Back to School is always one of the most favorite days on the calendar for parents and of course less so for the little Maccabists who finished their summer vacation and have to return to the classroom.

Just to make the Back to School experience a bit sweeter, Maccabi Tel Aviv is proud to give you the opportunity to have a player take you to school on the first day of classes.

So Maccabi FIRST Members, what do you need to do to have a Maccabi Tel Aviv player accompany your child to school on September 1st?

1 Upload a picture of your child with one of the Official Maccabi Tel Aviv Back to School products and tell us why you believe your child deserves the honor of having a player accompany them to school
2 Fill in the form with your details
3 And hope to get the winning phone call!

All participants must read the rules and regulations

Please note:
Please include the following information on the registration page: Mother/Father Name, Child Name, Child’s Age, Child’s New Grade, Why the child deserves to have a player take them to school on the first day of classes and upload a picture.

Let’s go! Get your camera ready and perhaps your child will have the experience of a lifetime!