Three away goals for and one goal against. This is the situation that Maccabi finds itself as they head back to Israel for the second leg next Thursday night at the Netanya Stadium. Predrag Rajikovic who starred in the game, discussed his feelings about the match and what it was like to have his family in the stands:

“This was a good result for us as it was an away game, but we didn’t play well. We must play better next match but I believe that we’ll be ok because if the result that we had here.”

About his performance:

“I made two or three good saves and I felt really good about it. This my job and I have to continue to do what needs to be done on the pitch and improve. I always try to be the best that I can be.”

The opponent:

“We saw Pandurii on video and they weren’t bad, but our problem was that we didn’t play our game. They had plenty of quality counter attacks. After we scored the second goal it was much easier to control the ball and the flow of the game and especially after the third goal.”

On his special guests that were in the stands:

“It’s a lot of fun to play in front of my father and sister. My mother didn’t come because she is scared to watch me play so she never has really seen me in action.”

Eliel Peretz spoke about his European debut following Maccabi’s 3:1 away victory in Romania over Pandurii:

“It was my first chance to play in the Europa League and I came prepared and ready to go. The coach gave me the opportunity and I did what I know how to do best. It as a good win, a terrific experience and we’ll get ready for next week. We had a good result and will help us when we play the second leg at home and I hope from tier we will advance to the playoffs.”

Hopes for the new season:

“I hope that I can get playing time, and I’ll continue to work hard in training so I can help the club and my teammates.”

The guidance he’s receiving from the rest of the team:

“Everyone is helping me out and guiding me along the way. If you would have asked me last year when I was in Ramle where I’d be right now I would have never imagined that I’d be playing in the Europa League.”

Shota Arveladze, the Yellow & Blue boss summed up his club’s 3:1 win over Pandurii in Drobeta-Turnu Severin as Maccabi will head home with a significant advantage. The head coach talked about his emotions, scoring three away goals and how the match unfolded:

“I mentioned before the game that it’s the early stages for both teams and it’s never easy. But we scored the first goal and that opened the game up for us and it was a great goal. But then we slowed down and credit has to go to Pandurii for drawing even. However we found an important second goal.”

Three away goals:

“It’s a big advantage to score three away goals but we will be ready for the next game in Tel Aviv and I look forward to the next challenge.”

Feelings after the victory:

“Emotions are always good when you win and as a coach we have to see what we did well and what we didn’t. Every trip we’ve had rough time traveling, landing in Italy for Gorica, nine hours to Almaty and three hours from Craiova to get to this match. So we had a tough travel schedule but the guys have done well.”

Knowledge about Pandurii before tonight’s game:

“We had only seen one game which was a league match against Craiova but Pandurii has potential and were dangerous at some points.”

About the potential starting lineup next match:

“We have 22 players and they are all Maccabi players and they are all good players so we will pick the best to play next match.”

Rajikovic’s performance in front of his family:

“He made fantastic saves and he stopped some headers but in the second half. He is the hinder one keeper and will continue to get better.”

Dor Micha is getting ready to take on Pandurii in the Stadionul Municipal in Drobeta-Turnu Severin this evening in the first leg of the Europa League third round of qualifying. Number 15 discussed what he expects, not playing at Pandurii’s home stadium and the fitness of both sides:

“I don’t think it tells us too much that Pandurii is coming into the match after playing about the same amount of matches as us. The last team we faced, Kairat was definitely fit as they had played many more games. But we are really not thinking about it.”

This round Maccabi is still a ranked team:

“I’m not sure how easy it will be as they have some players with quality. This is not a great pitch so we will have to see how it will effect the play of the game.”

Pandurii is not playing on their home pitch:

“This could be good for us that it’s not in their home stadium, but it’s the same case for us as we are also not playing at home.”

The keys for the match:

“It’s very important for us to score an away goal that will be key and we’ll try to win just like in any other match.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv will begin the third round of Europa League qualifying when they visit Pandurii at 21:00, live on Channel 20. Shota Arveladze, the Head Coach discussed the upcoming contest against the side that won 2:1 in their domestic league opener this last weekend in Romania:

“At this stage there are always a lot of question marks. We are still on the preseason, but we’ve played four official games. Pandurii are at the same stage and have played one official match. We have a hard game and it’s tough to have a first leg away. We will try to get a good result in order to have an advantage for the home leg.”

Is it an advantage to have the second leg at home:

“I don’t look at it like this but it’s still the early stages of the season for us and our opponent. We have to keep doing well and we’ve done so this far. We haven’t played a league game or a Cup game yet. I’m looking forward to seeing my team play. My team will do the best they can. Pandurii will be tough.”

The fact that this is not really Pandurii’s home stadium:

“For us it will be the first time in this stadium and it’s still an away game. I can’t really say much, but I hope it’s a good field and the rain always makes it good for football.”

Gaining information about Pandurii:

“I watched last year’s matches and the last game against Craiova so we know what to expect.”

Who will Maccabi be focussing on:

“Ioan Hora is someone who we have to pay attention to. He can be dangerous.”

Are you looking ahead to the home match:

“Let’s play the first game and it’s tomorrow already, for next week’s game we can speak about it next week.”

Matches coming up:

“We will have three games coming up in a week and it will be good for my players so they can all get minutes and gain fitness as we start our regular season at the end of August.”

Pressure:

“Last year Maccabi played in the Champions League and we know how to deal with pressure. We try to do our best.”

Haris Medunjanin also spoke to the assembled press:

Knowledge about Romanian football:

“I know Mutu and in 1994 Romania had a very good team plus a Bosnian player who played in Romania.”

About Pandurii:

“We are playing a very good team and we have to be 100% prepared for the upcoming match.”

New round, new challenge. Tomorrow, Maccabi Tel Aviv will take on Pandurii at the Stadionul Municipal at 20:00 on Channel 20 as the Yellow & Blue look to advance to the Playoff Round of the Europa League. After we took an in depth look at Gorica as well as before and after Kairat, now it’s time to get ready for the next battle that awaits.

Who are you Pandurii?

The relatively young club was founded in 1962 and has never won their domestic league championship. Last season “The Miners” finished in 3rd place which punched their ticket straight to the third round of Europa League qualifying. However, there is a very distinct difference between the 2015/16 model and the club that the Yellow & Blue will face tomorrow.

Due to issues surrounding their lead sponsor, Pandurri lost their main source of income which forced the club to ask the players to take a 25% pay cut. The request fell on deaf ears and ten players left Pandurii including their coach Edward Iordănescu, son of Anghel Iordănescu, the former Romania National Team Coach.

2016/17 Season:

Pandurii began their domestic campaign this past week and defeated Craiova at the same stadium that the Yellow & Blue will play the Romanian outfit. The final score was 2:1 for Pandurii but that doesn’t tell the complete story of a contest that saw a dramatic 89th minute goal by the hosts following an opening goal that was scored due to a mistake by the visiting side’s defense.

Craiova, which isn’t one of the leading teams in the Romanian league controlled the flow of the match handling the ball 58% of the time as well as dominating the game in a number of parameters. For example, Pandurii made 391 passes with 71% finding its destination, 100 less than the visitors. Craiova took 15 shots on goal compared to only three by Pandurii, however the hosts were able to score on a couple of their chances that decided the matchup.

Head Coach Petre Grigoraș plays a 4-4-1-1 formation but for most of the game he played a 4-3-3 with last season’s Romanian league goal scoring king Ioan Hora playing as the lone striker.

As mentioned before, many players left Pandurii over the summer but arguably their best player stayed with the club. The 27-year old 1.81 meter with a fine record from last season scored 19 goals during the prior campaign.

Hora played as a striker 70% of the time during the 2015/16 season and the balance evenly on the right and left wings. He was also brilliant in exploiting situations in the key area converting 40% of his opportunities which is something that can’t always be seen in the stat pages but certainly can be seen on the pitch.

Pay attention to:

• Claudiu Voiculeț – Pandurii’s #8 plays right behind the striker
• Lucian Sânmărtean – He won’t play in the first leg but will be one to pay attention to the second leg as he is one of the most technical players in Romania today.