Hapoel Kiryat Shemona – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 11:30 Kiryat Shemona (U19)
After opening up the season with a pair of victories, the Under-19 side will head to Kiryat Shemona on Matchday 3 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The Yellow & Blue will look to continue their positive momentum against a side who has earned 1 point to date.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Kiryat Shemona, 10:30 PenguinPickUp Training Ground Kiryat Shalom 1 (U17)
The Under-17 squad will host Kiryat Shemona at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom on Matchday 3. The young Yellow & Blue have 4 points after their first two matches while the visitor’s have yet to pick up a point.

Maccabi Herzliya – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 8:30 Herzliya Country Ran A Field (U16)
Following a win over Hapoel Beer Sheva last week, the Under-16 team will look to take the points at Herzliya on Matchday 3 as the host’s defeated Ironi Nesher last week.

After winning their domestic league championship last season, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, the Club’s Under-19 team took part in the UEFA Youth League draw. The young Yellow & Blue will face FC Anzhi Makhachkala from Russia in a two legged tie and should Guy Tzarfati’s squad advance they will play the winner of the match between Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v Maribor (SVN).

The first leg against Anzhi will take place in the city of Astrakhan on October 3rd, while the return leg will be played at the Ramle Stadium on October 24th. Should Maccabi advance the next round tie against either Sigma or Maribor will take place on November 7th away and on November 28th at home.

The Youth Department Director Guy Zukerman said: “It’s not a simple draw and it will be a difficult trip to get to the away match in Russia. From a professional side, I’m certain that we will be able to stand up to them and advance. In terms of the second draw should we advance, I’m sure that we will also be able to compete and continue to move along in the competition.”

“It’s always an incredible experience to be a part of the Champions League,” Zukerman continued. “I recall that when we participated in the group stages a few seasons ago, it was quite a wonderful experience. And now to be a part of a draw with some of the top youth departments in Europe, is also something extra special and gives us a tremendous amount of energy, respect and honor. I hope that we will also be able to honor the club with our performance on the pitch.”

Domestic Champions path guide

This path involves the domestic youth champions of the 32 best-ranked associations in the 2017 UEFA association coefficient rankings (the same rankings used to decide access to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League).
Vacancies in the domestic champions path (because a club is instead eligible for the UEFA Champions League path, for example Atlético and Inter) are filled by the domestic youth champion of the next best-ranked association (in the above cases, Moldova and Iceland).
Chelsea, who won this competition in 2014/15 and 2015/16 but lost last season’s final to Barcelona, enter this path.
Two-time semi-finalists Anderlecht keep up their record of entering all six editions.
Debuts: AEL Limassol, Anji, Bohemians, FC Admira, Hamilton Academical, Hertha Berlin, Illés Akadémia, Lech Poznań, KR, Montpellier, Septemvri Sofia, Signa Olomouc, Žilina.

Road to Nyon

Play-offs
In the draw on 17 December, the eight Domestic Champions path survivors will be drawn at home to the eight UEFA Champions League path runners-up in one-off ties to be played on 12/13 February to decide the eight remaining round of 16 berths. The other eight places are taken by the UEFA Champions League path group winners.

Dates
Play-off draw: 17 December
Play-offs: 19/20 February
Knockout draw (round of 16 onwards): 22 February
Round of 16: 12/13 February
Quarter-finals: 2/3 April
Semi-final: 26 April, Nyon
Final: 29 April, Nyon

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with UD Universitario of Panama for the loan deal of 18 year-old striker Eduardo Antonio Guerrero Locano who impressed during a three week trial at the club.

Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick van Leeuwen, told the club’s website: “Eduardo Guerrero is a player we have had training with our youth team for over 3 weeks now and left a very good impression. We think that he is a perfect match to the playing style we request from our players at Maccabi and Eduardo’s further development at the club is something we look forward to. Welcome Eduardo and good luck”.

Guerrero made his name on the international stage as he scored 4 goals for Panama U17’s in the CONCACAF qualifying campaign which wasn’t enough to see his country reach the U17 World Cup. Having made his full international debut for the Panama senior side in a friendly against Granada, Guerrero will aim to lead his country to the U-20 World Cup in Poland.

After a season opening win at Bnei Sakhnin last week, the Under-19 side hosted Hapoel Hadera on Matchday 2 of the Israel Youth Premier League at the Ramle Stadium.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Daniel Peretz, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glazer, Tomer Machluf, Tamir Glazer, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hofmayster, Rave Assayag, Omer Barami, Eyal Hen.

First Half
The young Yellow & Blue opened the match well and took control of possession early on. In the 5’ Maccabi had their first opportunity as a Shalata free kick made its way to Hen but his shot missed the target while four minutes later Tzarfati’s squad began an attack down the left wing. Hen and Machluf exchanged passes as the latter crossed the ball into the box but Assayag’s header went out.

In the 10’ Hadera’s chance went by the post while over the next quarter hour both sides didn’t come up with any dangerous opportunities. Hofmayster took the ball in the midfield in the 25’ and went by a pair of Hadera players but his attempt went over the bar, however, two minutes later Maccabi found the back of the goal. Tamir Glazer sent the ball to Barami who beat the Hadera keeper Ofir Abarbanel to give the Yellow & Blue a 1:0 lead.

Tzarfati’s side continued to press and in the 28’ they almost doubled their advantage but Shalata’s chance went out while his 37’ attempt was saved by Hadera keeper. Peretz needed to be sharp right before the break as visiting striker Shado Godfrey’s opportunity was saved by the shot blocker as Maccabi took a 1:0 into halftime.

Second Half
The Yellow & Blue began the half pressuring Hadera and their efforts paid off when Assayag’s shot beat Abarbanel for a 2:0 Maccabi lead in the 52’. Godfrey looked to pull a goal back for the visitor’s in the 64’ but his attempt just went by the post and four minutes later David Daoudi’s long range strike hit the post and went out.

In the 80’ a pair of Maccabi substitutes, Bar Cohen and Gil Ben Shalosh almost added the third goal but the latter’s attempt also went off the post while Tal Yaguayev went down the left side and beat his defender but Abarbanel was again up to the task. As the match began to wind down, Ben Shalosh’s chance went over the bar in the 89’ and a nice defensive play by Amit Glazer helped Maccabi “Shachar” to the clean sheet and a 2:0 win.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Hadera, 16:00 Ramle (U19)
After picking up a win at Bnei Sakhnin in their season opener, the Under-19 side will play their first home match when they welcome Hapoel Hadera to the Ramle Stadium on Matchday 2 of the Israel Youth Premier League.

Beitar Tubruk – Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, 16:00 Netanya Tubruk (U17)
The Under-17 club heads to Tubruk on Matchday 2 after recording a win last week at home against Bnei Yehuda. The host’s enter the contest after falling to Hapoel Tel Aviv on Matchday 1.

Maccabi Haifa – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 10:30 Haifa Kesef Lower Pitch (U16)
The Under-16 side will begin league play when they visit Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 1 as the new Head Coach Eran Sassi will look to get the seasons off to a good start.