Tel Aviv “Maccabi” is the biggest giant of Israeli football. The “Yellow Devils” have won 26 championship titles and significantly outpace their club rivals from Haifa (15) and fierce neighbors from “Hapoel” (13). Their journey on the European stage has been more challenging. “Maccabi” from Tel Aviv has played in the group stages of the Champions League twice. However, they have yet to reach the playoffs of the main European cup.
The first match between “Maccabi” and Kyiv’s “Dynamo” will take place in Serbian Bačka Topola. The match is scheduled for Thursday, August 21. The return match will be played on August 28 in Polish Lublin.
“Maccabi” (Tel Aviv)
Head Coach: Žarko Lazetić
Captain: Dor Peretz
2024/25 Season Results: Champion of Israel, holder of the Toto Cup of Israel, holder of the Super Cup of Israel
“Maccabi” is the second in the misfortune of the champion of Ukraine. Like “Dynamo”, the “Yellow Devils” started their European campaign in the Champions League qualifiers. However, in the 2nd round, the tormentor of the Israeli giant was... Cypriot “Paphos”. Another sad similarity between the teams is that Maccabi is also forced to play home matches abroad and ended last season’s Europa League after the group stage.
But there are also differences. The main one is active operation in the transfer market. In the summer, the team underwent significant renewal (10 newcomers). The “Yellow Devils” completed transfers worth 3.65 million euros. In particular, Maccabi acquired two center-backs - Guinean Mohamed Kamara (0.5 million euros, Young Boys) and Brazilian defender Eitor (0.85 million euros, Diór). The most expensive signing was Moldovan forward Ion Nicolaescu from Dutch “Heerenveen” (1.3 million euros).
The new season has been somewhat controversial. The capital grand lost the Super Cup of Israel to “Hapoel” Be’er Sheva (1:2). After being eliminated from the Champions League, they managed to defeat Maltese Hamrun in the Europa League qualifiers (2:1, 3:1). However, in the Toto Cup, the “Yellow Devils” achieved a consolation victory against Jerusalem’s “Hapoel” (2:1). The championship is set to begin on August 23.
History of Encounters
- “Maccabi” - “Dynamo” - 1:1 (Europa League 2011/12)
- “Dynamo” - “Maccabi” - 3:3 (Europa League 2011/12)
- “Maccabi” - “Dynamo” - 0:2 (Champions League 2015/16)
- “Dynamo” - “Maccabi” - 1:0 (Champions League 2015/16)
The tournament paths of the teams crossed twice on the European stage. In the group stage of the Europa League 2011/12, Maccabi twice drew with the Kyivans. “Dynamo” could have secured a spot in the playoffs with just one victory in these matches. Instead, it was Istanbul’s “Beşiktaş” and English “Stoke City” that proceeded to the Round of 16.
The “white-blues” avenged in the Champions League group in 2015/16. Two victories allowed “Dynamo” to advance to the Round of 16. For now, it was the last time. The current head coach of Kyiv, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, kept a clean sheet in both matches, Andriy Yarmolenko scored on the road, and the assistant to the current Dynamo coach, Oleg Husyev, played in the home match.
Star
The main achievement of the summer has been (so far) the retention of the main goalscorer. Forward Dor Turgeman scored 20 goals in all tournaments last season (44 matches). In the Premier League, he finished third in the goalscoring race (15 goals), but he also scored in European competitions (4). He is quite a powerful forward (186 cm) who excels in technique and has a well-placed shot with both feet and head.
Turgeman was born in Ashdod in a family of Sephardic (Moroccan) Jews. He started playing football there and joined Maccabi as a teenager. He made his adult debut at 16, and in his second season, the “Yellow Devils” sent the forward to gain experience with the capital club Beitar in the Leumit League (2nd division).
Watching Turgeman’s highlights, one recalls the Brazilian Richarlison and the forgotten rebel of the EPL, Adel Taarabt. By the way, the latter still kicks the ball – in UAE’s Sharjah. The Israeli, on the other hand, has caught the interest of Scottish “Rangers.” The “Blues” are offering £5 million and 25% of the next sale. The American “New England Revolution” is also competing with the “Jers” (6 million dollars).
Coach
This marks Žarko Lazetić’s second season at the helm of “Maccabi.” The first year in charge of the “Yellow Devils” can be viewed as successful for the Serb. He secured the first trophies of his coaching career, although in his homeland during the 2022/23 season, he made modest “Bačka Topola” the vice-champion. He also gained valuable experience in European tournaments.
Clearly, Lazetić has gained confidence. He coolly stated that “Maccabi” will thoroughly beat “Dynamo.” Although such statements are not particularly surprising after the return match against “Paphos.” However, the champion of Israel is still far from ideal this summer. They had to put in effort to twice squeeze past “Hamrun,” which “Dynamo” easily crushed beforehand.
After moving to Israel, Lazetić changed. In the Serbian championship, at the helm of "Metalac" from Gornji Milanovac and “Bačka Topola,” he favored formations with three defenders (3-5-2 and 3-4-3). In contrast, at “Maccabi,” the Balkan coach usually sets up four defenders. The formations can change (4-3-3, 4-1-4-1, and even the once-popular 4-4-2). However, the “Yellow Devils” most often play in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Turgeman at the forefront.
Projected Maccabi squad: Mishpati - Asante, Stoich, Shlomo, Revivo - Lederman, Sissoko - Davida, Peretz, Madmon - Turgeman.
Anton Fedorutsiv
