Four days after succeeding in the knockout meeting against Hapoel Beer Sheva in the eighth round of the State Cup, Maccabi Tel Aviv will complete another knockout meeting tonight (Thursday, 19:55) – in the last 32 of the Europa League. After the 2-0 loss at Bloomfield Stadium last week, the champion will host Shakhtar Donetsk for the rematch and try to create a huge surprise in Kiev.
Although the chances are obviously not in their favor, Maccabi Tel Aviv are determined to achieve a good result and Patrick Van Leven is expected to place the strongest team at his disposal, regardless of the championship fight in the country. With the exception of Yonatan Cohen and Eden Kartzev, all the other players are eligible. Andre Geralds, Eitan Tibi, Luis Hernandez, Dan Glazer, Tal Ben Haim and Alexander Peshich are set to return to the Yellows’ 11th.
Maccabi Tel Aviv feels a miss following the first game against Manor Solomon and his friends, and will try to return home with more positive feelings – and maybe-maybe even with a ticket to the quarterfinals of the Europa League. “We were worth more in the country than a loss and we will try to prove it here,” said one of the players. “It’s a worn-out cliché to say ‘things were never’, but we really came with a lot of confidence. Shakhtar is a better and better team, but we will do everything to win.”
At the same time, Maccabi Tel Aviv does not forget the main goal – a local championship – and broadcasts great confidence ahead of the game against Ashdod Sports Club this coming Monday. “Everyone on the squad deserves to be here and everyone who gets a chance also proves it. We have tremendous depth and it gives us a lot of confidence in the players ahead of the second and crucial part of the season,” said a club source.
Estimated composition: Daniel Tennenbaum; Andre Geralds, Ethan Tibi, Luis Hernandez, Enrique Sborrit; Dan Glazer, Eyal Golsa, Dor Peretz; Dan Bitton (Matan Hozaz), Tal Ben Haim, Alexander Peshich.
