The UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round has returned to Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv for the third successive season, as Maccabi Tel Aviv welcomed Slovenian opponents NK Celje.
A debut performance for our own @EdenRoit LIVE outside Bloomfield Stadium for a preview match, where 🇮🇱Maccabi Tel-Aviv are hosting 🇸🇮Celje in the @europacnfleague playoff leg 1 pic.twitter.com/AMoTYSLTBg
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) August 24, 2023
The main storyline leading up to the game was that of Maccabi goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who was playing his last game for the club before his big move to German giants Bayern Munich.
Last week against AEK Larnaca, Peretz waved goodbye to the fans, but many of them were still unaware he was leaving at the time.
Today, it was well known to all involved, and Peretz wanted to end his Maccabi tenure on a high note with a clean sheet.
He played in his sides first ever Conference League game when Maccabi hosted Alashkert back in 2021, helping them reach a group stage again would seem like a fitting ending.
Another interesting side of this clash was the two coaches - Robbie Keane against Albert Riera - the former Liverpool teammates are now both at the start of their managerial careers.
Both are now in their first season at their respective clubs - Keane in Tel Aviv, Riera in Celje - but the Spaniard has won the Slovenian league last year with Olimpija Ljubljana.
An hour passed at Bloomfield stadium and 🇮🇱Maccabi Tel-Aviv is leading 2-1 v 🇸🇮Celje. Eran Zahavi, who else, scored both goals 🔵🟡
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) August 24, 2023
📸 @shaulig is in the house, as always#UECL pic.twitter.com/9pc3FWJ6fO
The game started with Maccabi piling on the pressure and finding some decent goal scoring opportunities.
In the 21st minute, Yonatan Cohen was tackled in the box, which the VAR team deemed to be a potential foul. Referee Manfredas Lukjancukas reviewed the incident and signaled for a penalty.
Eran Zahavi, who else, stepped up to take the spot kick, and scored his 20th European goal for the club - 1-0 to the hosts.
Just eight minutes later, Celje found their equalizer, as Gregor Bajde pounced on a shaky save by Daniel Peretz, and shot into the back of the net.
But then, in the second half, Maccabi asserted their dominance once again.
Just six minutes after the break, Eran Zahavi made it 2-1, after a nicely worked move between Yonatan Cohen and Joris Van Overeem, who then set up the Israeli sharpshooter for an easy finish.
In the 72nd minute, Dan Biton crossed a corner which met a Zahavi header from close range - 3-1, and Zahavi becomes the first Israeli to score a hat-trick in the Conference League.
In stoppage time, it was Dor Turgeman's turn to score after a nice shot and make it 4-1 on the night.
After the game, the team said their goodbyes to Daniel Peretz on the pitch, with an emotional video on the big screen, and some songs with the fans.
Peretz left the stadium and headed straight to the airport, where a Bayern Munich private jet was waiting for him.
Maccabi will continue without him, presumably to the group stage, but before then they will need to finish the deal in Slovenia next week.
Edited by Alex Smith
Thumbnail photo by Shaul Greenfeld
Paseo for Maccabi Tel-Aviv's, Daniel Peretz before leaving to FC Bayern 🫡🫶👏👏
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) August 24, 2023
🎥 @Levyninho pic.twitter.com/XWxR2WAAHU
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