Zahavi goal lifts Maccabi Tel Aviv into Champions League

24th minute strike from star player seals home tie against Basel, sends Israeli team into main tournament against Europe's top teams

By ToI Staff 25 August 2015, 11:59 pm
Eran Zahavi gestures after Maccabi Tel Aviv draws 1-1 with FC Basel at the Bloomfield Stadium and goes through to the next round of the UEFA Champions League, on August 25, 2015. (screen capture: Channel 2)

A hard-fought 1-1 draw at home against FC Basel on Tuesday gave Maccabi Tel Aviv a place in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, where the team will find itself tackling some of Europe’s soccer giants such as holders Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Real Madrid.

Maccabi midfielder Eran Zahavi’s goal in the 24th minute at the Bloomfield Stadium secured his team’s entry to the main phase of the continent’s most prestigious club competition. The goal put his team level with Basel, whose Luca Zuffi had scored 11 minutes into the game.

Maccabi qualified because it had tied last week’s away first-leg in Basel 2-2, with Zahavi again the star. Away goals count double in the tournament.

Maccabi Tel Aviv last reached this stage of the competition in 2004, and the last Israeli team to get this far was Maccabi’s local rival, Hapoel Tel Aviv, back in 2010.

Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in action against Switzerland’s FC Basel 1893 during the UEFA Champions League play-off round second leg soccer match at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv on August 25, 2015. (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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