Europa League Preview: Maccabi Tel Aviv -v- CASHPOINT SCR Altach

CASHPOINT SC Rheindorf Altach to give them their full title travel to Israel tonight to take on Maccabi Tel Aviv in Netanya Stadium (6:30PM) hoping to overhaul a 1-0 deficit from last week’s first leg in Austria and progress to the group stages of the Europa League for the first time in their history. 

A 67^th minute strike from Icelandic International Vidar Kjartansson was enough to grind out a win last week for Maccabi who will be looking to progress again to the group stages and improve on last season’s campaign where they failed to qualify from their group and were defeated by the current League of Ireland champions Dundalk enroute.

MACCABI TEL AVIV

Last season was not a successful one for Maccabi Tel Aviv, beaten on penalties in the State Cup Final by Bnei Yehuda, finishing well adrift of Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the race for the Ligat Ha’al and a disastrous performance in the group stages of the Europa League that ultimately cost Shota Arzaladze his job mid-way through the season.

Current head coach Jordi Cruyff along with his assistant the former England manager Steve Maclaren will be anxious that his side finish the job tomorrow night and progress to Friday’s draw.

This is Maccabi’s eight game in Europe this season, wins home and away against KF Tirana, KR Reykjavik and Greek Superleague side Panionos have seen them progress to this stage.

Some familiar names from last season’s famous night in Tallaght against Dundalk remain, Serbian international Predrag Rajkovic will be in goal, veteran defenders Tal Ben Haim and Eitan Tibi are virtually ever present. Yossi Benayoun who had a ten minute cameo at the end that evening now resides at Beitar Jersualem and Tal Ben Chaim their former striker joined Sparta Prague in the off season for a fee believed to be in the region of 2.5 million euro.

Maccabi will be looking for the inform Kjartansson to continue his bright start to the season, he is their main attacking threat along with Aaron Schonfeld who impressed last week in Austria

At the pre match press conference in Netanya this afternoon, Cruyff stressed that Maccabi will be in for a difficult evening.

“After 7 games some of them very difficult, this is the moment where it all counts. We have 90 minutes to reach our target against Altach They played good football, organized and they play from behind. It will be a difficult game.”

On the recent addition of Steve Maclaren, Cruyff welcomes his experience and stated that it’s all part of a project to strengthen the club

“We have very good relations and I don’t think that the owner would put someone on the coaching staff if I didn’t want that. I played under Steve, mostly as a substitute and he had a lot of good energy. I wanted to see how I stood after a month as coach and we looked for a certain profile. Steve has always been in contact and we were in contact in the past when we had a coach opening. There will be more people that will be added that haven’t been announced yet.

“Steve has done so much in football. My father was close to Koeman and Laudrup and others where he had a bond. In my case it’s the same, we have a good bond and I don’t see this is as strange situation. I think he’s very good on the field and has very good enthusiasm and apart from that he has a tremendous amount of experience.

“I don’t remember a coach that didn’t have a staff. It’s not about someone being bigger but giving Maccabi what we need. It’s always good to have someone around that can help out. Being in a big club as a player doesn’t mean that you are a good coach. It’s two different jobs. He was England National Team Coach and he was under Alex Ferguson. I feel that if I am surrounded by excellent staff then that’s great. I think that this is an amazing addition to the staff.

“McClaren is helping and it’s part of the project to strengthen the club. The owner agreed and the CEO agreed, it’s a great move. In football you don’t have egos. People on the outside don’t see what goes on inside. Everyone looks to make the club better that is the goal. I am happy and the club is happy. I’m sure that this will make a good impact with the players”

CASHPOINT SCR Altach

This is Altach’s second foray into European competition in their 88 year history, a third place finish in last season’s Austrian Bundesliga secured them a spot in this season’s Europa League qualifiers at the first round. After defeating Chikura Sachkhere of Georgia, Dinamo Brest from Belarus, Altach shocked Belgian side Gent who last season disposed of Tottenham in the last 32 with a 4-2 aggregate win.

Klaus Schmidt’s squad that consists mainly of local uncapped Austrian players contains only four foreigners, one of those Moumi Ngamaleu with ten caps for Cameroon is an attacking midfielder with 7 goals in 28 games last season, got on the score sheet against Gent and caused Maccabi problems in last week’s tie

Altach do not come into tomorrow night’s game in good form with a run of three consecutive defects and only one win in five Austrian Bundesliga games so far this term

Speaking at the pre match press conference Klaus Schmidt is aware his side are underdogs; "We have a very big day tomorrow in the history of the club.

"We are clear outsiders after the first leg but we will not be without a chance tomorrow. We are looking forward to playing in this wonderful stadium round tomorrow and hope to create a sensation with a top performance in order to be the first club from Vorarlberg (the westernmost district of Austria) to qualify for the group stage of a European competition.

"In the last training week we tried to adjust the players to the climatic conditions and the mental, of course, the climate here is completely different from ours in Vorarlberg, but it is mainly a soccer match tomorrow, whether it's 2 degrees or 40 degrees – all that matters is the will of the players.”

Referee: A. Eskov (Rus)

PREDICTION

Maccabi Tel Aviv 3 Altach 0