Preview

Maccabi arrived at SC Freiburg’s Europa Park ahead of their EUROPA League MD7 penultimate match of the 2025/26 European campaign. With a singe point from their opening match away to Paok and next week’s final home match against Italian outfit Bologna, Maccabi will try and salvage a result. But with a depleted squad that is missing several key players through injuries and against a tough German side that is currently fifth in the table and 8th in the Bundesliga, Zarko Lazetic’s side has a tough task on their hands. As Tyrese Asante, Ali Camara and Osher Davida were joined by Elad Madmon on the list of absentees that already includes Ion Nicolaescu, Kristijan Belic and Denny Gropper, Lazetic bolstered his squad with members of the U19’s squad.

Roi Mishpati returned to play in goal giving Ofek Melika much needed rest. Noam Ben Harush started on the right of defensive line that included Heitor dis Santos, Raz Shlomo and Itai Ben Hemo as three central defenders with Roy Revivo returning to his left wing-back position. Ben Lederman and Itamar Noy were assigned to Maccabi’s engine room with Dor Peretz in a slightly more attacking role at the top of the midfield trio. Sagiv Jehezkel and Saied Abu Farchi led the line upfront in a bid to try and breach a Freiburg defense that hasn’t lost in the Europa League phase.

On the bench alongside goalkeepers Yoav Gerafi and Ofek Melika, Lazetic named Kervin Andrade, Yoanas Malede, Issouf Sissokho, Helio Varela, Ido Shahar, Idan Weinberg, Roey Magor, Itai Zafrani, Lotem Asres and Ilay Ben Simon.

First Half

Freiburg dominated the early stages of the match as the hosts placed Maccabi under the pressure pinging Lazetic’s players inside their own half. Nine minutes from the start Freiburg were awarded a free kick after Derry Scherhant was fouled by Itai Ben Hemo near the touchline. Jan-Niklas Beste tried crossing the ball into the danger zone but Maccabi’s defense managed top clear. Two minutes later Scherhant mnaged to get himself into the box but his left foot shot missed the target as the ball rolled wide of the post. In the 17th minute a mix-up between Roi Mishpati and his defense on the edge of the box almost gifted Freiburg a goal but Mishpati recovered to collect Igor Matanović’s attempt to catch him outside of his goal.

In the 25th minute Philip Treu’s corner was flicked by Freiburg’s captain Cristian Gunter and deflected off Saied Abu Farchi before Mishpati collected on his goal line. Right on the half hour mark Freiburg had two claims for penalties waived by Swedish referee Mohammed Al-Hakim as firs it was Scherhant who went down too easily Beste was signaled to get back on his feet following another challenge on the side side of the box. A Raz Shlomo slip gifted Matanovic the ball inside area but once again Mishpati charged out of his goal to make a good block that kept his goal locked. 

Ben Lederman was booked by the referee for a foul on Matanovic just inside Maccabi’s half on 45. Inside injury time Maccabi came close to break the deadlock as Abu Farchi headed Sagiv Jehezkel’s corner towards goal but Noah Atubolu pulled a reflex save to punch the ball off his line.

Second Half

With no changes at halftime the second half began just like the first one as Freiburg placed Maccabi under siege. In the 55th minute Freiburg were awarded a corner before Ginter headed Scherhant’s cross but Mishpati pulled a stunning save to claw the ball out. Matanovic latched on the rebound but struck the crossbar before Yuito Suzuki blasted the loose ball over. Abu Farchi limped off in the 61st minute and was replaced by Yonas Malede as Lazetic made two more changes introducing Kervin Andrade and Helio Varela for Jehezkel and Dor Peretz.

In the 67th minute Matanovic dribbled into the Maccabi box and exchanged passes with Scherhant before shooting past Mishpati only for Roy Revivo to clear the ball off the line. A Maccabi corner in the 74th minute fell to Varela who fired a shot at goal but it lacked the power to beat Atubolu who collected with ease.

The dual between Mishpati and Scherhant continued in the 76th minute as well as the Freiburg 23-year-old curled a shot which Maccabi’s keeper caught once again. Lazetic added a fresh pair of legs into a tired midfield as Issouf Sissokho replaced Lederman in the 78th minute. In the 82nd minute Freiburg’s pressure paid off as the deadlock was finally broken as Matanovic rose high to meet Gunter’s cross with a powerful header into the top corner. Lazetic his fifth and final substitution in the 88th minute as Ido Shahar came on for Itamar Noy. Just before the fourth official signalled for 8 minutes of added time Maccabi’s counter attack saw Malede carry the ball but fail to slip it to Shahar who was in a good position to score.