Hapoel Tel Aviv Stuns Atalanta with Draw in UEFA Conference League

Hapoel Tel Aviv didn’t score. They barely created clear chances. And yet, they walked away from Italy with exactly what they wanted – a result that keeps the tie alive and rattles a heavyweight.

A disciplined, stubborn 0-0 away to Atalanta in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League Playoff Round has left Elyaniv Barda’s side one home performance away from the group stage, even if that “home” is a neutral venue in Miskolc, Hungary.

Reds’ high press, Italian frustration

Backed by around 1,500 travelling supporters, Hapoel came out with intent rather than fear. The Reds pushed high early, trying to force Atalanta into mistakes deep in their own half and strike from turnovers rather than long, patient build-up.

Roie Alkukin whipped an early cross into the Atalanta box that failed to find its man, and Omri Altman saw a corner headed clear, but the tone had been set. Hapoel were not in Italy to park the bus and pray.

Chances, though, were scarce. Both teams probed, both tried to unpick the other’s shape, but neither back line cracked. The game tightened, the tempo dropped, and the first half drifted to a goalless close with the keepers largely untroubled yet fully alert.

After the break, the tension thickened. Neither side wanted to be the one to blink first. Barda tried to shake things up with a double substitution, introducing Xander Silva and Mor Buskila to inject pace and freshness, hoping to stretch an Atalanta side that looked short of rhythm.

The match stayed cagey, littered with cautious touches and half-moves that broke down before they became real danger. Just when it seemed destined to fizzle out, Atalanta finally broke through in stoppage time – twice.

Ederson unleashed back-to-back efforts that looked destined to decide the tie, but Assaf Tzur stood tall, producing two crucial saves in added time. Those interventions didn’t just preserve a clean sheet; they preserved Hapoel’s entire European campaign.

The whistle went. No goals, but a seismic result for the Israelis, who now drag Atalanta to Miskolc next Thursday with a group-stage place on the line.

Barda satisfied, Sarri searching for fluency

Barda made no attempt to hide his satisfaction with the way his side executed the plan.

“We can congratulate the guys on a very good performance. We stuck to our principles and played our football against a great team, so the players deserve congratulations,” he said, before quickly reminding everyone that the job is only half done. “Having said that, it ended 0–0, and we have a second leg in which we’ll want to reproduce this performance. In the end, we stood firm and insisted on doing what we had worked on. There is still room for improvement, but the better chances were ours.”

On the opposite bench, Maurizio Sarri acknowledged the struggle.

“I expected a difficult game. They were superior to us physically. We lack fluency in our play; every time we receive the ball, we think, and that slows us down,” he admitted. He did, however, cling to one clear positive: “Nevertheless, there are also positive aspects: in our last three games, we haven’t conceded a goal.”

Atalanta travel to Hungary knowing they must find that missing rhythm quickly. Hapoel head there knowing they’ve already proved they can go toe-to-toe.

While Hapoel dug in and delighted, Maccabi Tel Aviv came away from Switzerland with a very different feeling. A 2-1 defeat to Lugano leaves Kenny Miller’s side with work to do in the return leg in Batumi, Georgia, their temporary base away from home.

Lugano were sharper, more clinical, and just that fraction more ruthless when it mattered.

Meilika’s miscue, Behrens pounces

The game’s first major turning point arrived on the half-hour mark. A poor clearance from goalkeeper Ofek Meilika handed Lugano the initiative and, crucially, field position. The hosts seized it. The ball was recycled and swung into the danger area, where Kevin Behrens rose and nodded home to give Lugano a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

Maccabi, rattled but not broken, regrouped at the break. Whatever was said in the dressing room worked immediately.

Barely two minutes into the second half, Roy Revivo produced a superb delivery, bending a magnificent cross into the box. Ido Shahar timed his run and finish perfectly, slotting the ball home in the 47th minute to level the tie at 1-1 and drag Maccabi back into the contest.

Momentum seemed to be shifting. Then came the second blow.

Asante’s foul proves costly

The equalizer didn’t last. Tyrese Asante clipped Yanis Cimignani in the area, and the referee pointed straight to the spot. No drama from 12 yards: Anto Grgic stepped up and calmly converted, restoring Lugano’s lead at 2-1 and swinging the tie back their way.

Maccabi pushed. Shahar, Dor Peretz and Revivo all carved out opportunities to bring Miller’s team level again, but each chance slipped away, either snatched at or smothered by the Swiss defense.

The final whistle left Lugano with a one-goal cushion and Maccabi with a sense of regret – and a clear target for the second leg.

Miller upbeat, Shahar hungry for more

Despite the defeat, Miller chose to highlight the response after the break.

“It was a good game. I’m coming away with very positive feelings about our performance in the second half. I have no doubt that we can get the win next week,” he said. “The Lugano players were very aggressive in the first half. They pressed us and made it difficult for us to settle and find our rhythm. The second half was completely different. We created several promising attacks, found a much better rhythm and had a lot of possession.”

Shahar, who marked his 25th birthday with Maccabi’s only goal, cut a more conflicted figure.

“Honestly, I would have been much happier if we had won and received the perfect birthday present. I’m happy about the goal, but unfortunately we lost in the end,” he admitted, before turning his eyes to Batumi. “Nevertheless, we fully believe that with the support of the fans next week in Batumi, we will get the job done.”

Two Tel Aviv clubs, two very different first legs. One has already landed a statement result. The other must now decide how much this European campaign really means when the pressure hits in Georgia.