Maccabi Tel Aviv take on the visitors Dynamo Kyiv in the first leg of UEFA Europa League Qualification final round. The match will be played on Thursday, August 21st at TSC Arena (Bačka Topola).
Maccabi Tel Aviv are a national giant of Israeli football. Having regained the championship in 2024 (and adding domestic cups as well), they managed to maintain their elite status across all competitions. But the start of the new football year was far from easy. There was a 1-2 defeat to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Super Cup, and then a very short-lived Champions League campaign — losing immediately to Pafos. It could have been better, as they drew away in Cyprus, but in the return leg things unraveled: their starting goalkeeper got injured, the backup was quickly sent off, and the 0-1 defeat was inevitable. Moving into the Europa League, however, they found their rhythm, beating Hamrun twice: 3-1 and 2-1. Maccabi have been showing signs of resilience despite setbacks, and their attack remains potent with several players in strong form. Still, their defensive lapses in key moments raise doubts about their consistency on the European stage.
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Dynamo Kyiv faced the same opponents in European competition. The “Blue and Whites” claimed the league title last season, going unbeaten in the 2024/25 UPL campaign. The only blemish came in the domestic cup final — after a draw against archrivals Shakhtar Donetsk, they lost on penalties. Winning the Premier League secured a return to the Champions League qualifiers via the more favorable “champions path.” There, Dynamo easily swept aside Hamrun, winning both legs 3-0. But optimism quickly faded when they fell deservedly to Pafos — a 0-1 home loss followed by a 0-2 defeat in Cyprus. After that setback, head coach Shovkovskyi admitted the squad needs reinforcements, though rumors swirl about his possible dismissal, with Husyev already mentioned as a likely replacement. Dynamo’s form has been erratic, and despite their domestic dominance, their inability to adapt tactically in Europe is a growing concern. Their lack of cutting edge against well-organized defenses could again prove costly.
In 2011, in the Europa League, both matches ended in score draws — 1-1 and 3-3. Four years later, in the Champions League, Dynamo won both games convincingly. It’s time for the Israelis to finally beat Dynamo in this matchup. The value lies with Maccabi, but with the safety of a “draw no bet.”
Prediction for the match: Dynamo Kyiv to win with 0.0 handicap.
