M. Tel Aviv vs. Sheriff Tiraspol – News and Probable Lineups

Sheriff Tiraspol faces a daunting task ahead as they attempt to overcome a significant 5-0 deficit in their Europa League second qualifying round match during the second leg at Batumi Stadium this Thursday evening.

Considering the scale of the gap, it would require an extraordinary feat and a major downfall from Maccabi to avoid slipping into the Conference League third qualifying round.

Match overview

The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has hindered Maccabi from hosting European fixtures in Israel, was intended to bring some balance prior to the second leg.

Nonetheless, Kenny Miller’s squad delivered a stellar performance last week, overwhelming the Yellow Blacks and establishing a solid lead after 90 minutes.

Expected to secure only a slim victory, the Yellows were explosive that day, with the Israeli team seeing contributions from four different players who found the net in Tiraspol.

Sayed Abu Farchi stood out by scoring two goals in the emphatic triumph, continuing his excellent form from the Super Cup against Hapoel Be’er Sheva as he begins the 2026-27 season strongly.

Looking to maintain their perfect start to the season, Miller’s team is determined to remain alert and not let complacency creep in when they ‘host’ their Moldovan rivals on Thursday.

It will be intriguing to observe how Victor Mihailov approaches the return fixture in Georgia, especially considering the circumstances of the initial match.

Falling behind early in the match, conceding a goal within five minutes, and allowing another before halftime, they effectively lost any competitive edge after conceding three more goals in the second half.

Their slim hopes were further diminished as they failed to score in their recent league game against Milsami, leaving them without a goal in 180 minutes spanning two matches as they head into the tough challenge on Thursday.

This situation is not favorable for a team needing to clinch a victory by at least five goals to reach extra time or requiring six to realize a miraculous turnaround.

Realistically, supporters of the Moldovan side will likely anticipate a journey into the Conference League third qualifying round against St Gallen or Benfica, with the losing side also facing a drop into Europe’s third-tier club competition.

Team News

Hisham Layous is not in the Maccabi squad for this fixture, and both Ion Nicolaescu and Denny Gropper remain out with injuries they have sustained since last year.

Last season’s standout players played a significant role in the impressive 5-0 victory: Dor Peretz scored once, Ido Shahar provided an assist, Abu Farchi netted a brace, and Roy Revivo was responsible for creating one of the goals for the Yellows.

Mihailov’s squad did not appear to suffer any new injuries in the first leg and seemed to emerge from Sunday’s goalless league match against Milsami unscathed, leaving the manager with a mostly fit squad for this challenging encounter.

After scoring five goals in consecutive league matches, Jayder Asprilla is still searching for his first goal on the continent this season, hoping to change that narrative in Europe this week.

Maccabi Tel Aviv probable starting XI:

Melika; Hamo, Camara, Shlomo; Jehezkel, Shahar, Sissokho, Noy, Revivo; Abu Farchi, Peretz

Sheriff Tiraspol probable starting XI:

Timbur; Ciss, Magassouba, Lopes; Mota, Pergjoni, Klas, Sapata, Forov; Asprilla, Loukou

It is exceptionally challenging to justify anything other than a Maccabi win, though the Israeli team may not replicate the heavy defeat inflicted on Tiraspol in the first leg this Thursday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines, and more for this match please click here.