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Maribor expecting offensively-minded Maccabi

The Israelis got their attacking reinforcements, but with questionable fitness

Damir Mrkonjič, nk-celje.si

Maribor don't seem to be doing so well like last season when they had a successful campaign in Europa League group stage and reached the Round of 16 in that competition. But the fact is that the Slovenian champions are still very much active.

Last week, they beat Zrinjski at home by 2-0 in the return leg of the second round of the Champions League. The Bosnian visitors have no regrets as Maribor were the better team in the second leg after the first one ended at 0-0.

Maribor played a league game against Radomlje and won by 3-2. Up until 85th minute, the score was 1-1 and then young Luka Zahovič scored a brace and turned the game around. Coach Ante Šimundža didn't rest his players in the game and many players that will face Maccabi were involved in that game as well. It wasn't too good, but Šimundža is an optimist.

- We know very well whom we're up against. We've studied the Israelis very carefully, but their team is 90% the same as last year. They like a dynamic, attacking game, but we are also a team that can adapt to out opponents. I'm sure Maccabi think they're better than us, but they have to prove it. This will only be the first half that we are very much focused on - said Šimundža.

As far as the squad goes, their standard right-back Mejač will be the most important absence, as he got injured on Saturday . Out of last 15 games in all competitions, Maribor have lost only one game at their Ljudski vrt.

- Our goal is the same as against Zrinjski, taking it one step at a time as we are aware what kind of reward this will bring. The Israelis have a quick passing game n the ground, they are well-organized and they can punish anyone. But they're not unbeatable, especially as they will play their second leg as the away team as well, which could be our advantage. I don't like to make predictions, but I believe in our capabilities - said Marbor's first-team player Marko Šuler.

Maccabi were far from great against the Andorran amateur team in the second round. Coach Garcia's players dominated both games but it took them more than an hour to break the deadlock in each games and they only got 3 goals.

Due to situation in Israel, the second leg was played on Cyprus and it has already been confirmed that they will have to host Maribor there as well, which means they can't allow themselves to have a bad day in this one.

- We're handicapped, it's like playing all games away. It's hard, but unfortunately, we can only influence the things that go on on the pitch. I hope it will all soon be over - said their forward Zahavi.

They arrive to Slovenia without suspended forwards Ben Haim and Badash, but with two reinforcements that might be able to replace them (depending on their fitness): Ben Basat from France and the Nigerian Igieboro who arrived from Betis. The former was written of by Toulouse's coach and wasn't used in the pre-season friendlies.

- Maribor are much stronger than Santa Coloma but that might suit us. When our opponent approaches us in an attacking manner, we will improve our performance as well - hopes Zahavi.