Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 Sheriff Tiraspol | UEFA Europa League | 31 July 2026

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a narrow but vital 1-0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifying tie at Bloomfield Stadium. A solitary goal just before the hour mark gave the Israeli champions the upper hand, but they were made to work hard by a stubborn Moldovan side.

Match Overview

The match was a tense, tactical affair from the outset. Maccabi Tel Aviv enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but found Sheriff’s deep defensive block difficult to break down. The visitors, content to absorb pressure, threatened occasionally on the counter but failed to test the home goalkeeper.

The breakthrough came in the 57th minute. A quick interchange of passes on the edge of the box freed the Maccabi winger, who curled a precise shot into the far corner, leaving the Sheriff keeper rooted. Sheriff pushed for an equaliser in the final quarter of the game, but Maccabi’s defence, marshalled by their captain, held firm to preserve the clean sheet.

Tactical Analysis

Maccabi’s patience in possession was key. They stretched the pitch and waited for gaps to appear, eventually exploiting a momentary lapse in concentration from the Sheriff backline. Sheriff’s game plan of sitting deep and hitting on the break almost worked, but they lacked the cutting edge in the final third.

Key Stats

• Possession: Maccabi Tel Aviv 62% – 38% Sheriff Tiraspol
• Shots on target: Maccabi 3 – 1 Sheriff
• Yellow cards: Maccabi 2 – Sheriff 3

Second Leg Outlook

The 1-0 scoreline leaves Sheriff with a chance to turn things around in Tiraspol. A 1-0 win for the Moldovan side would force extra time, while any win by two or more goals would send them through. Maccabi Tel Aviv will be confident, but they know the tie is far from over. All eyes are now on the return leg in Moldova next week.