Summary: Gent - Maccabi Haifa 1:1/Sport1
Maccabi Haifa received a rather difficult draw yesterday (Friday), when they had the opportunity to meet with the powerful Fiorentina in the round of 16 of the conference league finals.
The first match will be held on March 7 and will be a "home" match for the Israeli champions, while the second leg will be held at the bustling Artemio Franki Stadium of the Viola.
While in Haifa they are lamenting a rather difficult draw, in Italy they are actually happy about the "easy draw" that Fiorentina received.
In "Sky Italy" we noted the fact that Maccabi Haifa is coached by a very young coach (36) who is the same age as one of the players.
They meant Lior Rafalov, who received a great compliment by being called the "David Beckham of Israel".
Another player on whom we put the emphasis in Italy is Tomer Hamed, who was born only a year after his coach Massai Dego.
"This is an experienced coach who played in England, Spain and Australia. They also give a mini scoop there and write that "Hamad almost closed at Fiorentina in 2012, but the deal was not completed".
The Israeli "David Beckham".
Rafalov received a flattering comparison in Italy/GettyImages
In Italy, they also point out that Fiorentina has an advantage because the away game will be held in Budapest and not in the bustling Sami Ofer Stadium, but they warn that the same Maccabi Haifa beat the great Juventus only a year ago - albeit in the home stadium, but it is still an achievement that evoked echoes in the land of the boot.
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The full draw
Maccabi Haifa - Fiorentina
Olympiacos - Maccabi Tel Aviv
Sorbet Geneva - Viktoria Plzen
Ajax - Aston Villa
Molde - Club Brugge Union
Saint Gilois - Fenerbahce
Dinamo Zagreb - PAOK Thessaloniki
Sturm Graz - Lille
More on the same topic:
Maccabi Haifa
Lior Refaelov
Masai Dago