Zahavi goal lifts Maccabi Tel Aviv into Champions League

On a night of pulsating action, Malmo, Dinamo Zagreb, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Shakhtar Donetsk also booked money-spinning group stage spots in Europe’s premier club competition.

Maccabi Tel Aviv won Tuesday its first participation in thegroup stage of the UEFA Champions League for 11 years following a draw 1-1 against Basel at the Bloomfield stadium in Tel Aviv. Ticket sales of at least 80,000 (possibly against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Arsenal) will bring in another €1.8 million.

With the aggregate score at 2-2 following last week’s stalemate in Switzerland, Maccabi’s two away goals gave them the favourites tag ahead of tonight’s conclusion in Israel.

The Israelis claimed a fine 2-2 draw at St Jakob Park last week but fell behind early in the second leg on home soil, with Luca Zuffi netting just 11 minutes in. Away goals count double in the Champions League.

However, Shakhtar were only behind for five minutes thanks to Olexandr Gladkiy and Mircera Lucescu’s ultimately sneaked into Thursday’s draw, with their cause having been aided slightly by the late dismissal of Rapid’s Mario Sonnleitner.

Valencia will now be the fifth Spanish team in the Champions League group stages this season.

Other Israeli sides to participate in the competition include Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s local rival.