Maccabi Tel Aviv played hosts to Bordeaux in the Europa League on Thursday night with their fate in their own hands.
The home side needed a point to guarantee second place in Group F, while the French outfit had no chance of progressing.
In an even contest, Maccabi emerged the winners by a single goal.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to more of Sports Mole’s live coverage of the Europa League where Maccacbi Tel Aviv host Bordeaux in Group F.
The home side are on the verge of advancing to the next stage of the competition, and need just a point tonight to make sure of their place in the last 32. They are currently second, three points clear of third-placed APOEL.
Bordeaux find themselves bottom of the pool, but could finish third if they manage to win here, and APOEL lose to Eintracht Frankfurt in tonight’s other Group F game. It’s a long shot, but stranger things have happened.
In the reverse fixture in this match, it was the Israeli outfit that came away from France with a shock victory. They came from behind to win 2-1 at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
MACCABI XI: Juan Pablo, Carlos Garcia, Ben Harush, Tibi, Alberman, Zahavi, Yeini, Radi, Altman, Itzhaki, Dabbur
Manager Paulo Sousa has made four changes to the team that beat Beitar Jerusalem at the weekend.
Mahran Radi, Gal Alberman, Omri Altman and Munas Dabbur have all been brought into the starting lineup having started on the bench last time out.
Dropping to the bench in their places are Tal Ben Haim, Dan Einbinder, Rade Prica and Nikola Mitrovic.
Here is what Sousa has in reserve.
MACCABI BENCH: Levi, Ben Haim, Ziv, Micha, Einbinder, Prica, Mitrovic
So that's how the home team line-up, let's check out the visitors.
BORDEAUX XI: Olimpa, Planus, Brechet, Chalme, Savic, Poundje, Ben Khalfallah, D'Almeida, Bellion, Rolan, Sacko
Francis Gillot has decided to make as many as 10 changes to the team that ended Lille’s unbeaten run on Sunday.
Only Maxime Poundje remains in the side from that victory.
And for the Bordeaux substitutes.
BORDEAUX BENCH: Jug, Orban, Pellenard, Toure, Barbet
So those are your two squads for the match.
This is the first time that Bordeaux have failed to reach the knockout stage in their last three attempts. They made it as far as the round of 16 in last season's competition.
It's simple for Maccabi; so long as they do not lose, they are certain to be in the draw for the next stage of the competition
We're just awaiting the teams to emerge from the tunnel.
And here they are. Right on cue. Maccabi are wearing and all-yellow home strip with blue trim, while Bordeaux are donning their second kit of all-white with purple/pink trim.
KICK OFF! Maccabi, playing from left to right, get the game underway.
Slow start to the game that's being played at a real leisurely pace. There's barely any movement, and Maccabi have had the ball pretty much since kick off.
YELLOW CARD Chalme goes into the book after bringing down Zahavi right on the edge of the D. Good position for a free kick this.
Radi bends it with his right foot, but it's just wide of the target. Keeper Olimpo was unmoved.
Bordeaux have been flagged offside twice in quick succession. They're going to have to watch the line better than that.
Maccabi have controlled this match so far, but haven't managed to test Olimpa just yet. That Radi free kick has been their best chance so far.
CHANCE! Bordeaux nearly take the lead as Sacko races onto a pass heading out to the right. He hits his shot early from outside the box, but pings it just wide of the near post.
That effort seems to have given the visitors a bit of confidence in this game, as they start to pass the ball about a bit. Remember, this is near enough an entirely new starting XI compared to the team that has been on a good recent run in Ligue 1.
The ball pops up to D'Almeida on the edge of the D, but he snatches at the shot and drags it wide of the near post.
Despite edging the game so far, Maccabi have yet to carve open a clear opportunity. Still, a point would do the trick for them.
SAVE! Rolan curls in a free kick from the left which causes a few problems in the Maccabi box, and Juan Pablo is forced to come out and unconvincingly push it away.
SAVE! Bordeaux are nearly in again here, but it's brilliant goalkeeping from Juan Pablo. Rolan is slotted in on the right of centre with a pass into the box, but he is beaten in a sprint race to it by the keeper, who managed to slide in a clear it.
CHANCE! Now Maccabi come close through Itzakhi,who rises above the defender at the far post, but heads the cross over.
The game is starting to come alive now and open up.
CLOSE! Another effort on goal from Bordeaux, Savic is the man this time. He picks up the ball 25 yards from goal slightly on the right and bounces a low shot just wide of the far post.
You get the sense that there will be a goal before the break.
MISS! Oh that should have been it for Maccabi. It's fallen to Itzhaki inside the box about eight yards from goal, but he cuts his shot wide of the far post on the stretch.
That should have been 1-0 there.
There will be one added minute.
HALF TIME: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-0 Bordeaux
So after a pretty dull start, it's actually been a pretty good half. Bordeaux have had more chances, but Maccabi have had the better ones.
As things stand, Maccabi are safely heading through into the next round.
Both teams are back out on the field.
KICK OFF! Bordeaux, attacking to the right, get the second half back up and running.
Nearly an early chance for Maccabi as Itzhaki gets his head on the end of a free kick into the box, but he doesn't get enough contact on it, and it bounces through to Olimpo.
YELLOW CARD Itzhaki goes into the book.
Maccabi are starting to control the game once again. No real chances in the past few minutes though.
SCORE UPDATE: It's goalless in the other game as well between Eintracht Frankfurt and APOEL, so Maccabi are heading through at this rate.
Not a lot going on at the moment really, Maccabi are still edging it, but neither side has produced a shot on goal in a while.
YELLOW CARD Tibi goes into the book for bringing down Poundje.
MACCABI CHANGE Itzhaki has been hauled off by Paulo Sousa, with Mitrovic taking his place.
SCORE UPDATE: Eintracht Frankfurt have just taken the lead at APOEL, so Maccabi are now looking very good to go through.
PENALTY AND A RED CARD!
Bordeaux are down to 10 men as Chalme is given a second booking and dismissed for a foul on Dabbur. Great chance for Maccabi now.
GOAL! Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 Bordeaux (Eran Zahavi)
No mistake from Zahavi, who sends Olimpo the wrong way by drilling the ball into the bottom left corner.
CHANGES Maccabi bring on Tal Ben Haim in place of Altman, while Bordeaux have taken off D'Almeida and brought on Pellenard.
MACCABI CHANGE Final alteration for the home side as the goalscorer Zahavi goes off, and Yoah Ziv.
YELLOW CARD Ben Khalfallah is cautioned for fouling Ben Haim.
It's a woeful free kick from Radi, who literally scuffs his effort straight to Olimpo.
Bordeaux have started to show a bit more urgency now and ping about a few passes. But they haven't tested Juan Pablo in a fair while.
Having said that about Bordeaux, Maccabi look the more likely to score if there is another goal.
SCORE UPDATE: Eintracht Frankfurt have now doubled their lead against APOEL, so it's going to take a monumental turn of events for Maccabi to not go through.
SAVE! Olimpa pulls off a great stop from a powerful shot from Ziv on the right of the box that was heading for the near top corner.
There will be two minutes added time.
FULL TIME: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 Bordeaux
That's it from this game.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
