The playoff tie is finely balanced after Lugano edged the first leg 2-1 in Switzerland, giving Maccabi Tel Aviv a lifeline at home. The hosts field a heavily rotated lineup — ten regulars missing from their usual XI suggests a deliberate squad-wide rebuild or focus on domestic co…
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Sign inMaccabi Tel Aviv face FC Lugano on 27 August 2026 in the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff round tie, after the Swiss visitors claimed a 2-1 victory in the first leg at the AIL Arena. With no confirmed venue for the return fixture, the Israeli side will need to harness home advantage to overturn the one-goal deficit and reach the group stage.
Lugano’s Ion Nicolaescu and Claudio Cassano both missed the first leg through injury and remain doubts for the trip. Head coach Mattia Croci-Torti fielded a 3-5-2 shape in Switzerland, with Steffen and Dos Santos leading the line, and Grgic pulling the strings in midfield. Maccabi Tel Aviv, led by Kenny Miller, used a 4-3-3 featuring Peretz, Davida and Sokler in attack. No fresh injury concerns have been reported, though the hosts may consider changes after a narrow defeat.
Lugano head into the decisive leg unbeaten in their first eight competitive matches of the season (seven wins, one draw), a run that includes the 2-1 first-leg success, a 5-0 thrashing of FC Zürich and a 4-1 victory at Grasshopper Club Zürich. Their last away defeat in European qualifiers came earlier in 2025, and they have scored at least twice in four of their last five outings.
Maccabi Tel Aviv have played only cup and European fixtures, with the Israeli Premier League yet to kick off. Since losing the first leg, they responded by reaching the Toto Cup final with a 1-0 win over Maccabi Netanya. In earlier Conference League ties, they eliminated Sheriff Tiraspol (5-0 on aggregate) and CSKA Sofia, but the reverse to Lugano highlighted defensive frailties they must address quickly.
The middle third could decide which side progresses. Lugano’s Anto Grgic was instrumental in the first leg, dictating tempo and delivering dangerous set-pieces. Maccabi’s central pairing of Revivo and Sissokho will need to disrupt his rhythm while launching quick transitions to feed wingers Varela and Davida. If the Swiss side can gain superiority in possession, they may choke Maccabi’s route back into the tie.
Before the first leg, Croci-Torti insisted his team must “raise our level of concentration and our standard of play even further” against a seasoned European opponent. That message has even greater weight now as Lugano protect a slender advantage away from home. Maccabi’s Miller, meanwhile, will demand an aggressive start to test whether his side can become the first to beat Lugano in 2026/27.
A place in the UEFA Conference League group stage is the prize, guaranteeing at least six more European fixtures and significant revenue. With Maccabi needing to win by a single goal to force extra time, this second leg could stretch into the additional 30 minutes if the hosts find an early breakthrough.
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