Mb Tel-Aviv vs Dynamo Kyiv: Overview

In a pivotal UEFA Europa League playoff first leg, Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Dynamo Kyiv at the Gradski Stadion in Backa Topola, Serbia on August 21, 2025. The Israeli champions demonstrated remarkable efficiency in front of goal, with captain Dor Peretz leading by example with a brilliant brace.

The match, played on neutral ground due to the ongoing security concerns in both Israel and Ukraine, saw Maccabi take an early lead through Peretz's 12th-minute strike before Kyiv's Nazar Voloshyn equalized in the 32nd minute. The game's turning point came shortly after halftime when Kyiv's Kostiantyn Vivcharenko received a straight red card, reducing the Ukrainian side to ten men. Maccabi capitalized ruthlessly with Sagiv Jehezkel restoring their lead in the 58th minute before Peretz sealed the win with his second goal in the 69th minute, following excellent work from Roy Revivo.

This result gives Žarko Lazetić's men a significant advantage heading into the second leg scheduled for August 28. For both clubs, who were previously eliminated from Champions League qualifiers by Pafos, this playoff represents their final chance to secure European group stage football this season. Maccabi's three away goals put them in a strong position to advance to the Europa League proper, while Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's Dynamo face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit.

"This was a professional performance from my players in difficult circumstances. Playing away from home is never easy, but to score three goals and take a two-goal advantage into the second leg is excellent. Dor [Peretz] showed his leadership qualities today, but this was a complete team effort," stated Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Žarko Lazetić.

"The red card changed everything. Until that moment, we were very much in the game at 1-1. Now we have a mountain to climb, but in football anything is possible. We will need our fans behind us for the return leg," admitted Dynamo Kyiv head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.

"Scoring twice is always special, but more important is the team result. We've put ourselves in a good position, but the job is only half done. Dynamo are a quality side even with ten men, so we'll need complete focus for the second leg," said Maccabi's captain Dor Peretz after his match-winning performance.

"Maccabi executed their game plan perfectly today. Once Dynamo went down to ten men, they controlled the tempo and were clinical in the final third. The Ukrainian side now needs something special to turn this around," analyzed former European football technical director Anton Maksimov when assessing the match.

Ball Possession: Maccabi Tel Aviv 54% - 46% Dynamo Kyiv

Shots (On Target): Maccabi Tel Aviv 15 (7) - Dynamo Kyiv 9 (3)

Corners: Maccabi Tel Aviv 6 - Dynamo Kyiv 4

Cards: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 yellows - Dynamo Kyiv 3 yellows, 1 red

Key Individual Performances:

• Dor Peretz (Maccabi): 2 goals, 92% pass completion, 3 tackles
• Roy Revivo (Maccabi): 1 assist, 4 key passes, 88% pass completion
• Sagiv Jehezkel (Maccabi): 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 2 key passes
• Nazar Voloshyn (Dynamo): 1 goal, 2 shots on target
• Andrii Yarmolenko (Dynamo): 3 key passes, 75% pass completion
• Mykola Shaparenko (Dynamo): 91% pass completion, 4 recoveries

The statistics reflect Maccabi's dominance, particularly after Dynamo's red card in the 50th minute. The Israeli side's midfield trio of Peretz, Sissokho, and Belic controlled the tempo, completing 87% of their passes collectively. Dynamo struggled to create opportunities after going down to ten men, with only one shot on target in the final 40 minutes compared to Maccabi's five during the same period.

12' - GOAL! (0-1) Maccabi Tel Aviv take the lead! Dor Peretz finds space at the edge of the box and curls a superb right-footed shot into the bottom corner, giving Ruslan Neshcheret no chance.

32' - GOAL! (1-1) Dynamo Kyiv equalize! A well-worked move down the right flank sees Oleksandr Karavaiev deliver a precise cross that Nazar Voloshyn meets with a powerful header into the roof of the net.

50' - RED CARD! Disaster for Dynamo as Kostiantyn Vivcharenko receives a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Osher Davida. The Ukrainian side is reduced to ten men with 40 minutes still to play.

58' - GOAL! (1-2) Maccabi capitalize on their numerical advantage! Sagiv Jehezkel restores the Israeli side's lead with a clinical finish after a slick passing move cuts through Dynamo's reorganized defense.

69' - GOAL! (1-3) It's a brace for Dor Peretz! Roy Revivo delivers a perfectly weighted through ball that splits the Dynamo defense, and Peretz keeps his composure to slot past Neshcheret.

77' - Tactical shift by Dynamo as coach Shovkovskyi makes a double substitution, bringing on fresh legs in an attempt to reduce the deficit.

90+3' - Final whistle! Maccabi Tel Aviv secure a valuable 3-1 victory in the first leg, putting them in a strong position ahead of the return fixture.

Prior to this encounter, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv had met twice in European competitions, both times in the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League group stage. Dynamo won both of those meetings with identical 2-0 scorelines, making this 3-1 victory Maccabi's first-ever win against their Ukrainian opponents.

Historically, Dynamo have been the more successful side in European competitions, reaching the Champions League group stages 16 times compared to Maccabi's two appearances. However, the landscape of Eastern European football has shifted in recent years due to various geopolitical factors affecting both clubs.

Key individual battles on the pitch saw Maccabi's captain Dor Peretz dominate his midfield confrontation with Mykola Shaparenko, scoring twice and controlling the tempo of the game. On the flanks, Osher Davida gave Kostiantyn Vivcharenko a torrid time before the Ukrainian defender's dismissal, while veteran Andrii Yarmolenko showed flashes of his quality but was ultimately contained by Maccabi's disciplined defensive structure.

The tactical battle between coaches Žarko Lazetić and Oleksandr Shovkovskyi was particularly intriguing, with Lazetić's game plan proving more effective, especially after the red card incident. Maccabi's ability to capitalize on their numerical advantage demonstrated their tactical flexibility, while Dynamo struggled to reorganize effectively after going down to ten men.

In the UEFA Europa League playoff round context, this first leg result puts Maccabi Tel Aviv in an advantageous position with a 3-1 lead heading into the second leg. The winner of this two-legged tie will advance to the Europa League group stage, while the loser will drop to the UEFA Conference League.

Both teams entered this playoff round after being eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers by Pafos FC. Maccabi Tel Aviv finished as champions of the Israeli Premier League in the 2024-25 season, currently sitting 8th in their domestic league in the early stages of the 2025-26 campaign. Meanwhile, Dynamo Kyiv were Ukrainian Premier League leaders last season and currently occupy 46th position in the UEFA club coefficient rankings.

With a two-goal cushion and three away goals, Maccabi now have approximately a 75% historical probability of advancing to the group stages based on similar first-leg results in UEFA competitions. For Dynamo, they face a significant challenge but will take some comfort from the away goal they managed to score, which could prove crucial if they can overturn the deficit in the return leg.