Half-Time Report: Mathias Delgado penalty brings Basel level against Maccabi Tel Aviv

Mathias Delgado's 39th-minute penalty has put Basel back on level terms with Maccabi Tel Aviv in their Champions League qualifier.

The Swiss champions looked to start on the front foot, with Birkir Bjarnason's shot forcing an early save out of Maccabi keeper Juan Pablo.

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With only a quarter of an hour played, however, the hosts suffered an injury setback when Austrian midfielder Marc Janko was brought off for Urs Fischer's men.

On 22 minutes, Basel went close to taking the lead again as Michael Lang narrowly missed the target.

Shkelzen Gashi, who came on for the injured Janko, then tried to force the issue as he took aim at Pablo's goal, but saw his effort blocked by a retreating Nosa Igiebor.

Instead, it was Maccabi who took the lead on 31 minutes when Avraham Riken's free kick teed up Eran Zahavi and the captain duly slotted past Tomas Vaclik from close range.

However, Basel were awarded a penalty late in the half as Delgado was tripped by ex-Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim before the Argentine netted for the hosts from the spot.