Preview: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Dynamo Kiev - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to secure a spot in the league phase of the Europa League, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kiev lock horns in the playoff round first leg on Thursday night.

The Yellows are looking to continue their excellent run of form of late, whilst the Blue and Whites are hoping to make amends following their Champions League exit.

Match preview

After winning the Israeli Premier League during the 2024-25 season, Maccabi Tel Aviv were awarded a spot in the second round of qualification for the Champions League, with a dream of making it to the league phase where the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich await.

However, the Yellows suffered a two-legged disaster earlier this summer, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Pafos of Cyprus, meaning that the Israeli outfit are now battling for a spot in the League Phase of UEFA's second-tier club competition this term.

Maccabi made light work of Maltese minnows Hamrun Spartans in the third round of Europa League qualifying earlier this month, with back-to-back wins over their continental counterparts leading to a comfortable 5-2 triumph on aggregate, setting up a tie with Dynamo Kiev.

Adding their Toto Cup success over Hapoel Jerusalem into the mix, the Yellows have won three straight matches recently for the first time since the end of last season, when they lifted their domestic title for the 21st time since 1949-50.

Focusing on domestic matters for a moment, Thursday's visitors Dynamo Kiev have made an excellent start to the 2025-26 season, collecting nine points from three matches in the Ukrainian Premier League, meaning that they sit top of the standings by two points.

The road has been a lot bumpier under the European spotlight for the Blue and Whites, who were defeated by Maccabi's conquerors Pafos in the third round of Champions League qualifying, sentencing the Ukrainians to spot in the playoff round of the Europa League.

Dynamo Kiev made the revamped league phase of the Europa League during the 2024-25 campaign, when they won just one, drew one and lost six of their eight contests, leading to a 34th-placed finish in the 36-team table and subsequent elimination.

Rather remarkably, the Blue and Whites have seen nine different goalscorers at the beginning of their domestic campaign, with Thursday's visitors firing in 10 goals across three victories ahead of a midweek trip to Serbia's TSC Arena.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League form:

W W

Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions):

L D L W W W

Dynamo Kiev form (all competitions):

W W L W L W

Team News

After bagging a brace against Hamrun Spartans in the last round, Ido Shahar should retain his spot in the midfield for Maccabi on Thursday night.

Finding the net and providing an assist at the expense of the Maltese minnows, Osher Davida is set to start on the right flank once again.

Replaced during the half-time whistle last time out on the European stage, left-back Vladyslav Dubinchak is unlikely to feature from the start for Dynamo Kiev in Serbia.

As a result, the Blue and Whites should have a new face in their back four, with 23-year-old Kostyantyn Vivcharenko pushing for a starting berth.

Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:

Mishpati; Asante, Stojic, Shlomo, Revivo; Peretz, Sissokho, Shahar; Davida, Madmon, Nicolaescu

Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:

Neshcheret; Tymchyk, Popov, Mykhavko, Vivcharenko; Buyalskyi, Brazhko, Shaparenko; Yarmolenko, Kabayev, Vanat

We say: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-1 Dynamo Kiev

Looking to stay in the tie ahead of next week's second leg, we are expecting a conservative approach from both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kiev at TSC Arena.

The Yellows could make a slow start and fall behind, but the hosts should have enough quality to rescue a share of the honours.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.