Hapoel Tel Aviv Advances to Conference League Playoff Despite 2-1 Loss to Katowice

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a spot in the playoff round of the UEFA Conference League despite losing 2-1 away to Polish side Katowice on August 12, 2026. The Israeli team took an early lead through Stav Turyel in the 23rd minute but conceded two late goals, including an equalizer by former Maccabi Petah Tikva player Ilia Shkurin in the 83rd minute and a decisive goal in the 90th minute. Despite the loss, Hapoel advanced with a 3-2 aggregate score from the two-legged tie.

This marks a historic achievement for Hapoel Tel Aviv, as it is the first time since the 2011/12 season that the club has progressed through two consecutive rounds of European qualifiers. The team, coached by Aliniv Breda, now faces a challenging playoff against Italian club Atalanta, which stands as the final hurdle before the group stage of the competition.

The match was tense, with Katowice intensifying their attack in the second half after trailing 3-0 on aggregate. Hapoel had to withstand heavy pressure in the closing minutes but managed to hold on and celebrate their advancement. The upcoming fixtures against Atalanta in Bergamo will test the Israeli side's resilience and quality as they aim to reach the Conference League group stage for the first time in over a decade.