Israeli Football Clubs Hold Strong Record Against Italian Teams in Europe

Israeli football clubs have achieved remarkable successes against Italian teams over the past three decades, defying expectations given the strength of Italy's Serie A. This history of notable victories and draws spans from the early 1990s to the present, highlighting key matches involving clubs such as Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The rivalry began with Maccabi Haifa's surprising win over Parma at the Stadio Ennio Tardini 33 years ago. It continued with Hapoel Tel Aviv's memorable victories against Parma and AC Milan during their impressive 2002 UEFA Cup run. Later, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, under coach Barak Bachar, secured significant wins against Inter Milan. More recently, Maccabi Haifa defeated Juventus twice in the 2023 Champions League group stage, with striker Omer Atzili scoring twice in a 2-0 victory.

Overall, Israeli teams have recorded six wins, four draws, and eleven losses against Italian opponents, with a goal tally of 30 scored by Italians to 20 by Israelis. This record is notable considering Italy's league is regarded as one of Europe's top four. Upcoming matches include Hapoel Tel Aviv facing Atalanta in the Conference League playoffs, offering another chapter in this competitive history.

Key past encounters include Maccabi Haifa's 1-0 win over Juventus in 2009-10, Hapoel Haifa's 4-1 victory against Atalanta in 2018-19, and Maccabi Tel Aviv's 3-0 win over Bologna in 2025-26. These results underscore the ability of Israeli clubs to challenge and sometimes overcome elite Italian teams on European stages.