Hapoel Tel Aviv Holds Atalanta to 0-0 Draw Amid Fan Arrests for Smoke Bombs
Hapoel Tel Aviv secured an impressive 0-0 draw against Atalanta in the first leg of the Conference League playoff on August 20, 2026, keeping their hopes alive for a historic advancement to the group stage. The match took place in Bergamo, Italy, where Hapoel will face a challenging away leg next week amid a large, supportive crowd expected to recreate a Bloomfield Stadium atmosphere.
Ahead of the game, Italian special operations and intelligence units raided an Airbnb apartment where two Israeli fans were staying, arresting them for possession of 45 kilograms of smoke bombs and fireworks. The raid occurred just hours before kickoff amid heightened security due to regional tensions and protests against Hapoel Tel Aviv's visit. Despite heavy security, several anti-Israel demonstrations were reported on social media.
On the pitch, the teams appeared evenly matched despite Atalanta's massive budget advantage of approximately 400 million euros. Hapoel had a notable chance missed by Emmanuel Boateng, while Atalanta dominated the second half but lacked sharpness, reflecting it was their first official match of the season. Hapoel goalkeeper Asaf Tzur made crucial saves near the end to preserve the draw, leaving the tie open for the decisive second leg in Hungary.
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