Hapoel Tel Aviv Eyes Conference League Group Stage After Draw With Atalanta

Hapoel Tel Aviv expressed cautious optimism following their 0-0 draw against Atalanta on August 20, 2026, in the Conference League playoff round. The club was pleased with the result achieved on the road against a stronger Italian opponent but emphasized that the tie is only halfway decided, with a full second leg still to come. "This is a good result away against a team that on paper is much better than us," club representatives said, "but it’s only half the journey, and we still have a full match to play. We believe we can reach the Conference League group stage."

The team was confident in their own abilities, noting that while their performance surprised many, it did not surprise themselves. Coach Aliniv Breda expressed pride in the players but refrained from overly emotional speeches, stating they did what was expected. Approximately 1,500 Hapoel fans traveled to Bergamo, making up about one-fifth of the stadium crowd, and their vocal support was noted as a key motivator for the players.

In a departure from usual practice, no shirt exchanges occurred between players; instead, shirts were exchanged between the clubs due to Atalanta owner Steven Paliuca’s personal collection. Additionally, Hapoel is aware of the potential UEFA disciplinary consequences following the lighting of flares by their fans during the match. The club currently has a conditional UEFA sanction, and if they advance to the group stage, they could face a fan ban for their first away European match. If not, the sanction will likely apply to their next European away game.

Hapoel planned another training session in Italy before returning to Israel, mindful of possible flight delays caused by a strike at Ben Gurion Airport the previous day.