Maccabi Tel Aviv's Varela Assists and Gets Injured Ahead of Lugano Clash

Four days before Maccabi Tel Aviv's crucial second-leg match against Lugano, winger Helio Varela suffered an injury during the team's game against Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday. Varela, 24, who had been a key player since joining Maccabi Tel Aviv this season after participating and scoring in the World Cup, assisted the third goal scored by Dor Peretz. The assist came after an impressive 45-meter sprint, but he was injured at the end of this run and was substituted in the 63rd minute by Hisham Laius.

Varela has started every game this season, including full 90-minute appearances against CSKA Sofia and Lugano, despite the team's 2-1 loss to the latter. He was expected to start in the upcoming second-leg match on Thursday. Meanwhile, Varela is attracting interest from several clubs, with Maccabi Tel Aviv setting his transfer price at 4.5 million euros.

The injury raises concerns for Maccabi Tel Aviv ahead of the important fixture against Lugano, as they prepare to overturn the deficit in the Europa Conference League qualifying round.