Mohamed Salah helps Basel beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Champions League
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah had a hand in the only goal as Swiss side Basel secured a narrow 1-0 home win over Israel’s Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the first leg of the European Champions League third qualifying round on Tuesday.
Valentin Stocker notched the winner six minutes before the break to give Basel a slender advantage ahead of the second leg, which will take place in Israel on 6 August.
Egypt’s attacking midfielder Salah started the superb move which led to the goal. He gathered a throw-in, exchanged passes with a teammate before finding Marcelo Diaz, whose back-heel pass allowed Stocker to fire home.
Basel 1-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (3rd Qualification…
Salah wreaked havoc down the right flank and was a constant threat throughout.
Mohamed El-Neny also featured in the game. He was replaced with 13 minutes remaining.
It remains to be seen whether both players will play the second leg.
Playing in Israel has long been a contentious issue in Egyptian football, with many arguing that it amounts to “normalizing” ties with Israel.
Former Egyptian international defender Hany Ramzy, now coach of Egypt’s Wadi Degla, stirred controversy in 1994 when he went to Israel to play with Werder Bremen against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the old UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Describing his visit to Israel as an interesting experience, Ramzy said at the time: “I do my work as a professional and I do not mix Politics with Sports”.
