The UEFA Europa League 2025-26 Group Stage continued with Aston Villa hosting Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park, Birmingham, on November 6, 2025. The match delivered fiery moments and tactical intrigue throughout the first half.
The referee’s whistle ended an intense opening half, with Aston Villa leading 1-0. Ian Maatsen’s spectacular strike gave his side the advantage right before halftime, lifting the home crowd to their feet.
Morgan Rogers threads a beautiful, sneaky pass straight to Ian Maatsen, who carves out some space and lets fly. The ball kisses the crossbar and crashes in — 1-0 to Villa.
The roar from the stands reflected Villa’s growing momentum. Maccabi Tel Aviv, on the other hand, faced challenges maintaining possession and breaking through the English side’s defense.
As the teams headed to the dressing rooms, Villa carried the upper hand and confidence. For Maccabi Tel Aviv, the second half offered a crucial chance to regroup and find a way back into the game.
Author’s summary: Aston Villa’s dominance and Maatsen’s stunning goal defined the first half, leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv searching for answers in a high-energy Europa League battle.