Hapoel Tel Aviv and Atalanta played to a goalless draw in the first leg of UEFA Conference League Playoff Round action. Chances were difficult to come by from both sides but when called upon the keepers made the timely saves. The second leg will be played in Miskolc, Hungary next Thursday with the winner claiming one of the Conference League League stage places.

With 1,500 supporters accompanying Hapoel Tel Aviv, the reds pressed high early on as they tried to create a turnover and then capitalize on the situation. Roie Alkukin sent a cross into the Atalanta box but missed its intended target while Omri Altman’s corner kick was headed out. Both squads kept seeing how they could break down the other, but chances were at a premium as they went into halftime goalless.

Both sides continued to play cautiously as neither wanted to make a mistake as the reds made a double substitution in order to try and open the match up a bit with Xander Silva and Mor Buskila coming on. Tentative play again littered the pitch but Atalanta had a pair of brilliant chances in second half injury time when Ederson’s back-to-back shots were saved by Assaf Tzur as the time ran out to send the tie to the decisive second leg at Hapoel’s home away from home in Miskolc.