Maccabi Tel Aviv won Tuesday its first participation in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for 11 years following a draw 1-1 against Basel at the Bloomfield stadium in Tel Aviv.

Maccabi will join Europe’s top football clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester City, Valencia, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Real Madrid.

Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Eran Zahavi’s goal in the 24th minute secured his team’s entry to the main phase of Europe's most prestigious club competition. The goal put his team level with Basel, whose Luca Zuffi had scored 11 minutes into the game.

Maccabi qualified because it had tied last week’s away first-leg in Basel 2-2, with Zahavi scoring the two goals. Away goals count double in the Champions League.