Hapoel Ramat Gan vs TSC Backa Topola

The match — played at a training ground in Slovenia during TSC's pre-season camp — started cautiously, with neither side able to break through in the opening quarter-hour. The deadlock was broken in the 18th minute when TSC midfielder Mihajlo Milosavić found the net to put the Serbian SuperLiga side ahead.

Hapoel responded within 15 minutes. Maxim Plakushchenko, the 30-year-old Ukrainian-born Israeli midfielder who joined Hapoel Ramat Gan in the summer of 2026 from Netanya, levelled the score in the 33rd minute to send the teams in level at the break.

The second half saw Hapoel complete the turnaround with a goal whose scorer was not confirmed in published match reports. The Israeli side held on to secure a 2-1 victory, giving them a useful result ahead of the upcoming Toto League Cup campaign.

Plakushchenko's equaliser in the 33rd minute shifted the momentum decisively. TSC had controlled the opening half-hour through Milosavić's early strike, but Hapoel's ability to respond before half-time denied the Serbians a platform to build on their lead. The goal came from a side that had lost 4-0 to Hungarian side Paksi FC just four days earlier, on 14 July — making the response all the more significant.

Maxim Plakushchenko (Hapoel Ramat Gan) — The central midfielder, valued at €300k per Transfermarkt, scored the crucial equaliser that swung the game. Plakushchenko, who can play both in central midfield and further forward, showed his eye for goal in just his second pre-season appearance for the club.

Mihajlo Milosavić (TSC Bačka Topola) — Scored TSC's only goal in the 18th minute with a finish that highlighted his quality. The midfielder was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating afternoon for the Serbian side.

The match was a tight affair befitting a pre-season friendly between two sides in different stages of preparation. The 0-0 scoreline at half-time (before the goals arrived) suggests a cagey opening period. TSC's official match report confirmed the lineup featured a strong XI, including captain Simić in goal, with a back four of Stojanović, Šatara, Krstić and St. Jovanović, while the bench included ten substitutes — indicating the side used the full complement of changes typical of pre-season run-outs. No detailed xG, possession or shot data was published for this friendly.

For Hapoel Ramat Gan, the win provides a confidence boost after a 4-0 defeat to Paksi FC on 14 July. The Israeli side's next competitive fixture is in the Toto League Cup — Group B, Round 2 on 28 July 2026.

For TSC Bačka Topola, the loss was their second pre-season friendly in Slovenia as they build towards Champions League qualifiers scheduled later in the summer. The Serbian side will be encouraged by Milosavić's early goal but will need to address defensive lapses that allowed Hapoel to score twice.

A competitive pre-season workout that served its purpose: both sides got minutes, both scored, and the result was secondary to preparation. Plakushchenko's equaliser was the standout moment, and Hapoel will take more from the performance than the scoreline alone suggests.