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Tel Aviv - Hapoel Tel Aviv claimed its first point of the Champions League group stage on Tuesday with a 0-0 draw at home to Schalke.
Despite producing a number of scoring opportunities, last season's Israeli champions were unable to get the ball past Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The result leaves Hapoel rooted at bottom of Group B, while Schalke is second with seven points - two behind Lyon. But it means coach Eli Guttman's team has at least gone one better than last year's Israeli representative, Maccabi Haifa, which became the first team to finish the group stage with zero goals and zero points.
Schalke was in control for much of the first half, although the hosts also came close to scoring on more than one occasion, notably with a shot from Eran Zahavi which drew a save in the 30th minute, and went on to control the second half.
"We didn't win the match because we missed our chances," Guttman said. "At this level, you need to make the most of your opportunities. We played organized soccer, moved the ball well and created opportunities. I'm proud of my players."
The visitors put on the pressure from the kickoff, but Hapoel weathered the opening pressure and regained its composure as the game opened up.
Striker Toto Tamuz produced a stinging shot from outside the box to test Neuer in the 18th minute, but the Germany keeper parried the ball away.
Zahavi had a clear chance to put the home side in front just before the half hour mark when Ben Sahar headed down to him just a few meters out from the goal, but Neuer dived well and managed to push his shot away for a corner.
Schalke troubled Hapoel goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama on more than one occasion in the final minutes of the first half, with the Nigerian saving well from a Raul header in the 40th minute and then tipping a long range effort from Jose Manuel Jurado over the bar in the 44th.
The home side built some real momentum in the second half and began pushing forward. On 58 minutes Salim Toama skipped into the box and sent in a superb cross, but Tamuz's effort was stopped practically on the goalline by a harried Schalke defence.
Ten minutes later Neuer had to dive full length to stop substitute Yossi Shivhon from scoring with a glancing header.
The visitors had their chances as the game drew to a close, and Christoph Metzelder headed wide from a corner with three minutes left.
