Category: First Team

Bitton: “We will have to be at our best”

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Nir Bitton returned to Israel and joined Maccabi last summer after nine successful seasons at Glasgow where he won 18 trophies with Scottish giants Celtic. Bitton, who featured 55 times for Celtic in the Champions League and Europa League clearly knows what it takes to reach those levels: “The coaching staff will prepare us in the best possible way. They (Larnaca) reached the Round 16 in Conference League last season so we are dealing with a good, strong and experienced side. We will need to be at our best in order to beat them and we will hope to do so. We have a target this season – reaching the group stages.”

Biton who played in 2 of Maccabi’ three matches so far tis season, in the 6-1 victory away to Be’ersheva followed by the 3-0 victory over Petrocub at Bloomfield in the previous round, added: “I started last season on a high note as well. I believe in myself and know what I can give. Several things happened last season that got me a little out of my flow. Then there was the change in the coaching staff midway through the season. Now we have a new coach and we are all trying to adapt to his style. I am receiving a good feedback, which is not something one should take for granted. As far as I am concerned, it is not an individual sport but a team sport so I will keep on doing my best for the team like I have done throughout my career.”

Bitton, then shared some of the personal difficulties he experienced upon returning to Israel, as he didn’t hide his emotions: “There are things that happen off the pitch that people are not aware of, there is a family especially kids. One has to admit that even though I am Israeli and spent most of my life here, I returned after nine years of playing abroad. I never opened up on this until today, but my kids experienced a big crisis when we all returned. They suddenly didn’t hear English around them and the little one even suffered from issues with his speech. He struggled with the language, with adapting to Israel. Such things can effect an entire family and take a footballer off balance. There are issues that are beyond our control, but people tend to judge you based on your performance on the pitch, yet there are matters like family that are a little more important than football.”

Maccabi travel to Cyprus ahead of Larnaca

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Maccabi’s European journey continues as today (Tuesday) the team flew out to Cyprus ahead of the Conference League third qualifying round first leg against AEK Larnaca.

Before heading for Ben Gurion Airport the team arrived at Kiryat Shalom training complex where they held the final practice session and Press Conference ahead of the match.

Introducing AEK Larnaca

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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s European journey takes another step on Wednesday (20:00) when Robbie Keane’s charges travel to Cyprus and face local side AEK Larnaca for the first leg of the Conference League 3rd qualifying round. Shortly before the two-legged tie gets underway the time has come to learn about our opponents.

Last season’s achievement: Conference Leaguer Round of 16

Larnaca reached the Conference League qualifying rounds after finishing last season in third spot of the Cypriot league, eight points adrift of Champions Aris Limassol. This season the beat Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino of Belarus in the second qualifying round with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Last season, Larnaca enjoyed a successful European campaign which began with an elimination in the Champions League 2nd qualifying round, but continued by finishing 3rd in the Europa League group stage ahead of Dynamo Kiev. Larnaca advanced to the Conference League knockout phase where they saw off another Ukrainian opposition SC Dnipro-1 before being eliminated at the Round of 16 by Premiership outfit West Ham United that ultimately won the competition.

AEK Larnaca vs West Ham United. Photo: AEK Larnaca Facebook ()

 

Larnaca will host Maccabi on Wednesday at their 8000-capacity stadium, AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis which was completed in 2016 that also hosts the Cypriot national team matches.

The Spanish contingent

AEK has a strong Spanish influence as they are coached by Jose Luis Oltra as the 54-year-old Spaniard was appointed in June 2022 and begins his second season in charge. Larnaca are Oltra’s first club outside Spain after 20 years of coaching amongst other clubs at Levante, Tenerife, Almeria, Deportivo La Coruna, Mallorca, Recreativo, Granada and Racing Santander.

AEK tend to change their formation under Oltra pending on the identity of their formation yet by looking into the majority of matches last season the Cypriots mostly played 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.

In other matches including the tie against Torpedo Zhodino in the previous round, Larnaca fielded two strikers, two wingers and two holding midfielders.

Photo: AEK Larnaca Facebook ()

Just like many Cypriot sides, Larnaca’s squad has many foreign players edging the local players to the substitutes bench. The return leg against Zhodino, AEK named no less 11 foreign players in its’ starting line-up, with 2 Cypriots starting in the first leg. Larnaca have 5 Spanish players in the squad, ands 3 Portuguese players, 2 Bosnians and their captain is 36-year-old Macedonian forward Ivan Trichkovsdki who has been at the club since 2016. Trichkovski was Larnaca’s top goal-scorer last season with 11 goals, while Omri Altman, who rejoined Hapoel Tel Aviv, was their second top scorer with 8 league goals to his name.

Oltra opted this season to name a striking partnership of 31-year-old Spanish striker Fran Sol and Portuguese forward Rafael Lopes (32). Sol was bought by Dynamo Kiev in 2019 after a successful spell at Dutch side Willem II but spent most of his time on loan in Spain at Tenerife, Aibar and Malaga.

At the back Larnaca are not short of experience as former Fiorentina veteran Serbian central defender Nenad Tomovic and former Atletic Bilbau keeper Iago Herrerin yet in the last two matches Cypriot keeper Ioakeim Toumbas and Kenan Piric of Bosnia started in goal.

Photo: AEK Larnaca Facebook ()

Conference League: Maccabi could face Celje or Neman

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Maccabi play AEK Larnaca in Cyprus on Wednesday for the first leg of their Conference League third qualifying round before hosting the return leg at Bloomfield eight days later. The Playoff draw which took place at UEFA’s Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday, saw Robbie Keane’s side learn the identity of their potential next opponents.

NK Celje that finished last season in the runners-up spot of Slovenia’s PrvaLiga 6 points behind Champions Olimpija Ljubljana, hosted their matches so far at their Z’dezele stadium but will host at Stožice stadium in Ljubljana. Celje’s opponents Neman Grodno are currently midway through their domestic league season and are 2nd in the table 3 points adrift of leaders Dinamo Minsk. With Belarus unable to host matches, Neman host their matches in Hungary at the home stadium of Gyori where Maccabi played a Champions League qualifier in the summer of 2013.

Should Maccabi qualify at the end of the two-legged tie against AEK Larnaca, they will host the first leg of the Playoff at Bloomfield on August 24th before traveling to Hungary for the return leg a week later, on August 31st.

Revivo: “When I saw the starting line-up I wanted the match to start”

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Ahead of the Conference League 2nd Qualifying round return leg against Petrocub Hincesti of Moldova, Head Coach Robbie Keane said that several players who didn’t get a chance to play in the previous leg, would get some minutes and a chance to impress. As a result, Roy Revivo was handed his first start for Maccabi’s senior side and said at the end of the 2-0 victory where he played a key role in Dor Peretz’s injury time second goal. “In the team meeting today before the game Robbie Keane told me I would get a chance. As soon as I saw the starting line-up I wanted the match to start and waited for the whistle to be blown. From this match I take, besides my first start, a chance I should have scored, but I am happy Dor ultimately put it away. We should have converted more chances that we had but this is already behind us and we are looking forward. We never settle for what we achieve and always try to do more.”

Revivo, who joined the Maccabi first team squad, after a summer where he featured for Israel’s U20, U21’s and the full national side: added: “We did great things this summer, the youngsters proved that they deserve a chance to play. We set the history books time and time again – we would like to continue doing that for the benefit of Israeli football.”

Revivo, who knows he faces tough competition, summed up: “At Maccabi Tel Aviv the battle is not only for a place in the starting line up but also for a place in the squad. The welcoming reception Dor (Turgeman) and I received from the fans was amazing. Something I never expected and really excited us.”

Maccabi beat Petrocub 2-0

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Preview

Maccabi arrived at the Zimbru stadium in Chisenau for the return leg against Petrocub Hincest with a three goa lead from the first leg knowing that only a sporting disaster will prevent them from advancing to the Conference League 3rd qualifying round. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Robbie Keane, made several changes to his side that beat the Moldovans last week allowing other players to get minutes under their belt before facing AEK Larnaca in Cyprus next week.

Daniel Peretz started in goal with Enric Saborit and Derrick Luckassen lining up as the two central defenders in-front of the 23-year-old Maccabi custodian. Roy Revivo made his first start at left back Yvanne Macon completing the back four on the opposite right-flank. Joris van Overeem started in the anchorman role alongside Dor Peretz who led the team out wearing the captain’s armband. Gabi Kanichowsky was handed his first start this season at the top of the midfield trio. Dan Biton, who scored the opener against Petrocub at Bloomfield started on one wing with Eylon Almog at the opposite flank while Djordje Jovanovic led the line as the striker upfront.

On the substitutes bench, Keane named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Dan Glazer, Eran Zahavi, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Parfait Guiagon, Shera Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Shahar Piven, Ido Shahar and Nir Biton.

First Half

Maccabi began the match in Chisinau where they left off at Bloomfield, attacking Petrocub right from the start in a bid to grab an early goal. Eight minutes after the start, Eylon Almog and Roy Revivo combined well down the left flank as the youngster was sent into the before his attempt of a square ball was cleared out for a corner.

The hosts enjoying the support of around 5000 fans, began to take control, dominating the midfield but couldn’t create any serious threat on Daniel Peretz’s goal. In the 20th minute however, Maccabi created the best chance so far as Dan Biton fed Djordje Jovanovic who carved Petrocub’s defense open by releasing Dor Peretz. Maccabi’s captain on the night tried lifting the ball over Cristian Avram who charged off his line, but Petrocub’s keeper made his first save to keep his goal locked.

Avram was required to a double save three minutes after the half hour mark as Biton sent Jovanovic through before the Serbian striker’s initial shot was equaled by Petrocub’s keeper who was up on his feet to keep out Peretz’s attempt of firing in the rebound.

Teodor Lung limped off in the 38th minute and was replaced at left back by Dumitru Demian. A minute later Maccabi almost capitalized as Gabi Kanichowsky flicked the ball into the path of Biton whose close range effort was punched out by Avram. The fourth official indicated six minutes of added time and seconds later Kanichowsky came close as he found himself unmarked in the middle of Petrocub’s penalty box. But the diminutive midfielder couldn’t manage a shot on goal before the danger was cleared by Petrocub’s defense.

Second Half

Robbie Keane made one change after the break as Parfait Guiagon replaced Eylon Almog for the restart in a bid to add more purpose to Maccabi’s game.

In the 56th minute van Overeem was booked by Danish referee Peter Kjaesgaard for a foul on Maxim Cojocaru which stopped a Petrocub counter attack just inside Maccabi’s half. Keane reacted as he made a double substitution right on the hour mark introducing Yonatan Cohen and Eran Zahavi for Kanichowsky and Jovanovic.

In the 65th minute however, Petrocub came close to draw first blood as Cojocaru charged down the right and broke into the area before his shot come cross was saved by the feet of Peretz.

Peretz was required to be alert on 68 to catch Maxim Potirniche’s header following a corner and three minutes later to punch away another dangerous aerial threat. Keane made another double change in the 73rd minute with Yvanne Macon and Biton bowing out and replaced by Sheran Yeini and Ido Shahar. The veteran captain who is Maccabi’s all time appearance record holder in Europe, made his 83rd appearance in European competitions thus increasing the gap at the top even further.

Inside injury time the deadlock was finally broken as Guiagon broke into the area, exchanged passes with Cohen to carve Petrocub’s defense open before firing a shot which went in off the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Maccabi doubled the lead and sealed the win as Avram spilled an Roy Revivo fierce left foot volley with Peretz tucking in the second from point blank range with the goal at his mercy.