Category: First Team
Mitrovic’s screamer: 5 Maccabi goals against Sakhnin
A numbers game: The club record Maccabi holds against Sakhnin
Maccabi will play their 2,300th league match since the State of Israel was founded.
Maccabi’s all-time league record is the best among all Israeli clubs of which 1,173 victories, 611 draws and 515 defeats. The all-time goal tally currently stands on 3864 goals scored and 2166 conceded.
Maccabi played against Sakhnin 57 times in the league of which 36 were won, 6 lost and 15 others ended in a draw with a goal tally of 109-40.
The 71.9% success rate against Sakhnin is Maccabi’s highest against any of the 19 opponents they faced 40 times or more in league history.
Maccabi’s home record in 28 league matches against Sakhnin currently stands on 20 victories, 7 draws, and one defeat recorded in the 2004/05 season.
The goal difference currently stands on 62-18.
The 79.8% success rate is the highest against any of the 19 opponents Maccabi hosted for 20 league matches or more.
Maccabi are on a run of 26 successive unbeaten home matches against Sakhnin (20 victories and 6 draws), a club record against any league opponent.
The all-time league record for an unbeaten home run belongs to Hapoel Haifa against Bnei Yehuda: 28 home matches without defeat between 1963 and 2001.
The highest victory over Sakhnin was recorded in the 2023 Round of 16 State Cup tie, a 5–0 victory at Bloomfield Stadium.
Eran Zahavi (2), Oscar Gloukh (2) and Avi Rikan were on target for Maccabi.
The highest league victory against Sakhnin (4-0) was recorded three times:
2010/11 season: Haris Medunjanin, Roberto Colautti, Yuval Avidor, Eliran Atar
2012/13 season: Eliran Atar (2), Yoav Ziv, Moanes Dabour
2024/25 season: Weslley Patati, Dor Turgeman, Henry Addo, Joris van Overeem
No less than 203 Maccabi players featured throughout history in league matches against Sakhnin.
Sheran Yeini holds the club record with 27 league appearances against Sakhnin.
Over the years 53 Maccabi players scored against Sakhnin as Eran Zahavi leads the goalscorers chart with 15 goals to his name.
The only player to score a hat-trick against Sakhnin: Eran Zahavi, on MD36 (the final matchday) of the 2013/14 season.
In all competitions Zahavi found the Sakhnin net 19 times as they are the opponent he scored against most often in a Maccabi shirt.
In 55 league matches against Maccabi, Sakhnin players received 13 red cards, averaging one red card every 4.5 matches, the highest ratio among Maccabi’s 16 league opponents (minimum 50 meetings).
Eighteen players represented both Maccabi and Sakhnin in league matches.
The only member in Maccabi’s current squad to feature for both clubs is Itay Ben-Hemo.
Sakhnin’s coach, Sharon Mimer, has faced Maccabi as a head coach in 20 league matches. Maccabi’s record in these matches: 9 victories, 8 draws, and 3 defeats.
Ben Harush: “I’ll fight for every minute I get and give my all”
The 20-year-old defender who joined Maccabi in the summer from Hapoel Haifa and has so far made 11 appearances in all competitions, has featured in various positions on the pitch. Ben Harush expressed his pleasure with Maccabi’s 3-1 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem last Saturday that ended a run of four winless matches. Maccabi are currently third in the table with 33 points, eight behind the leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva that beat Sakhnin 5-0. “We are focused only on ourselves, one game at a time, Ben Harush said. “We prepare in the best way possible and come to win every match. It doesn’t matter what other teams do. At the end of the day, we show up ready to play and aim to come out with the three points. We had a run of draws and really wanted that win. It was a big release going into the next matches, it gave us a lot of energy moving forward.”
Ahead of Sakhnin, Ben Harush said: “No game is easy in this league. We prepare thoroughly for every team, whether it’s Sakhnin or Be’ersheva, and our goal is always to win.”
“The dressing room is very united. We’re always together and focused on succeeding as a team.”
On settling in at Maccabi, Ben Harush said: “I am at the biggest club in the country. Every game and every training session is a competition, for the squad, for my place, for the starting eleven. I fight for every minute I get, and wherever I play, I give my all. Whether the coach puts me in midfield, left back, or right back, I will play wherever he needs me.”
“What we’ve been missing lately is scoring early goals. Last season, Maccabi dominated matches because we scored early. That’s really important, there are expectations for us to get the second and third goals, and sometimes it’s not easy. What matters most is that we got the three points in the last match.”
Lazetic: “I am satisfied with the players’ work over the past week. We will be focused for the match”
Weinberg signs new three-year deal
A product of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy, Weinberg has featured prominently over the past two seasons for Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shachar’ U19s, making 47 appearances in all competitions.
Afte signing his contract, Weinberg said: I am happy and excited to sign for my boyhood club, and I promise to give my all in every training session and match in order to continue my development and contribute to the success of the club.”
At international level, Weinberg is a member of Israel’s Under-19 national team, where he made two appearances, and has also made five appearances with Israel’s U17’s and U16’s.
Asante: “When you strike a ball like that, it either goes into the net or flies over the stadium”
Melika: “We train all week exactly for moments like these”
Ofek Melika had a turbulent start to the 2025/26 campaign as the 20-year-old custodian made a substitute appearance in the Champions League qualifier against Pafos but was sent off 20 minutes later. On the victory at Teddy which ended a run of four winleds matches, Melika said: “We didn’t put ourselves under pressure before the game; we came to do our job. All week we prepare for the match and in the end to execute our work in the best possible way. Lately it hasn’t been easy, but I believe that now we’ll start a new and better period.”
On his penalty save that kept Maccabi’s lead and helped his side secure the victory, Melika added: “I spoke with the player (Awaka Ashta); he told me it was the first time he was taking a penalty. I felt he would shoot to that side as God was with me and helped me save it. We train all week and prepare exactly for moments like these, and to make it happen. I’m very happy that I managed to do it.”
On the progress he made this season, Melika said: “At the beginning it was a tough period. I didn’t start the season well with the match against Paphos, and it made me feel very bad. But I kept working hard. I lifted myself up, kept my head up, worked well—the staff saw it and gave me credit. I’m happy I turned it into something positive, and I hope to stay between the posts”.
Lazetic: “We made adjustments, this is an important victory and a good step forward.”
Maccabi beat Hap. Jerusalem 3-1
Preview
Maccabi arrived at Teddy stadium for the MD17 WINNER League match away to Hapoel Jerusalem aiming to return to winning ways and end their four-match winless run in. Three successive draws on the back of a defeat to Hapoel Be’ersheva left Maccabi with 30 points in the table, eight adrift of the leaders.
Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic welcomed Tyrese Asante back from suspension as the Dutch defender returned to the right side of defense. Raz Shlomo and Itay Ben Hemo lined up as the two central defenders with Roy Revivo completing the defensive line in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika. Issouf Sissokho and Ido Shahar were named by Lazetic in the Maccabi’s engine room with Kervin Andrade at the top of the midfield trio. Helio Varela and Osher Davida were assigned to the flanks with Elad Madmon spearheading the attack aiming to add to his two league goals and four in all competitions.
Lazetic, who was missing Dor Peretz and Kristijan Belic through injury, named as his substitutes goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Heitor dos Santos, Sagiv Jehezkel, Yonas Malede, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy, Saied Abu Garchi and Ilay Ben Simon.
First Half
Around 5000 Maccabi fans travelled to Jerusalem and enjoyed the cold weather conditions and wintery sun at Teddy stadium. In the 2nd minute Kervin Andrade had a shot on goal from outside the box and as the sun was in the face of goalkeeper Nadav Zamir the ball bounced infront of him and struck his face. Elad Madmon pounced on the rebound and from close range swept in the opener for his third goal of the season.
Several minutes later referee Ohad Asulin penalised Zamir for holding the ball too long and awarded Maccabi a corner. From the resulting corner Roy Revivo dropped to the ground and as the ball was out of play, Asulin was calledby the VAR to the screen. Asulin awarded a penalty before Ido Shahar stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick to double Maccabi’s lead. Maccabi kept dominating but in the 19th minute the hosts cut the deficit as Ibeh Ransom picked a loose ball deep inside Maccabi’s half and unleashed a powerful drive which Ofek Melika couldnt keep out. Helio Varela came close to restore Maccabi’s two-goal lead as he cut inside from the left and fired a low drive which Zamir punched away.
In the 26th minute Ofek Nadir floated a shot from the corner of the area which almost caught Melika by surprise as it sailed wide of the target. A minute after the half hour mark Osher Davida sent a left foot curler that beat Zamir but struck the base of the post. In the 38th minute Asulin was called to the screen once again for a suspected handball and inside Maccabi’s area. Another penalty was awarded this time for Hapoel Jerusalem which was taken by their captain Awaka Ashta. But Melika dived to his right and saved the penalty to keep Maccabi infront.
Sissokho was lucky not to receive a second booking for a foul as Asulin decided to keep his cards in his pocket. Inside injury time Raz Shlomo had a head collision with a Jerusalem player and needed medical treatment after cutting open his eyebrow.
Second Half
Lazetic made two changes after the break as Shlomo and Sissokho were both replaced by Heitor Itamar Noy for the restart. Lazetic made another change on the hour mark as Andrade bowed out and was replaced by Saied Abu Farchi.
Maccabi continued to try and increase their lead as in the 68th minute Davida had a shot blocked before Varela tried curling and effort which narrowly missed the target. In the 71st minute Tyrese Asante scored the goal of the game as he pounced on a Madmon square ball and with the outside of his right boot unleashed a thunderbolt that rocketed into the top corner to make it 3-1.
In the 77th minute Matan Hozez was booked for a foul on Madmon but following the intervention of VAR changed the card from yellow to red. Lazetic made another substitution as Sagiv Jehezkel replaced Varela for the closing stages. Zamir tipped a Madmon free kick which was making its way under the crossbar in the 80th minute. Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution in the 88th minute as Shahar came off to a standing ovation and was replaced by Noam Ben Harush. Madmon tried desperately to score his second on the night but his injury time shot from the edge of area cleared the crossbar.
