“We are playing away from home against a team which has made some changes since the start of the season and we expect a tough match”.

On the back of the State Cup victory over Hapoel Umm al Fahm last week, Maccabi return to league action as they travel to Nof Hagallil for the MD14 match on Monday.

When asked about the influence the Cup toe should have on the league match, the veteran Maccabi captain replied: “One match is not related to another. From my experience, Cup matches are always tough. Period. The tougher they are, the longer your journey is in the competition.”

Yeini, who captained the side that came back from a two goal deficit against Umm al Fahm on the way to a 3-2 victory, said: “Obviously we don’t want the match to develop the same way. We will have to be aggressive, play fast, not allow them feel comfortable, and show that we are a dominant side”.

With a point tally of 29 from a possible 39 in the first round and ahead of the second league round, Yeini said: “We wish we would have never dropped points at all. We arrive at every match with an aim to extract the best without even thinking about our next match. We will however try and improve in this round”.

When asked about the suspended sentence of a radius ban Maccabi received for the fans’ behaviour against Umm el Fahm, Yeini sent a clear message: “We obviously condemn any acts of violence and racism regardless of the suspended sentence punishment we have. What I am urging ßour fans, and that is in the wake of our outstanding home record at Bloomfield stadium – is to behave and not do things which could force us away and damage our season”

The Israel Professional Football League announced the dates and kick-off times of Maccabi’s forthcoming ONE ZERO Digital Bank league matches with the Israel Football Association also publishing the State Cup round of 16 ties to schedule a busy schedule.

Maccabi will play their final match of 2022 as Vladimir Ivic’s side travel to Kiryat Shmona on New Year’s Eve MD16 (19:30) before hosting Bnei Sakhnin for the State Cup Round of 16 tie which will begin 2023 at Bloomfield stadium (17:30).
Four days later Maccabi then return to league action as they host Ashdod on MD17 (17:30) then travel to Teddy stadium for MD18 where they face local side Beitar Jerusalem (20:30). The following Monday Maccabi hosts Maccabi Haifa for another top of the table clash at Bloomfield stadium (20:30).  

ONE ZERO Digital Bank League fixtures:

MD 16 December 31^st Hapoel Kiryat Shmona vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Saturday, 19:30)
State Cup January 3^rd Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin (Tuesday, 20:00)
MD 17 January 7^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Ashdod SC (Saturday, 17:30)
MD 18 January 16^th Beitar Jerusalem vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Monday, 20:30)
MD 19 January 23^rd Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa (Monday, 20:30)

Roy Revivo (19) will continue at Maccabi Tel Aviv for at least the next three years after signing a new contract until the end of the 2024/25 season with an option to extend by two more years.

After signing his new contract, Revivo told the club’s official website: “I am excited to sign a new contract at Maccabi, the cub I grew up at from the age of six and where I see my future. Now all I have left is to continue working hard and justify the faith shown in me”.

Maccabi’s Head of Football Department, Barak Itzhaki, added: “We are delighted that such a talented and hard-working player as Roy Revivo who grew up at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy decided to commit his future to the club and we wish him all the best”.

Roy Revivo made his first footballing footsteps at Maccabi’s Youth Department at the age of six before rising through the ranks and joining the first team squad this summer. Revivo made his senior debut  appearance in August 2021 at a Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem.  

A member of Israel’s U-19’s national team squad for which he made 20 international appearances, Revivo, scored the winning goal against Scotland which secured qualification to the European U19’s finals last summer where Israel finished in second place.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will host fellow top flight club Bnei Sakhnin in the State Cup round of 16 following the draw which took place at the Israel Football Association Headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.

Having booked their place in the Round of 16 following Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Hapoel Umm al-Fahm, Maccabi entered the draw alongside eight other top flight clubs and seven clubs from the second division.

Bnei Sakhnin, currently ranked 7^th in the top flight, advanced to this stage after recording a 3-0 victory over fourth division outfit Hapoel Qalansawe on Monday.

Round of 16 draw: (Ties are set to be played between January 3^rd to 5^th)
Maccabi Bnei Reineh vs Maccabi Petah Tikva (2^nd)
Beitar Jerusalem vs Ironi Tiberias (2^nd)
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin
Maccabi Haifa vs Hapoel Haifa
Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon (2^nd) vs Ashdod SC
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (2^nd) vs Maccabi Netanya
Hapoel Ironi Afula vs Hapoel Kfar Sava (2^nd)

Preview:

Three years after being knocked out by Hapoel Umm al-Fahm in the eighth round of the State Cup, both sides were drawn to face each other once again in the same stage of the competition. With Umm al-Fahm’s stadium on the verge of being completed, Vladimir Ivic’s side travelled to the Acre Municipal stadium for the State Cup tie. The Serbian coach who clearly remembers that miserable night in Afula in 2019 didn’t take any chances as he named his strongest side against the second division outfit. Daniel Peretz, who was rested in the midweek Toto Cup victory over Hapoel Jerusalem, returned to goal with Enric Saborit, Bir Bitton and Sheran Yeini lining-up as the three central defenders. Matan Hozez and Ofir Davidzada completed Maccabi’s defensive line as the two wing-backs on the right and left respectively. Eyal Golasa and Gabi Kanichowsky were assigned to the midfield engine room with Oscar Gloukh in a more attacking role right behind Eran Zahavi and Djordje Jovanovic.

On the bench Ivic named goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum alongside Dan Glazer, Joris van Overeem, Avi Rikan, Yonatan Cohen, Maor Kandil, Shahar Piven, Dor Turgeman and Dor Peretz all waiting for a chance to make an impact.

First Half

Seconds after kickoff a barrage of flairs were thrown onto the pitch from the section of the home fans causing a delay. When the smoke finally cleared and play was resumed the hosts created the first chance as Sameh Mereb tried firing a shot from inside the box which was blocked by Maccabi’s defence.

Nir Bitton was the first player to be booked by referee Roei Reinshreiber as the tall central defender was penalized in the 23rd minute for a mistimed tackle on Umm al-Fahm’s midfielder Reef Mesika.

Five minutes later Maccabi had the first shot on goal as Gabi Kanichowsky tried a right foot shot from the edge of the area which was blocked for a corner. A foul on Enric Saborit in the 44th minute saw Sheran Yeini protest to the referee before consequently being booked for dissent. Within a minute Maccabi had a third player booked as Matan Hozez was shown the yellow card for a foul outside the center circle on Mesika. From the resulting free kick Umm al-Fahm took the lead as Maccabi’s defence failed to clear a Kobi Mor cross which fell to Niv Sardal whose fierce low drive took a deflection off Ofir Davidzada to beat Daniel Peretz.

Second Half

With no changes to personnel, Maccabi emerged from the dressing room determined to level the score. A minute after the restart they came close as Hozez’s knock-down into the path of Djordje Jovanovic saw the Serbian forward attempt an overhead kick which sailed wide.

Maccabi’s players continued to look nervous as Davidzada was booked on 53 for handling the ball near the halfway line. While Ivic was preparing a double change on the sidelines, Umm al-Fahm doubled their lead as Sardal grabbed his second with another powerful strike which rocketed in between Peretz and his post. Ivic then made his changes as he replaced both wing-backs with Yonatan Cohen and Maor Kandil coming on for Davidzada and Hozez.

Right on the hour mark Maccabi finally had a shot on target as Oscar Gloukh dribbled into the area and sent a shot which was easily collected by Umm al-Fahm’s keeper Tal Bumshtein.

Three minutes later Gloukh turned provider as he slid the ball to Jovanovic who cut the deficit with a low drive which beat Bumshtein. The consolation goal gave Maccabi a new lifeline as Kandil won a 50/50 tackle and charged forward before leaving the ball for Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder slid the ball to Eran Zahavi who was brought down in the area by Marcus Diniz. Reinshreiber pointed at the spot as Zahavi successfully converted the spot kick to level the score and complete the three minute comeback.

Maccabi continued to step-up the tempo and almost took the lead on 71 but Jovanovic curled his shot wide of the target. Eyal Golasa had the ball in the back of the net in the 75th minute with a spectacular shot from the edge of the area but the midfielder’s goal was disallowed as Reinshreiber spotted a Kanichowsky foul on Salomon Daniel. Maccabi were saved by the post at the opposite end minutes later as Bahajat Bashir’s header beat Peretz but stuck the woodwork. The end to end action continued on 79 as a Gloukh shot fell to Cohen who was meters away and with the goal at his mercy managed to miskick his effort across the face of goal and wide.

Two minutes later Ivic made another change as Kanichowsky bowed out and was replaced by Avi Rikan. Seconds later Maccabi completed the comeback as Enric Saborit picked Zahavi who still had his work cut out before blasting a right foot shot from outside the area which gave Bumshtein no chance to make it 3-2. Jovanovic could have sealed the victory in the 86th minute as Gkoukh released him with a delicate chip but Bumstein managed to palm the ball out.

Umm al Fahm were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages as Ameed Mahajna was shown the red card for a foul on Saborit on the halfway line. Ivic made a final change as Dor Peretz replaced Gloukh. Reinshreiber’s final whistle confirmed Maccabi’s place in the round of 16 draw which is scheduled for Tuesday December 13^th at 12:45 with matches set for January 3^rd – 5^th.