Watch Lazetic speak

 

Watch Heitor dos Santos

Maccabi continues its journey in the Europa League as traveled to Belgrade today (Wednesday) in preparation for the home match against Olympique Lyon as part of the EUROPA League phase MD5.

Earlier this morning, the team held its final training session at Kiryat Shalom training complex before heading for Ben Gurion Airport. This evening, Maccabi will hold the pre-match Press Conference ahead of the match at the TSC Arena.

Maccabi will aim to add to the point collected after the 0-0 draw on MD1 away to PAOK in Thessaloniki, which was followed by three defeats to Dinamo Zagreb, FC Midtjylland, and Aston Villa. Olympic Lyon, on the other hand, began their EUROPA League phase campaign with three victories: 1–0 away to Utrecht, 2–0 at home over Red Bull Salzburg, and 2–0 at home over FC Basel. on MD4 Lyon suffered a 2–0 defeat to the Spanish club, Real Betis.

Denny Gropper sustained a knee injury during training and, following an evaluation by the club’s medical staff, it has been confirmed that he has suffered a tear to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Gropper will undergo surgery in the near future and will then begin his rehabilitation process within the club. Everyone at the club wishes him a smooth procedure and a speedy, successful return to full fitness.

ISSTA Sport and Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club have renewed their partnership for an additional season — the eighth straight year of cooperation. Under the agreement, the travel group will continue to manage all international travel arrangements for the club’s European fixtures. This includes assistance in planning flights, coordinating accommodation and logistics for Club delegation, as well as providing official fan packages that include direct flights, hotels, and match tickets.

Ido Vage, CEO of ISSTA Sport Group, said: “We are proud to continue our long-standing journey with Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and to provide a comprehensive suite of ground, aviation, and travel services throughout the season. Even during challenging times, we have proven our ability to overcome every obstacle together, and we will continue to offer fans a unique experience when traveling abroad with the team, while ensuring the players and staff have the best possible conditions for success.”

Jack Angelides CEO of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC said: Continuing into the eighth year of any partnership speaks for itself. Travelling to our European matches in these difficult times has raised complexities that require flexibility and initiative. ISSTA Sport working in close cooperation with the Club have managed to exhibit these traits and have dealt with the various challenges in a professional and diligent manner.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv is happy to announce the signing of Itay Ben Hemo on a three-year-deal with an option to extend by two more seasons. Ben Hamo (23) a product of the club’s Youth Academy who captained Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shahar’ (U-19’s), gained experience during loan spells over the past four seasons.

Afte signing his new contract Ben Hemo told the club’s official website: “After several loan deals that toughened me up and strengthened me, I am pleased to be part of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s senior squad and sign another contract with the club in which I was grew up. As a strong believer in hard work, I will continue to do everything in my power to wear the yellow jersey and to assist the team to the best of my ability.”

Ben Hemo joined Bnei Sakhnin on loan initially for the second half of 2023/24 before rejoining last season during which time he made a total of 45 appearances scoring four goals. Ben Hemo scored 8 goals in 56 appearances during an 18-month-long loan-spell with second division side Ironi Ramat Hasharon. He made his senior debut in the 2021/22 season at Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam and went on to make a total of 32 appearances in all competitions.    

Ben Hemo featured 3 times for the Israel U21 national team and an additional 21 international appearance for the young Israel sides (U17’s and 18’s) for which he scored 2 goals.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is happy to announce the signing of Saied Abu Farchi on a three-year-deal with an option to extend by two more seasons.

Abu Farchi, a product of Maccabi’s Youth Academy who scored 2 goals in 10 appearances in all competitions this season, said after signing his new contract: “I am delighted to continue my path at the Club where I grew up, which provided me with all the tools I needed to succeed in the senior side. Now, all that remains is for me to continue the hard work in order to achieve success with the team in all

competitions”.After an impressive record of 35 goals in 73 matches for Maccabi’s U16’s and U17’s, Abu Farchi made his senior Maccabi debut in August 2023 during a Conference League qualifier against Celje. Shortly after making his Maccabi league debut against Bnei Reineh in January 2024, Abu Farchi joined second division side SC Kafr Qasim on loan for the second half of the season where he scored 3 goals in 13 appearances. Last season during a loan spell with Bnei Reineh, Abu Farchi completed a full season in the top-flight scoring 6 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.

Abu Farchi is a member of the Israel Under 21 squad for which he made 8 appearances. He represented the young Israeli national sides at U-19, U-17 and U-16 levels making a total of 28 international appearances where he scored 6 goals.

 

Goals from Ilay Ben Simon (43) and Ben Lederman (59) helped Maccabi to a 2-1 friendly victory over Hapoel Petah at Kiryat Shalom.

Without eight international players who were given extra leave following their involvement with their respective national teams: Roy Revivo, Dor Peretz, Raz Shlomo, Denny Gropper, Noam Ben Harush, Saied Abu Farchi, Ion Nicolaescu and Helio Varela, Zarko Lazetic gave playing minutes to his squad.

Ilay Ben Simon opened the scoring just before the break with a well taken shot that went in off the post to beat Omer Katz and put Maccabi in-front. Shavit Mazal leveled for Petah Tikva shortly after the restart while Ben Lederman curled a left foot shot into the top corner in the 59^th minute.  

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Yoav Gerafi (Ofek Melika 57), Tyrese Asante, Heitor Dos Santos (Liran Spiegel 63), Itay Ben Hemo, Avishay Cohen, Issouf Sissokho (Itamar Noy 46), Ben Lederman (Liroy Abribaiya 69), Ilay Ben Simon, Osher Davida (Sagiv Jehezkel 46), Elad Madmon (Yonas Malede 57).   

“What can we feel? Disappointment and shame. Emotionally, this is the bad side of football” Peretz said.

On the Maccabi’s performance on the night and the heaviest defeat the team suffered in recent years the 30-year-old captain said: “Beitar had some good minutes, but not an entirely good game. In the second half they started well, with the support of their fans. Something happened for them, and the opposite happened to us. I can’t really describe what happened today.”

On Roi Mishpati’s sending off, Peretz added: “I don’t know, I have no idea, I haven’t seen it yet.”

When asked if this was one of the toughest moments of his career, he replied:
“As a match, yes, it’s among the hardest I’ve had in my career. It felt humiliating, something I’ve only experienced a few times while wearing Maccabi’s shirt. Unfortunately, today we felt it again. We’re taking responsibility, both the coach and the players.”

On the fans: “In the end, this feeling belongs to all of us. When we win, we all feel it together, and when it’s tough, it’s the same. We’re a family in good moments and in less good ones. I wish us happier days ahead. I have to say about the fans, in difficult moments they gave us beautiful moments from the stands, they deserve great respect. They have the ability to show us a true reflection of how they feel. They supported us from the stands and gave us a good feeling. I hope we can take that energy and move forward.”