Preview:

Maccabi returned to the TSC Arena in Backa Topola for the MD3 Europa League phase home match against Danish side FC Midtjylland. With a draw from the opening match away to PAOK Thessaloniki and on the back of the 3-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb before the international break, Zarko Lazetic’s side will try and get back to winning ways. Their chance of doing so early this week was thwarted by a police decision to call off the Tel Aviv derby against arch city rivals Hapoel, shortly before kickoff due to pyrotechnics used by the home fans. Now, they face a tough Danish side who ranked in the table right behind Zagreb, as like the Croats enjoyed a perfect start to the league phase campaign winning their two opening matches including a victory away to Nottingham Forest.

With several players from the side through injury, Kristijan Belic being the latest casualty having injured his hamstring in training, Lazetic made a few changes to his starting line up.

Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo lining up as the two central defenders in front of the keeper. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Issouf Sissokho returned to heart of midfield and was partnered in the engine room by Itamar Noy with Kervin Andrade in a more attacking role. Dor Peretz led teh team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old will aim to add to his tally of 7 goals in all competitions. Osher Davida will supply the width to the side with Elad Madmon upfront leading the attack.

On the bench, Lazetic named goalkeepers Yoav Gerafi and Ofek Melika as well as Heitor, Denny Gropper, Yonas Malede, Noam Ben Harosh, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela, Ido Shahar, Itai Ben Hamo, Saied Abu Farchi and first appearance in the squad for Ilay Ben Simon.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot with Itamar Noy and Issouf Sissokho snapping at the feet of their midfield counterparts stopping Midtjylland’s attempt to break forward. Osher Davida exposed Midtjylland’s defense down the right as the winger’s bursting pace in the 8th minute created a good chance for Dor Peretz whose shot was blocked Philip Billing. Sissokho had a shot from the edge of the area which forced Midtjylland’s keeper Elias Rafn Olafsson to stretch himself and turn the ball for a corner. Macabi continued to dominate as Davida curled a shot which crept to the wrong side of the post on 13.

Sissokho had another effort which sailed over the crossbar before the visitors began to show their quality. Roi Mishpati dominated his penalty area and managed to prevent Midtjylland’s tall player exploit their aerial superiority at corner. At the opposite end, Midtjylland’s defenders managed to head away every cross into the box by Davida or Noy before their goal could be placed under threat. In the 43rd minute Maccabi reached their best chance as Sissokho picked Roy Revivo with a pinpoint ball over the Danes’ defense before the left back who charged into the box took it with one volley. But Ólafsson positioned himself well at the near post to block Revivo’s shot which was making its’ way in and deny Maccabi a well deserved goal. Less than a minute later Midtjylland punished Maccabi and took the lead in spectacular fashion as Victor Bak Jensen sent a cross into the box for Dju Franculino who controlled it with one touch and volleyed home with a second. Raz Shlomo’s claims for a foul in the built up to the goal were waved by Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov who also didn’t award Maccabi an injury time penalty for handball in the box.

Second Half

With no changes after the break Maccabi returned for the second period determined to try and get back in the game. Six minutes after the restart, Jensen came close to double the score as he burst inside from the left and with only Mishpati to beat puled the trigger but saw his effort narrowly miss the target. 

A minute after the hour mark Noy had an effort which missed the target while a minute later Lazetic made his first change as he introduced Saied Abu Farchi for Kervin Andrade. Abu Farchi came inches away from scoring the equalizer five minutes after his introduction as the Dor Peretz’s shot struck the post and reached the young striker at the goalmouth but from point blank range the ball hit Abu Farchi and rolled out. Lazetic made a double substitution a minute later as Noy and Madmon bowed out and were replaced by Ben Lederman and Helio Varela.

But in the 71st minute Midtjylland doubled their lead as Aral Simsir’s cross was nodded down Martin Eric into the path of Billing who volleyed home past Mishpati. In the 80th minute Abu Farchi came close once again this time as Revivo picked him with a clever pass only for his powerful header to just miss the frame of the goal.

Lazetic made another two changes as Peretz and Davida were replaced for the closing stages by Ido Shahar and young Ilay Ben Simon who was handed his senior debut.

Maccabi continue their Europa League campaign and today (Wednesday) flew to Serbia ahead of their home match against Midtjylland in the third round of the group stage.

Earlier this morning, the team held its final training session at the Kiryat Shalom training complex, and later headed to Ben Gurion Airport, from where the flight to Belgrade departed. This evening, Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic will hold his pre-match press conference ahead of the match which will be played at TSC Arena in Bačka Topola.

Maccabi enter the clash after beginning their campaign with a 0–0 draw in Greece against PAOK Thessaloniki, followed by a 3–1 defeat in Serbia to Dinamo Zagreb. The Danes, on the other hand, started the competition with a 2–0 win over Sturm Graz and then stunned Nottingham Forest with a 3–2 victory in England.

Almost 94 years ago, on December 19^th 1931, the first-ever match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was played as part of the Eretz Israel league.

The match, held at the Maccabiah Stadium in front of 5,000 spectators, ended in a 1–1 draw. Shmuel Bachar scored for Maccabi while Avraham Nudelman was on target for Hapoel.

Since the first derby, 232 derbies were played in all competitions of which Maccabi won 96, Hapoel 68 while 68 matches ended in draws with a total goal tally of 321–240.

167 Tel Aviv derbies were played in the league since the State of Israel was established with Maccabi winning 62,Hapoel 46 while 59 matches ended in draws. The total goal tally in league matches currently stands on 214–156.

At the end of the 2012/13 season, the record of derby victories was even at 45 victories for each club.

Maccabi’s unbeaten run in the league stretches to 22 derbies, the club’s longest unbeaten run ever against any opponent.

It’s also the fourth-longest unbeaten run in Israeli league history.

The record: 29 matches without a defeat held by Maccabi Haifa against Hapoel Petah Tikva between 1992 and 2003.

Maccabi’s unbeaten run against Hapoel in all competitions stretches to 27 derbies of which Maccabi won 20 and drawn 7 with a goal tally of 62–11.

Hapoel’s last derby victory was on April 26th 2014 some 11 and a half years ago, or 4,194 days.

Since the 1991/92 season, Maccabi faced Hapoel six times in the 7th league round with Maccabi winning 5 of these encounters.

1991/92 (4–0), 1992/93 (4–0), 1993/94 (2–1), 2006/07 (3–1), 2022/23 (3–0).

There was also the abandoned derby in the 7th round of the 2014/15 season.

The first two league derbies after Hapoel’s return from the second division, in 1990/91 and 2018/19, both ended 0–0.

Dor Peretz is Maccabi’s most experienced player in Zarko Lazetic’s squad as the skipper who recently marked his 400^thappearance for the club featured in Tel Aviv derbies more than any of his teammates. The 30-year-old who was still a youth team player when Maccabi suffered their last defeat in a Tel Aviv derby more than 11 years ago back in April 2014. “If we stick to our game principles, keep our heads clear from all the crazy energy that will be on the pitch, we can do our part” Peretz said.

While Maccabi’s unbeaten run at derbies stretches for more than a decade, Peretz would like to see his side return to winning ways after four matches with a victory – two in the domestic league and two in the Europa League. “First and foremost, we want to win after two league matches without a victory,” he said. “It is a match with plenty of pride at stake and the will to win. As a team, we want to give our best in every match, and hopefully we will do that tomorrow. If we stick to the coach’s principles, keep a cool head amid the intense excitement on the field, and make the right decisions, I think we will complete our job.”

Following the promotion of Hapoel back to the top-flight after a year in the second division, Peretz is one of seven squad players who previously featured in Tel Aviv derbies. “We are doing everything we can to explain what the derby is and how important it is to us, to the club, and to the fans. Only derby experience truly shows how important it really is. I can say that there’s a team on the other side that looks good and is doing a solid job, and we need to take that very seriously and prepare just like for any other match.”

On the return of fans Gali and Ziv Berman, as well as Omri Miran who were released from captivity in Gaza, and the desire to bring them joy Peretz said: “I hope we can dedicate this moment to them. This week has been filled with incredibly joyful events on one hand, but also grief for families who are still hoping their children will return instead of having to bury them. Hopefully, we can dedicate a win to them.”

Peretz who scored this season seven goals in all competitions and was deputized in recent matches to a more forward role, added: “I’m here to serve the coach, and I’ll carry out any decision he makes. Of course, we can discuss what suits better or less, but I’m here to do everything I can to help the team. Whatever he decides, I am at his and the team’s service.”

After a two weeks break due to the International calendar, Maccabi will return to the WINNER League action shortly.

Maccabi will step up preparations for Sunday’s Tel Aviv derby which returns after a year absence, as the International players report back and rejoin the rest of the team on Friday.

In the meantime, Zarko Lazetic’s side held an 80-minute-long practice match against second division side Hapoel Kfar Shalem at the Kiryat Shalom training complex on Wednesday morning.

do Shahar scored the only goal of the game in the 9th minute with a strike from the edge of the area.

Maccabi: Roi Mishpati, Noam Ben Harush, Heitor, Raz Shlomo (Itay Ben Hemo 55), Tyrese Asante (Avishay Cohen 55), Kristijan Belic (Yoav Junio 55), Issouf Sissoko (Ben Lederman 55), Ido Shahar, Elad Madmon, Saied Abu Farchi, Osher Davida (Yonas Malede 55).