Maccabi continues its Europa League campaign and today (Wednesday) the team flew to Birmingham for the away game against Aston Villa in the fourth round of the league phase.

Earlier this morning, the team held its final practice at the Kiryat Shalom training complex before heading to Ben Gurion Airport, from where they departed to the UK. This evening, they will hold a press conference ahead of the match, which will take place at Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham.

Maccabi arrives at the fixture after opening the campaign with their first point, a 0-0 draw away to PAOK Thessaloniki, followed by two home defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Midtjylland. Meanwhile, Villa began their campaign with two home victories 1-0 over Bologna and 2-0 against Feyenoord. In the third round, they lost 2-1 to side Dutch Go Ahead Eagles.

October is already behind us as over the past few days you voted for Roy Revivo as the Maccabi Player of the Month.

The left back who has been in top form since the start f the season with some fine displays collected most of your votes as he was facing tough competition from Dor Peretz and Itamar Noy who came in second and third, respectively.

Voted for Revivo? Now comes the part you have been waiting for.

Whoever voted for Revivo should receive a text message containing the prize question by 17:00 today (Sunday). The first person to send a correct answer will receive an official Maccabi shirt and scarf.

Maccabi will begin its 2025/26 State Cup campaign next month with a home tie against Hapoel Haifa in the Round of 32 following the 8^th round draw which took place on Sunday.

This is the stage where top-flight clubs enter the competition, along with representatives from the National League (2^nddivision), Liga Alef (3^rd divisions), and two club from Liga Bet (4^th division).

State Cup draw results:

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Haifa
SC Kafr Qassem vs Yirmiyahu Holon (3^rd)
Maccabi Hertzliya (2nd) vs SC Kfar Sava 1928 (3^rd)
Ironi Tiberias vs Beitar Jerusalem
Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Hapoel Karmiel (3^rd)
Hapoel Be’ersheva vs SC Sderot (4^th)  
Hapoel Ramat Gan (2^nd) vs Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Bnei Sakhnin vs Maccabi Jaffa (2^nd)

Hapoel Ra’anana (2^nd) vs Maccabi Kiryat Gat (3^rd)
Maccabi Bnei Reineh vs Hapoel Kfar Shalem (2^nd)
Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Ashdod
Hapoel Jerusalem vs Hapoel Um Fahm (3^rd)
SC Dimona (3^rd) vs Hapoel Kfar Sava (2d)
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (3^rd) vs Maccabi Haifa
Bnei Jaffa Orthodox (4^th) vs Maccabi Netanya
Bnei Yehuda (2^nd) vs Maccabi Ata Biyalik (3^rd)

Ido Shahar scored his fifth league goal of the 2025/26 campaign as the diminutive midfielder’s penalty put Maccabi on course to a 2-0 victory over bottom of the table Bnei Reineh.

A graduate of Maccabi’s Youth Academy and one of the most experienced players in Maccabi’s squad at the age of 24 – is enjoying the best season of his career. On his 89^th appearance for the club, Shahar, scored his seventh goal in all competitions this season and is three goals short of double figures. “We are a young team, and it’s not something to be taken for granted that we’re performing like this” he said after the match.

“I am really very happy to help the team win, as it’s a very important victory for us. It is not an easy pitch, but we did the job in the best possible way,” Shahar added. “I am trying to do my best; I feel all the confidence and support from the coach, he lets me use my strengths, which are making runs into space and scoring goals. I’m hungry, we are all hungry for victories and hungry to succeed.”

The versatile midfielder who can play in various positions across the midfield said: “My natural position is as a number 8. That is what I played throughout my youth career and with the national youth teams. I have no problem playing as a right-back, a 6, or a 10, whatever the coach asks, I’ll be happy to do so. What’s happening with me this season is exactly what I’ve been waiting and hoping for: to play, to help the team win, and to be a key part of the squad. I am really happy about that.”

On the fact that he is one of the most experienced Maccabi players in the squad, Shahar said: “We are a young team, and even last season we had a young squad, so it’s not something to take for granted that we’re competing like this, both in the league and in Europe, and you can see it compared to other teams. This is my third consecutive season at Maccabi, and I’m happy. I came up through the kids’ and youth teams and through the entire structure at Maccabi. I feel part of it, and I’m the happiest person in the world.”

Elad Madmon’s second penalty in less than a week helped Maccabi record the second victory in as many matches as his side beat Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-0 at Green stadium on Saturday night. “We came here against Bnei Reineh, that are a stubborn side that makes things difficult, and we came to take three points. We are happy with the result and move on from here.”

Madmon who joined Maccabi last season and has had a difficult time settling in, reflected: “I feel very good. I love being at the best club in the country. Whenever the coach puts me in the lineup, I will do everything I can and give my best.”

The 21-year-old forward was grateful at the confidence shown in him as coach Zarko Lazetic let him take a crucial penalty for the second match in succession: “Honestly, I saw that he insisted, and that gave me a lot of confidence. In the end, I scored, I am happy about the important win, and we keep moving forward.”

Elad Madmon’s second half penalty against Kiryat Shmona helped Maccabi to a 3-1 victory at Bloomfield last week that ended Maccabi’s run of five winless matches in all competitions. While this was Madmon’s third goal this season in all competitions it was his first league goal of the current campaign and third in the league since joining Maccabi at the start of last season. The 21-year-old who kept his calm to score the penalty that helped Maccabi climb back to second in the table and record their fifth league win in seven matches, said ahead of Saturday’s match against Bnei Reineh that beat Maccabi twice last season in the league and State Cup: “Reineh are a strong team. We saw that last season when we lost to them twice at Bloomfield. That doesn’t happen often, and we’re preparing for them in a very good and focused way. We’ll come ready and try to win this match as well.”

On the atmosphere in the camp following Maccabi’s recent victory, Madmon said: “Inside the dressing room, we are focused only on football and on being together. We even had a team-bonding evening a few days ago, it was fun and helped us connect. Maybe from the outside people are trying to create stories that are not true. But we are focused on ourselves and taking it game by game.”

Madmon, who scored twice in the European qualifying campaign earlier this summer, ended a run of 13 matches in all competitions without finding the back of the net: “In the seventh round, I scored my goal, something was released in me, and it was a really great feeling. I think you could see it on my face when the ball went in. I was very happy to contribute my part to the game, and now it’s about maintaining consistency and playing the way we know how.”

The 21-year-old who played in various positions upfront added: “First of all, I am very happy that I can play in several positions and that the coach shows he believes I can do that. I think I understand what he wants from me in those roles, and when I get the opportunity, I’ll give 100% no matter where I play.”

On Maccabi’s run of five matches in all competitions without recording a victory, Madmon deflected the criticism by saying: “Going five matches without a win at Maccabi Tel Aviv isn’t something that happens often. So yes, it was on the players’ minds, and once we finally got that win, we really enjoyed the moment in the dressing room, it felt great. Now we’ll try to keep the momentum going and get another victory in the next match.”

At the age of 19 and in his first full season at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s senior side, Saied Abu Farchi is on the right track. The youth academy graduate who spent last season on loan with Maccabi Bnei Reineh scoring 6 goals in all competitions, made his debut league stat for Maccabi. The versatile forward, whose debut goal for Maccabi was scored at a Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem and added another in the Europa League phase match against Dinamo Zagreb, played in important role in Maccabi’s 3-1 victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona at Bloomfield but hasn’t found the back of the net. “I’m happy that I’m starting to break through slowly, and I hope that by the end of the season, I will be one of the leading players on the team” Abu Farchi said after the match. “It’s a great feeling to start in the lineup, it’s emotional. I’m happy about the 3 points. I work very hard in training, and I’m glad I got to start. I just hope to keep going.”

Abu Farchi rejected any claims that Maccabi’s winless streak of five matches in all competitions added pressure to the side: “I don’t think there’s pressure, we come in like we do for every match, regardless of our competitors at the top.”

Having secured a victory against Kiryat Shmona that beat arch-rivals Be’ersheva in the previous round, Abu Farchi said: “Kiryat Shmona is a really good team, they caused us a lot of problems and had chances. We worked hard and showed character, and now we’re looking ahead to the next match against Reineh on Saturday.”

As Maccabi remain unbeaten in the league, the two Europa League defeats to Zagreb and Midtjylland led Abu Farchi to say: “If you look at the teams we lost to, they’re top teams, and we played well in those games, creating chances. The dressing room is in a good place, and everyone lifts each other up. We came to the match and did our job.”

On facing the side Abu Farchi was loaned to last season at the forthcoming weekend, he added: “Overall, it’s a game like any other. It’s a game against the team that gave me the stage. I’m aiming to score, but I won’t celebrate. I’ll respect the team that gave me the stage and helped me progress.”

Abu Farchi, who spent the 2023/24 between Maccabi’s youth team and a six-months-long loan-spell with second division side Kfar Qassem, remained confident: “Even last year when Dor (Turgeman) and Eran (Zahavi) were the strikers, I believed I could play. In general, I don’t focus on who’s in the role with me, and the club doesn’t focus on who’s the name in the role. Whoever works hard and proves themselves will get the opportunity. I’m happy that this year I’m slowly starting to break through, and I hope by the end of the season I will be one of the leading players on the team.”

On his short term and long-term ambitions, Abu Farchi said: “Right now, I’m focused on the current season, and I want to be a regular player at Maccabi Tel Aviv. It’s my dream since I was 7 when I joined the club, and I hope to fulfill it. I want to score as many goals as possible and help the team.”

As for Maccabi’s European aspirations, Abu Farchi summed: “We see small teams surprising big teams like Aston Villa. We come in and look our opponents in the eye. We’re not playing at home, which is really tough, but we’ll try to get as much as we can.”

 

The 22-year-old full back who won the penalty that restored Maccabi’s lead on the way to a 3-1 victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona at Bloomfield. “It’s not pressure, it’s the desire to win” Revivo said after thr match: “That’s what Maccabi demands and what we, as players, want. There’s still a long way to go, and we know what football is, sometimes you’re down, sometimes up.”

“We played well, but I always want more, for us to play our very best,” Revivo continued. “We’ll sit with the staff, they’ll tell us what to do and what to improve, and we’ll be ready for the next match. There are no easy games in this league, or in football in general. In football, anything can happen.”

On his run of good form since the start of the season and said: “Thank God, I had a good game, but without my teammates it would mean nothing, so I thank them and I’m happy I helped the team.”

Finally, he was asked about the ceremony Maccabi held for Gali and Ziv Berman and for Omri Miran before kickoff, and said:

“I was very moved, it doesn’t always show on me, and also Ido, who dedicated his goal to them. This is for them.”