Category: First Team
Peretz: “We need to trust ourselves”
Dor Peretz will be making his 71st appearance for Maccabi in Europe when he leads the team out at the Aspmyra stadium in northern Norway. The 29-year-old Maccabi midfielder faced the local media ahead of Thursday’s EUROPA League MD7 against Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt. With Maccabi currently ranked 27th with six points, Maccabi need a result to keep qualification hopes alive: “I think this match is extremely important for us as we want to qualify for the next round” Peretz said, “We are preparing for the formation, the players and our opponents’ style of play. We know how they play. But with aggressiveness, quality, and the players we have we could achieve our target tomorrow.”
After a long flight from Tel Aviv the team landed in Norway and were welcomed by temperatures that dropped to -8 which would be similar during the match. As well as the sub-zero temperature, Bodo/Glimt’s Aspmyra stadium has an artificial pitch, as Peretz reflected: “It is true we are not used to play at such a temperature or on an artificial surface but nothing would be used as an excuse. We need to do our best, play our game and trust ourselves.”
When asked on representing Israel in Europe in view of the current situation, Peretz replied: “At the end of the day we are coming to play football. We are focusing only on that as we are all here to try and achieve our target in tomorrow’s match which is the most important thing for us.”
Maccabi’s preparations for Bodo/Glimt
Norwegian Champions Bodo/Glimt host Maccabi for the EUROPA League MD7 at the Aspmyra stadium in north Norway.
Similar to previous European matches this season, Maccabi, held their final practice session at Kiryat Shalom training complex before departing for Ben Gurion Airport.
Zarko Lazetic’s side that have 6 points from the opening six matches will face sub zero condition with temperatures expected to drop to -7.
The Norwegian Ambassador visit ahead of Bodo/Glimt
Watch: Turgeman after his brace against Netanya
Dor Turgeman scored two goals in the space of 15 first half minutes to take his personal tally to 13 in all competitions on the way to a 4-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya. Turgeman remained with his feet firmly on the ground as he opted to mention the historic day Israel is experiencing following the hostage deal which was signed and the return of hostages from Gaza. “First, before I move to talk about football, tomorrow thank god something will happen which we have all been waiting for – hostages will begin their return home as I hope for the ultimate return of everyone. As for the game, we played an excellent first half, in the second half we felt good and reached more chances. On the downside, we conceded a goal, but I am happy we continued pushing forward and scored the fourth.”
After a 2-2 draw away to Ironi Tiberias and a shock State Cup exit at home to Bnei Reineh where Maccabi conceded two late goals I each match, Turgeman reflected: “It was a difficult spell, we are not used to concede goals in the 90th minute and to crash out of the cup at such an early stage, but we just have to pick ourselves up and move on.”
On the support form fans who turned up at Bloomfield, Turgeman said: “There was an amazing display of our fans against Netanya while we try to repay them as much as possible.”
Turgeman, who scored Maccabi’s opener from the penalty spot, explained his decision to let Weslley Patati the second spot kick Maccabi were awarded several minutes later. ”He hasn’t scored for a while and told me he needs it for his confidence, so I gave him the ball and he scored. It is a privilege to start as a striker for Maccabi. My duty is to prove myself every time and continue scoring goals.”
On the whether he was disappointed not tom start in recent matches, Turgeman replied: “Obviously it is frustrating not to start but this frustrating comes from my desire to play and nothing else.”
Maccabi’s next league fixture will see them travel to play Maccabi Haifa away sandwiched in between two trips abroad to play Bodo/Glimt in Norway (23.1) and Porto (30.1) as Turgeman said: “We have a long trip to Norway on Wednesday as we will head there in a bid to win and only then will move to think about the Maccabi Haifa match. We don’t need to do anything different, but the coach will decide who should play and will be rested. For us every match is like a cup final, every match at Maccabi is money time. Maccabi Tel Aviv needs to win every match and the next two weeks will be vital.”
Lazetic after Netanya
Maccabi beat Netanya 4-1
Preview
Three days after the painful State Cup exit to Bnei Reineh, and a week after the 2-2 draw away to Ironi Tiberias, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium with a bid to return to winning ways.
Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made eight changes from the side that was beaten in the Cup against Netanya that were ranked seventh with 23 points before the weekend. Netanya, that were beaten 2-1 when both teams met earlier this season, won their last 3 league matches against Beitar Jerusalem 3-0, Kiryat Shmona 1-0, Bnei Sakhnin 4-0 and suffered only 2 defeats in their last 8 matches to Hapoel Be’ersheva 0-1 and Macccabi Haifa 2-1.
Roi Mishpati returned to goal, with Idan Nachmias and Nemanja Sojic lining-up in front of the Maccabi custodian. Tyrese Asante on the right and Ofir Davidzada who was making his 240th appearance for Maccabi completed the back-four on the left.
Joris van Overeem and Issouf Sissokho were both named in Maccabi’s engine room with Dor Peretz leading the team out with the captain’s armband completed the midfield trio.
Weslley Patati and Osher Davida were the wide men in Maccabi’s formation, responsible for supplying the ammunition for Dor Turgeman who led the attack.
On the bench, Lazetic named Simon Sluga, Roy Revivo, Stav Lemkin, Eran Zahavi, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.
Prior to kickoff Maccabi held a minute of applauds to former player, Youth team coach and first Team Manager, Avraham Meltzman, who passed away last week at the age of 78.
First Half
In a bid to try and grab an early goal, Maccabi began the match with pressure on the visitors right from the off. A Karem Jaber foul on Weslley Patati inside the opening five minutes and on the edge of the area earned the Netanya captain a yellow card and Maccabi a free kick which Dor Turgeman blasted straight at the wall. Two minutes later as Patati found Osher Davida near the goalmouth gave the winger an attempt to tap home but instead was side footed across the face of goal. Minutes later, a pinpoint Turgeman cross fell to Joris van Overeem who ghosted behind Netanya’s defense, yet the Dutch born midfielder couldn’t release a shot on target.
In the 20th minute Roi Mishpati cancelled Netanya’s pressure as he picked Van Overeem unmarked in the middle of the park. Van Overeem slipped the ball to Davida who burst forward and was pulled down by a defender inside the box. Referee Orel Grinfeeld didn’t hesitate and pointed at the spot before Turgeman kept his calm and blasted in the penalty to put Maccabi in front on 22. Three minutes after the half hour mark Davida carved Netanya’s defense open as he released Van Overeem. The midfielder’s attempt of a cutback was blocked by Aviv Kanril arm as Grinfeeld awarded another penalty. This time it was Patati who took the spot kick, buried it in the bottom corner to double the lead. Two minutes later Bloomfield erupted for the third time as the majority of the 20,080 fans were cheering for another goal. Dor Peretz and Turgrman managed to trap Netanya’s defenders inside their own box. Turgeman shrugged off the challenge and with only Omer Nir’on to beat blasted home his second on the night and Maccabi’s third on 37.
Second Half
With no changes at halftime Maccabi continued to look dangerous and came close to increase their lead. In the 55th minute Peretz had a low drive saved by Nir’on, Turgeman’s reacted first to the rebound and dribbled past two defenders on the byline before squaring the ball into the danger zone. Davida and Van Overeem attempted to shoot yet saw their efforts blocked on the goal line. Patati, who looked lively throughout, pulled the trigger and so did Tyrese Asante but on both occasions their efforts lacked accuracy.
Lazetic made a triple change four minutes after the hour mark as he introduced Stav Lemkin, Ido Shahar and Eran Zahavi for van Overeem, Issouf Sissokho and Turgeman.
A Zahavi backheel flick on 72 released Peretz into the area but the midfielder’s effort struck the side netting. In the 77th minute Netanya cut the deficit as Maxim Plakuschenko released Raz Meir whose square ball allowed fellow substitute Daniel Dapaah to slot home and set the score at 3-1.
Lazetic made two more changes as Ofir Davidzda and Davida bowed out to a standing ovation and were replaced by Roy Revivo and Hisham Layous on 78. In the 83rd minute Revivo played his role in Maccabi’s fourth with Patati slipping Peretz into the box. Peretz’s cut-back saw Revivo let the ball run to Zahavi who blasted in his 4th league goal and 7th in all competitions.
Attention will now turn back to Europe as Maccabi will travel to Norway ahead of Thursday’s EUROPA League MD7 against Bodo/Glimt.
A numbers game: Our record against Netanya
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Netanya met each other in the league 154 times. The historic record currently stands on 77 Maccabi victories, 37 Netanya victories and 37 draws with an all-time goal tally of 255-162.
Of the 1151 Maccabi league victories throughout history, Netanya is the team they defeated most – 77 times. Maccabi Haifa are second with 74 defeats while Maccabi Petah Tikva are third with 72.
Maccabi has an existing run of 17 unbeaten home matches against Netanya since the 2010/11 season. Seventeen matches (13 wins and 4 draws) against Netanya equals the previous run on 17 matches between 1950 and 1970.
58 players featured for both clubs in the league over the years. Of Maccabi’s current squad, Gabi Kanichowsky, Raz Shlomo and Yonas Malede previously played for Netanya.
The match against Netanya, MD19 of 36 kicked off the second phase of the league. Maccabi’s record in the opening match of the second half of the season stands on 37 victories, 26 draws and 9 defeats. In the past 11 seasons Maccabi started the second phase with 10 victories and a draw.
Before Saturday’s match kicks off, Netanya is the team we faced most at the start of the second phase. Of those six encounters, Maccabi won 1, drawn 3 and lost 2.
This will be the 32nd league match between Maccabi and a club guided by Netanya’s coach Yossi Abuksis. Maccabi won 18, drawn 9 and lost 5 to Abuksis who previously coached Hapoel Tel Aviv, Bnei Sakhnin, Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Be’ersheva and Beitar Jerusalem.
