“Unfortunately, we had another second half in which we conceded a goal late on and dropped points,” Peretz said shortly after the 2025/26 league campaign ended in a disapointing 2-2 defeat at Petah Tikva. Peretz, who scored a goal in each one of Maccabi’s six outings, said: “It is a symptom that has accompanied us through parts of the Playoff, we start well, but in the end we concede goals and lose results or important matches. We will need to raise our level ahead of Tuesday and understand that we have to put ourselves back in the picture at every stage of the game.”

When asked about the lingering feeling from the league season, the captain said: “There’s a sense of disappointment because we were close to the title several times and stumbled. At the same time, as a club and as a team, we went through a maturation process that I think is ultimately healthy for everyone. We always want to achieve the very best, but it doesn’t always happen that way.”

Peretz, who scored 19 league goals and 22 in all competitions to clinch the league’s top goal-scorer award while playing as a midfielder added: “It is an achievement for me and something that is far from trivial in any respect. We don’t see this often in world football, and I’m very happy. I think that even in my imagination I didn’t believe it was possible, but my family and my wife pushed me and made it clear to me that it was within reach. Today it was obvious that my teammates wanted it for me just as much as I wanted it myself. Everyone wanted it for me. Hopefully in the future it will also lead to team titles.”

On the improvement he has showed this season, the 31-year-old added: “I always work on the things I need to improve. In previous seasons I scored similar numbers as well, but this season the number of league goals was significantly higher than in past seasons.”

The Maccabi captain is already focused on the next and final mission of the season, the State Cup Final against Hapoel Be’er Sheva: “We understand how important this match is. After a season with feelings of disappointment and missed opportunities, we have a chance to correct those feelings. We want to come and bring a trophy for the fans who come to every match, and for the club that gives its best every single day. It’s one match for a title, and we’ll be there”.

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the Petah Tikva stadium ahead of the WINNER League MD36 encounter against local side Hapoel for a match which will conclude the 2025/26 league campaign. On the back of two defeats 1-2 to Beitar Jerusalem at Bloomfield and 2-4 to Hapoel Be’ersheva at Turner, Maccabi will finish the season in third place regardless of the outcome of the match against sixth placed Petah Tikva. But, three days before facing newly crowned Champions Be’ersheva in the State Cup Final at Teddy stadium, interim Head Coach Kenny Miller will try guide his side back to winning ways. With the Cup Final in mind, Miller made several changes to his starting line-up resting some of his players after a long and hectic campaign. Roi Mishpati made his first start in goal since the State Cup Semi Final victory over Maccabi Haifa in mid-April. Raz Shlomo and Heitor dos Santos lined up as the two central defenders in front of Mishpati while Itai Ben Hamo and Noam Ben Harosh started at right and left back respectively. At the heart of midfield, Ben Lederman, made his first start since the Cup victory over Maccabi Jaffa in February and his 19th appearance in all competitions. Itamar Noy made his 30th league appearance and 46th in all competitions this season in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz who scored in Maccabi’s last five outings to take his tally to 18 league goals which already guaranteed the top scorer award together with Kiryat Shmona’s Adrian Ugarriza was named by Miller at the top of the midfield trio. Kervin Andrade, the scored one of the goals at Turner in midweek, was named on one wing with Elad Madmon on the opposite flank. Yonas Malede made his first start of the season and ninth appearance in total as the 26-year-old forward led the attack aiming to add to the goal he scored this season against Bnei Sakhnin in February.

On the substitutes bench alongside goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Miller named: Roy Revivo, Tyrese Asante, Sagiv Jehezkel, Kristijan Belic, Saied Abu Farchi, Ido Shahar, Emir Sahiti and Osher Davida.

First half

The afternoon sun and some 4500 travelling Maccabi fans welcomed both set of players onto the pitch for a match that had no real effect on the table. Right from the start the two sides were geared up for an open game of football. Two minutes from the start Elad Madmon carried a counterattack down the right before squaring for Ben Lederman whose shot was turned for a corner by Petah Tikva’s keeper Amit Mashiah. From the resulting corner Maccabi took the lead as Raz Shlomo rose above Petah Tikva’s defense to head in Itamar Noy’s cross. In the 13th minute Petah Tikva were awarded a penalty after Lederman was judged to have tripped Shavit Mazal in the box before VAR called referee Idan Leiba to the screen to review his initial decision. Yonatan Cohen stepped up, sent Roi Mishpati the wrong way and leveled the score on 15. A minute later at the opposite end, Kervin Andrade cushioned the ball for Dor Peretz whose shot sailed high over the crossbar. Andrade had another shot within a minute, but the Venezuelan midfielder also couldn’t direct his shot on target.

Maccabi continued to push forward as a Madmon shot come cross needed a Mashiah hand together with his crossbar to turn the ball for a corner. Shlomo almost repeated his goal from the resulting corner as he headed Noy’s cross but with Mashiah beaten the Maccabi defender was denied by the crossbar. Yonas Melede was booked in the 25th minute for a foul on Petah Tikva’s Matan Gosha before the Maccabi forward blasted a shot over two minutes later. Maccabi enjoyed most of the possession but didn’t put Mashiah under any serious threat. In the 44th minute Lederman tried another left foot drive that narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Second half

With no changes to either side at the restart Maccabi began the second half where they left off – pressing forward to try and score. Two minutes after the restart a Madmon toe poke was blocked for a corner which was cleared by Petah Tikva’s defense. Mishpati was called into action in the 55th minute as he was at full stretch to keep out a Noam Cohen’s shot from inside the area.

A minute later Maccabi’s defense was exposed to a Petah Tikva counterattack, but Shavit Mazal with the goal at his mercy failed to connect onto Yonatan Cohen’s square ball which rolled across the face of goal. Petah Tikva enjoyed a good spell as Mazal blasted a shot which missed the target. At the opposite end Andrade waisted an Itai Ben Hamo pinpoint cross as he sent his volley high over the crossbar. Kenny Miller reacted with a double substitution on the hour mark as Lederman and Malede bowed out and were replaced by Ido Shahar and Emir Sahiti. Maccabi responded almost instantly as Madmon won a tackle deep inside Petah Tikva’s half before slipping the ball to Peretz who finished clinically and restored Maccabi’s lead. The Maccabi captain took his tally to 19 league goals and celebrated with the fans who gave him a standing ovation on 68 as he was replaced by Krsitijan Belic. Miller introduced two more substitutes as Roy Revivo and Osher Davida replaced Noam Ben Harosh and Andrade in the 75^th minute.

Nine minutes later however the hosts were back on level terms as the ball fell to Mamady Diarra on the edge box before the Petah Tikva substitute beat Mishpati to make it 2-2. Inside added time Madmon rifled a volley over the crossbar before Mishpati pulled a spectacular save to keep out an Orel Baye dangerous effort which was making its way into the top corner. The full time whistle saw Maccabi’s players and staff head to the fans and thank them for their support during the season as attention now turns to Tuesday’s State Cup Final against Hapoel Be’ersheva at Teddy stadium.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will face Hapoel Petah Tikva for their final match of the 2025/26 WINNER League season before the State Cup final. Following the midweek 2-4 defeat away to Hapoel Be’ersheva, Maccabi wish to return to winning ways and build confidence ahead of the major challenge awaiting them on Tuesday at Teddy stadium. Midfielder Ido Shahar spoke today about the mood in the dressing room and the desire to finish the season on a high note.

On the disappointing defeat at Be’ersheva that resulted with the hosts celebrating winning the league title, Shahar: “Of course it wasn’t pleasant to lose in Be’ersheva, those are not good feelings. Be’ersheva are our rivals and they will also be our opponent in the final, but that defeat gave us motivation ahead of the final.”

Despite the final being just around the corner, Shahar made it clear that the team is focused on the immediate task: “Hapoel Petah Tikva is an important match for us. It’s important for us to play well in front of our fans. It’s the last game before the final and it’s important for us to win and look good in order to give the team a push, confidence and positive energy.” Shahar added that they have no intention of underestimating the opponent: “We saw against Beitar Jerusalem that it wasn’t easy for them. We’ll come to do everything possible to win and arrive with good energy so the fans will be happy.”

On the complicated season Maccabi has gone through, amid the security situation and the European matches: “It’s been a very long season, both personally and with all the rounds of wars and the flights because we weren’t able to host matches in Israel.” Now, as the season nears its end, his message is clear: “We need to give one final push. Everyone needs to give of themselves and gather energy to finish this season with a cup and with the sweetest possible feeling. We’ve worked for a long time to reach moments like these.”

Ahead of the demanding occasion of the Cup Final, the midfielder concluded: “Not everyone gets the opportunity to play in a cup final and in matches like these. We want to come into the match against Petah Tikva fully prepared and focused so we can carry that into the final as well.”

In his opening remarks, Miller chose to demonstrate sportsmanship and congratulate the incoming champions: “I would say they deserve it. The team at the top of the table at the end of the season is the one that deserves it, so congratulations to Be’er Sheva on winning the title.”

When analyzing the flow of the game, the coach pointed out the differences between the two halves: “From our perspective, I think the first half was another good performance. We wanted to carry that into the second half as well, and I felt we started it quite well with an excellent opportunity for Kervin to score right at the beginning.” Miller noted that failing to capitalize on chances was significant: “We didn’t take that opportunity, and then we saw what happens when they play at home with their fans behind them and they have so much to play for.”

In conclusion, Miller did not hide his disappointment with the bottom line: “Once again, there is disappointment with the result. When you come to an away game, score two goals, and still leave with nothing, it is something that is sometimes hard to accept.”

Preview

A week before facing Hapoel Be’ersheva for the State Cup Final in Jerusalem, Maccabi arrived at Turner stadium for the MD35 penultimate WINNER league match of the 2025/26 campaign. Three days after suffering a dramatic 1-2 defeat to second place Beitar Jerusalem at Bloomfield, Maccabi that has 65 points and will finish the season in third place, face the leaders at their home ground. Kenny Miller’s side that beat Be’ersheva 1-0 at the start of the Playoff thanks to an injury time Dor Peretz goal, will try and get a result which would influence the title race. But they will have to do so without support from the stands as Maccabi’s serves a one-match ban on travelling fans following the incidents in the Tel Aviv derby earlier in the Playoffs.

Miller made a couple of changes from the side that lost to Beitar yet kept his defense unchanged. Ali Camara and Tyrese Asante lined-up in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika while Sagiv Jehezkel and Roy Revivo completed the back four at right and left-back respectively. Kristijan Belic made his first start since the Europa League match against Dinamo Zagreb on October 2^nd last year, as the 25-year-old Serbian midfielder was named alongside Issouf Sissokho in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz, who scored his 20th goal in all competitions and is competing for the Top Goalscorer award in the league with 17, started at the top of the midfield trio. Helio Varela who was named by the Cape Verde national team in the squad for this summer’s World Cup, was replaced on the wing by Kervin Andrade with Emir Sahiti on the opposite flank. Saied Abu Farchi continued to lead the attack seeking to add to his 11 goals in all competitions this season.

On the bench Miller named Roi Mishpati, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harosh, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela, Itamar Noy, Ido Shahar and Itai Ben Hamo.

First half

A vocal Turner Stadium welcomed the two sides onto the pitch as the hot-tempered encounter between the clubs that became bitter rivals in the past decade was evident. The tense atmosphere was on the pitch as well as Igor Zlatanovic’s rough tackle on Issouf Sissokho saw the Be’ersheva striker booked by referee Yigal Frid when he should have been shown the red card. Maccabi came close to draw first blood three minutes later as Saied Abu Farchi carried a counterattack through the middle before slipping the ball to Kervin Andrade whose right foot shot narrowly missed the target.

In the 17th minute Be’ersheva were awarded a penalty after a shot was deflected out by Tyrese Asante. Kings Kangwa floated in the corner which was handled by Ali Camara before Frid awarded a penalty. Zlatanovoc stepped up and fired his penalty past Ofek Melika to put the hosts in front. Maccabi responded almost instantly as Sagiv Jehezkel found Kervin Andrade in the box, but goalkeeper Ofir Marciano pulled a fingertip save to turn the ball for a corner. The resulting corner also led to a penalty in almost identical fashion as Djibril Diop handled the ball preventing Asante from heading it. Frid didn’t award a spot kick initially, but VAR intervened and gave Maccabi a chance to go level. Dor Peretz stepped up, kept his calm, and drilled in the penalty to score his 18th league goal and silence Turner. In the 27th minute however the hosts were back in front as Kings Kang exchanged passes with Amir Ganah and from the edge of the area managed to find the bottom corner of Melika to set the score at 2-1.

Five minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi were back on level terms as Sissokho managed to intercept a pass before carving B’ersheva’s defense to release Andrade who swept in the second equalizer of the match.

Second half

Kenny Miller didn’t make any changes after the break but his Be’ersheva counterpart, Ran Kuzukh, introduced at the restart former Maccabi defender Ofir Davidzada for another former Maccabi defender Matan Baltaxa. Be’ersheva were awarded a free kick after Kristijan Belic fouled Kangwa near the box on 47. Kangwa tried curling the free kick, but Melika was ready and collected with ease. A minute later Abu Farchi drove a counterattack before cutting the ball back for Andrade whose effort was deflected wide of the post. At the opposite end Mohamad Abu Rumi was given the time and space to have a clear sight on goal but his shot also went wide. Miller reacted with a double substitution as Belic and Andrade bowed out and were replaced by Ido Shahar and Helio Varela on 53.

Emir Sahiti was booked for a foul on Lukas Ventura six minutes after the hour mark as this was the Kosovar’s final contribution on the night. Three minutes later Sahiti came off as part of a double change which Miller made and saw him and Jehezkel replaced by Elad Madmon and Noam Ben Harosh. In the 75th minute Melika pulled a stunning reflex save which could easily compete as the save of the season. The 21-year-old managed to get a hand and tip Javon East’s close-range powerful volley onto the post and out for a corner. Two minutes later Melika could do nothing to deny Be’ersheva from taking the lead as East managed to find fellow substitute Zahi Ahmad unmarked at the far post as he tapped the ball home from point blank range. Miller sent in Raz Shlomo for Abu farchi as his fifth and final change. But the hosted were boosted by their lead and scored another three minutes later. Miguel Vitor was at the end of a Kangwa free kick as the veteran defender headed the ball past Melika to seal the victory.

Helio Varela was named by Cape Verde in the final squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup which will be hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico. The 22-year-old winger joined Maccabi this summer and scored 5 goals and added 5 assists in 39 appearances in all competitions. Cape Verde were drawn in Group H and will play Spain in their opening World Cup match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 15th. Cape Verde then face Uruguay at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on June 22nd and play their third match against Saudi Arabia at the NRG Stadium in Houston on June 27th.