The Israel Professional Football League announced the dates and kickoff times of the ONE ZERO Leaue MD19-MD22. Maccabi will end a busy month at Bloomfield stadium as they host Hapoel Jerusalem on the final day of January. February will begin with a trip to Sammy Ofer on MD20 which will be the third encounter against Maccabi Haifa in less than a month as both teams face each other for the Toto Cup Final on January 24^th. Maccabi ten host Bnei Sakhnin on February 10^th before returning to the Netanya stadium to face local side Maccabi Netanya on February 19^th.

ONE ZERO DIGITAL BANK League Fixtures:

MD 19 January 31^st Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Jerusalem (Bloomfield, 20:00)

MD 20 February 5^th Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Sammy Ofer, 20:30)

MD 21 February 10^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin (Bloomfield, 15:00)

MD 22 February 19^th Maccabi Netanya vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Netanya, 20:00)

 

Maccabi will begin its’ 2023/24 State Cup campaign away to Hapoel Hadera following the draw which took place on Thursday. Four days after facing Maccabi Haifa for the Toto Cup Final at the Netanya stadium, Maccabi will play the first tie of Israel’s primary Cup competition at the same venue.

State Cup Round of 32 draw:

25.1.24 Maccabi Ironi Ashdod (3^rd) vs Hapoel Haifa (Ashdod, 19:30)

25.1.24 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (2^nd) vs Maccabi Jaffa (2^nd)  (Ilut, 19:30)

25.1.24 Hapoel Ramat Gan (2^nd) vs Bnei Yehuda (2^nd)  (Ramat Gan, 19:30)

26.1.24 Zeiri Kfar Kana (3^rd) vs Ironi Kiryat Shmona (2^nd) (Kfar Kana, 13:00)

26.1.24 Ashdod SC  vs Ironi Tiberias (2^nd) (Ashdod, 14:00)

26.1.24 Bnei Sakhnin vs Hapoel Ramat Hasharon (2^nd) (Sakhnin, 14:00)

26.1.24 Maccabi Netanya vs S.C Kfar Qassem () (Netanya, 14:00)

27.1.24 Hapoel Jerusalem vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (Teddy, 15:00)

27.1.24 Maccabi Bnei Reineh vs Hapoel Petah Tikva (Nof Hagalil, 17:30)

27.1.24 Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Yavne () (Petah Tikva, 20:00)

27.1.24 Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Beitar Jerusalem (Turner, 20:00)

28.1.24 Hapoel Um el Fahm () vs Maccabi Ata Biyalik () (Um el Fahm, 19:00)

28.1.24 Ironi Rishon Lezion (2^nd) vs SC Dimona (3rd) (Rison Lezion, 19:00)

28.1.24 Hapoel Nof Hagalil (2^nd) vs Hapoel Hertzliya (3rd) (Nf Hagalil, 19:00)

28.1.24 Hapoel Hadera vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Netanya, 19:30)

28.1.24 Hapoel Kfar Sava (2^nd) vs Maccabi Haifa (Kfar Sava, 20:30)

Three days after being held to a 1-1 draw by Hapoel Hadera, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD7 ONE ZERO LEAGUE rescheduled match against Maccabi Haifa. The point gained took Maccabi’s tally to 38 points but the gap from second place Maccabi Haifa was reduced to eight. After serving his one match suspension against Hadera, Robbie Keane returns to the touchline aiming to guide Maccabi back to winning ways. Keane wasn’t the only one to return as his two Dutch players Derrick Luckassen and Joris van Overeem recovered from their injuries and were back in the squad.

Keane made several changes to his starting line up as he welcomed Derrick Luckassen back to the heart of defense as the towering Dutch central defender partnered Enric Saborit. Avishai Cohen also returned to the right side of defense with Roy Revivo completed the back-four at left-back. Joris van Overeem who recovered from his injury was named in the anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completed Maccabi’s midfield engine room. Dan Biton on one wing and Dor Turgeman on the other were assigned by Keane to supply the ammunition for Eran Zahavi who led the line and the team out.

Matan Baltaxe who rejoined the club last week, was named in the squad for the first time as the defender joined Roi Mishpati, Idan Nachmias, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Saied Abu Farchi, Ori Azu, Kiko Bondoso and Osher Davida amongst the substitutes.
Prior to kickoff Maccabi held two ceremonies for Ofir Davidzada who reached the 200 appearance landmark and former defender Maor Kandil currently at Maccabi Haifa.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the back foot with the visitors applying pressure and dominating early on. A heavy touch by Orlando Mosquera almost gifted Haifa an early chance but the Panamanian keeper recovered on time to clear the danger. In the 11th minute Haifa took the lead after Anan Khalaili dribbled down the right past Roy Revivo and squared to Lior Rafaelov whose initial shot was saved by Mosquera before slotting in the rebound. Maccabi responded almost instantly as Avishai Cohen’s cross from the right reached Eran Zahavi whose spectacular overhead kick was saved by Shareef Keouf in Haifa’s goal.

The action continued at both ends of the pitch as Tjaronn Cherry blasted a left foot shot on 14 which Mosquera managed to save. Maccabi began gaining composure as Cohen’s cross in the 18th minute was cleared by Haifa’s defence into the path of Roy Revivo whose left foot volley saw Keouf dive to his left and save.

Dor Turgeman who looked lively down the left flank picked an ankle injury after a Haifa player landed on him. Minutes later Turgeman rose at the far post to meet a Cohen cross but his header was blocked by Ilay Feingold for a corner.

In the 34th minute referee Orel Grinfeld awarded Maccabi an indirect free kick inside the area after Keouf decided to catch Sean Goldberg back-pass. Dan Biton and Zahavi both stepped up but the veteran marksman blasted his shot straight at the wall.

As the fourth official signalled 5 minutes of added time Haifa’s Mahmoud Jaber was booked by Grinfeld for a foul on Turgeman that stopped a Maccabi counter attack. The halftime whistle sent both teams into the dressing rooms as Maccabi will have to bounce back and perform in the second half to get back in the game.

Second Half

With no changes at the restart to either side, the second half began with rain pouring to make the surface even faster at this high tempo match. Haifa’s Ali Mohammad was booked by Grinfeld for a foul on Biton that stopped a Maccabi counter attack. Mosquera then made a save from Din David to keep Maccabi in the game as Haifa looked dangerous on counter attacks.

Five minutes after the hour mark Haifa’s defense struggled to clear the danger as the ball reached Enric Saborit whose half volley struck the post and bounced out.

Keane made his first change as he introduced Osher Davida in the 70th minute for Joris van Overeem. Mosquera was the busiest keeper of the two as he was at full stretch to keep out David’s powerful curling effort from the edge of the area in the 74th minute.

Kiko Bondoso replaced Avishai Cohen on 79 as Keane shuffled his side pushing Kanichowsky to right back. In the 82nd minute Davida took on Haifa’s defense almost on his own before sending a dangerous cross that Zahavi and Turgeman couldn’t get a touch and convert. Haifa had the ball in the back of the net on 87 but the visitors’ celebrations were shortlived as the goal was disallowed by VAR for handball.

Grinfeld added five minutes during which Saborit was booked for a foul on Kandil before Idan Nachmias and Matan Baltaxa came on for Revivo and Biton.

 

Eran Zahavi scored 22 goals in all competitions this season but the 36-year-old striker who hasn’t been on target in four matches dismissed all claims that this is something which will phase him. Ahead of the top of the table clash against second place Maccabi Haifa, Zahavi, whose side has an eight-point lead at the top of the table, said: “There is no doubt that a victory would give us a big push, but it is still another league clash we need to win. This match will not decide whether we win or lose the championship. There is a long way ahead.”

Zahavi who is enjoying his second spell at the club, added: “As a club, Maccabi Tel Aviv always prefers to play our football and be bold about our game. If we lose a game that is fine, but being brave is something gives confidence to the players. This year we are playing very brave football all over the pitch, we are not stepping aside from our way. As players we enjoy doing that and prefel to be brave as opposed to change our style because of an opponent.”

The veteran marksman who scored in eight successive matches in all competitions during November and December but has since hit a barren run of four matches was adamant: “I am under no pressure whatsoever as this has only been two weeks and not two months without a goal. I totally understand the expectations as I created them. I am my biggest critique a lot more than you are towards me. I want to score in every game, but the only fun thing I had about not scoring was that I didn’t score but we didn’t drop points. We are top of the table so I am delighted that my teammates covered up for me when things didn’t work out too well as they know I will pay them back. Every game is a good stage to get back to form and score which is what I am trying to do in every match, at every stadium anywhere across the world. I hope I will be able to do so, but my focus, is to do everything for the team. When the time will come to score, I will score”.

On playing under Robbie Keane, Zahavi paid tributes to the former Tottenham, LA Galaxy and Republic of Ireland legendary striker: “Robbie has helped me a lot in many aspects, but he also wants to kill me on other things I have been trying to improve. In every place I am at I try settling into the framework of the team and bring my things. Every player has tactical work he must do;  sometime to make space for someone else, play with one touch etc’. All these are demands of the coach. I always try to walk between the raindrops and bring my own thing. Always, even at my age there is room to improve and people to learn from.”

Throughout history Maccabi and Maccabi Haifa met each other in the league 175 times. What is regarded as ‘The Israeli Classico’ is the most played fixture in Israeli football of which Maccabi won 72, lost 51 and drawn 52 with the total goal tally currently on 255-219.

Maccabi are unbeaten in the last 12 home matches against Haifa winning 8 and drawing 4. This equals Maccabi’s longest unbeaten home run against Haifa which was recorded in November 1981.

Maccabi’s unbeaten home run at Bloomfield stretches even further. In the last 17 matches, Maccabi won 12 and drawn 5 with a goal tally of 34-12.

401 Maccabi players featured in matches against Haifa over the years. Sheran Yeini holds Maccabi’s record number of appearances against Haifa with 43 which is also the record number of a Maccabi player against any opponent in the league.

Shiye Glazer is Maccabi’s leading goal scorer against Maccabi Haifa with 22 goals to his name. Eran Zahavi is ranked in second place with 12 goals.

Glazer scored his goals in 24 appearances averaging 0.96 goals per game against the Haifaites.

Orel Grinfeld who was appointed to officiate the match, was the referee in 36 Maccabi league matches. The 42-year-old international referee, officiated Maccabi once this season during the 3-2 victory away to Bnei Sakhnin. His overall record in Maccabi’s matches currently stands on 23 victories, 10 draws and 3 defeats. In 8 matches Grinfeld officiated this fixture, Maccabi won 5 while Haifa won 3.