Avishay Cohen completed his move to Maccabi Tel Aviv after successfully completing his medical and signing initially until the end of the 2023/24 season.

Cohen, who scored last season at Beitar Jerusalem 3 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions, received the number 2 jersey at Maccabi.

Cohen made his first footballing footsteps at Beitar Jerusalem’s youth department where he progressed and made his senior debut at the age of 19 in April 2014.

After loan spells at Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla and Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem (2017/18), Cohen moved to Bnei Yehuda in 2019 where he won the State Cup at the end of that season. At the start of the 2022/23 season, Cohen returned to Beitar Jerusalem and won another State Cup before receiving his first call-up to the national team squad. 

  

Five days after the first match of the Conference League group stage against Breidablik of Iceland is played at Bloomfield, Maccabi will be the visiting team for the first Tel Aviv derby of the season (Tuesday, 20:30).

The busy September schedule will end on the 30^th as Maccabi host newly promoted side Hapoel Petah Tikva (Bloomfield 17:45).

October will begin with a trip to Belgium as Maccabi face KAA Gent on the 5^th before returning to play another away match against Hapoel Jerusalem on the 8^th at Teddy stadium (20:00).

The second international break of the season will take place between October 9^th and 17^th. MD7 will be played on the 21^st as Maccabi host Maccabi Haifa for a Saturday (20:30) fixture, the first encounter of the season between the two sides that are also set to meet in the Toto Cup Final.

Maccabi then host Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk on the 26^th before traveling to Doha stadium where they face Bnei Sakhnin on Monday the 30^th. Maccabi begin the month of November (4^th) with Maccabi Netanya for the early Saturday kickoff of 15:00 before travelling to Poland for the return fixture against Zorya on the 9^th.

Another back-to-back tough away trip will see Maccabi travel to Turner for MD10 on Sunday the 12^th where they beat Hapoel Be’ersheva 6-1 in the Toto Cup earlier this season.    

The second international and reseeding break is scheduled for November 13^th to 21^st followed by a long trip to Iceland where Maccabi face Breidablik on the 30^th. December begins on Sunday the 3^rd with an away match against Maccabi Petah Tikva, while three days later Maccabi return to Bloomfield and host Beitar Jerusalem on Wednesday (20:30).

MD13 takes Maccabi on the road to Sammy Ofer where they face Hapoel Haifa on the 10^th (20:00) before ending the group stage phase at home to Gent on the 14^th.

ONE ZERO Digital Bank League fixtures:  (confirmed dates and kickoff times will be published at a later stage)

MD 3 September 17^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Reinah (Bloomfield, 18:00)

MD 4 September 26^th Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Bloomfield, 20:30)

MD 5 September 30^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Petah Tikva (Bloomfield, 17:45)

MD 6 October 8^th Hapoel Jerusalem vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Teddy, 20:00)

MD 7 October 21^st Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa (Bloomfield, 20:30)

MD 8 October 30^th Bnei Sakhnin vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Doha, 20:00)

MD 9 November 4^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Netanya (Bloomfield, 15:00)

MD 10 November 12^th Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Turner, 20:30)

MD 11 December 3^rd Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Petah Tikva, 20:00)

MD 12 December 6^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Beitar Jerusalem (Bloomfield, 20:30)

MD 13 December 10^th Hapoel Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv(Sammy Ofer, 20:00)

MD 14 December 16^th Ashdod SC vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (TBA)

MD 15 December 26^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Hadera (TBA)

MD 16 December 30^th Bnei Reinah vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (TBA)

MD 17 January 6^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (TBA)

MD 18 January 13^th Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (TBA)

MD 19 January 20^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Jerusalem (TBA)

MD 20 January 27^th Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (TBA)

MD 21 February 3^rd Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin (TBA)

MD 22 February 10^th Maccabi Netanya vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (TBA)

MD 23 February 17^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Be’ersheva(TBA)

MD 24 February 24^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Petah Tikva (TBA)

MD 25 March 2^nd Beitar Jerusalem vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (TBA)

MD 26 March 11^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Haifa (TBA)

 

Playoffs:

MD 27 March 16^th

MD 28 March 30^th

MD 29 April 6^th

MD 30 April 13^th

MD 31 April 20^th

MD 32 April 27^th

MD 33 May 4^th

MD 34 May 11^th

MD 35 May 18^th

MD 36 May 21^st

“I am delighted we won, it is very important we completed Thursday’s task as well as the one on Thursday by qualifying to the Conference League group stages. It is always fun to score and help the team. We are looking good, but there is still room for improvement as there is always something to improve. I don’t think this will be enough for the rest of the season but for now we could be satisfied.”

When asked about the difference between this season and previous seasons, Kanichowsky added: “Over the past couple of years we changed several coaches and I think that stability at a football team is the most important thing. This is what we have now, and we also have a squad of hungry players wanting to succeed after 3 years of not doing so in the league. We all want it and are hungry for it.”

An extra ordinary start to the season

The 3-0 victory over Hapoel Hadera saw Maccabi top the table on MD1 and MD2 for the second season in succession. Throughout history, only Hapoel Petah Tikva achieved that in the 1959/60 and 1960/61 seasons.

This is the 22^nd time Maccabi begins the season with 2 successive league victories (more than any other Israeli club). The 4-1 victory over Ashdod which was followed by the 3-0 win over Hadera set Maccabi’s goal tally on 7-1. Only the 1954/55 campaign as well as last season’s 11-1 saw Maccabi start a season better.

The international break halted Maccabi’s run from the start of the 2023/24 campaign of 10 matches in all competitions. Robbie Keane’s charges have an impressive unbeaten record of 8 victories and 2 draws. Arguably, Maccabi enjoyed a better start in the 1954/55 campaign (9 wins and 1 draw) as well as 2017/18 (9 wins and 1 defeat).

The goal tally from the opening 10 matches is 30-6, the best Maccabi had in their opening 10 matches since the 1954/55 season (40-8).

The dominance over Hadera

Maccabi has an extra ordinary record against Hapoel Hadera with 15 victories and a solitary draw from the 16 previous encounters between the two sides. This is the best record in Israel’s history for league encounters, equaling Maccabi Haifa’s record of 15 wins and a draw against Hapoel Petah Tikva between 1997 – 2002.

Hadera’s 3-0 defeat at Netanya was Maccabi’s 8^th successive victory over the side which won promotion back to the top-flight six seasons ago. Seven successive victories whilst keeping a clean sheet against Hadera is another all time league record.

Zahavi’s numbers

Eran Zahavi scored his 10^th goal this season in all competitions. The 36-year-old striker took his tally to 163 goals for Maccabi, 120 of which in the league, which places him 4^th in the club’s all-time goal-scorers list.

Zahavi has a total of 147 league goals to his name, 2 goals short of entering the league’s Top 10 all-time goal scorers list.

Preview:

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the Netanya stadium for the second league match of the season against Hapoel Hadera aiming to build on last week’s 4-1 victory over Ashdod and maintain a 100% record.

Robbie Keane, who guided Maccabi to the Conference League group stages, will aim to head out to the International break with an unbeaten record of 10 matches in all competitions

Keane, made two changes from the side that salvaged a 1-1 draw against NK Celje in Slovenia on Thursday. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal for his second league match at Maccabi. Nir Bitton, who started the match in Slovenia as a central midfielder dropped back to replace Derrick Luckassen as Enric Saborit’s defensive. Yvann Macon on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four line. Gabi Kanichowsky, the scorer of Maccabi’s equalizer against Celje, joined Joris van Overeem and Dan Biton to complete Maccabi’s midfield trio. Yonatan Cohen, whose second half introduction as a substitute revived the team last Thursday, was named by Keane on one wing with Milson occupying the other wide role. Upfront, Eran Zahavi led the line as the 36-year-old marksman was aiming to extend his impressive start to the season of 9 goals in as many matches.

On the bench, Keane named the two new signings – Osher Davida and Kiko Bondoso who joined Daniel Tenenbaum, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Sheran Yeini, Derrick Luckassen, Ofir Davidzada and Ido Shahar.

First Half

Supported by around 7000 fans at Netanya, Maccabi began the match with pressure on Hadera right from the start. In the fourth minute Milson scooped his shot high and wide, but less than a minute later the Angolan winger danced into the box past two defenders and managed to square the ball to Eran Zahavi. A sharp back-heal flick from close range was heading goal bound but Hadera’s keeper Ohad Levita pulled a reflex save to deny Zahavi and Maccabi from scoring an early goal.

It took Hadera 10 minutes to cross the halfway and create their first chance as Tamir Adi flashed a half volley from close range wide of Roi Mishpati’s post. Within a minute at the opposite end however Maccabi’s pressure paid off as Joris van Overeem broke into the area and all the way to the byline and spotted Dan Biton unmarked near the penalty spot. The Dutch born midfielder, cut the ball back for Biton who side-footed the ball which took a deflection off Philip Ipole to beat Levita and open the score.

Hadera’s captain Menashe Zalka was shown the yellow card for dissent while Samy Bourard joined him after fouling Enric Saborit on 19.

Maccabi continued to press as Yonatan Cohen picked Biton on the edge of the box before his attempt of a shot was half blocked still forcing Levita to stretch himself and claw the ball out. Hadera’s coach Niso Avitan made an early change in the 30^th minute as he replaced Ipole and introduced Dor Jan.

Mishpati kept Maccabi’s lead in-tact as he denied Hadera’s Tony Lopes in the 40th minute to ensure the narrow lead is kept. Cohen had a powerful drive deflected over Hadera’s bar, and with no further goals before the halftime whistle, Maccabi stepped off to regroup ahead of the second period.

Second Half

The first 15 minutes of the second half was untidy as on both sides created half chances at both ends of the pitch indicating that a goal was going to be scored. Right on the hour mark Gabi Kanichowsky was left unmarked on the edge of Hadera’s area with plenty of time and space to send a powerful curling drive that doubled the score.

Maccabi’s keeper Roi Mishpati pulled a reflex to deny Hadera’s Tony Lopes in the 40th minute before another header sailed over and landed behind the goal. Cohen had a powerful drive deflected over Hadera’s bar, and with no further goals before the halftime whistle, Maccabi took the slender lead into the dressing room.

Second Half

The first 15 minutes of the second half was untidy as on both ends of the pitch signalled a goal was going to be scored. Right on the hour mark Gabi Kanichowsky was left unmarked on the edge of Hadera’s area with plenty of time and space to send a powerful curling drive that doubled the score.

Keane reacted almost instantly as he handed Kiko Bondoso his debut Maccabi appearance as the Portuguese winger replaced Cohen for the final half hour.

In the 74th minute Kiko made his mark on the game as he received the ball from Van Overeem deep inside Hadera’s half, spotted Zahavi in the middle of the area before sending a perfect cut back. Zahavi didn’t even control the ball but instead fired a shot on the turn to make it 3-0 with his 10th goal in as many appearances this season.

Keane made three substitutions as Osher Davida was handed his Maccabi debut replacing Milson, while Ido Shahar and Dor Turgeman came on for Biton and Zahavi. Sheran Yeini added another appearance to his tally as he replaced Macon at right back in the 81st minute.

Turgeman came close on 87 as he blasted a right foot shot from the edge of the area that crept wide of Levita’s post. Ohad Asulin’s full time whistle sent Maccabi’s players and staff to celebrate the victory and an almost perfect start to the season. Having scored 30 goals and conceded 6 from the opening 10 matches in all competitions Maccabi go out to the international break and return for the home game against Maccabi Bnei Reineh.