Preview:

Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the first Tel Aviv derby of the season, aiming to bounce back from the 1-1 draw against Bnei Reineh on MD3 and return to winning ways. Robbie Keane’s side have 7 points and are unbeaten in the league, but the more impressive record stretches for more than 9 years of not losing this fixture to the bitter city rivals. For their part, Hapoel, are also unbeaten in the league winning once, drawing twice to remain two points adrift with five. Keane, made two changes from Thursday’s side that beat Breidablik 3-2 in the Conference League as Nir Bitton and Gabi Kanichowsky returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Derrick Luckassen and Osher Davida.

Bitton partnered Enric Saborit as the second central defender in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati with Yvann Macon and Roy Revino completing Maccabi’s back-four on the right and left, respectively.

Joris van Overeem was partnered by Dor Peretz in the engine room, while Dan Biton started at the top of the midfield trio. Kanichowsky was handed a wider role and Felicio Milson occupied the other flank while Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband.

On the bench, Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Eyal Golasa, Derrick Luckassen, Ofir Davidzada and Osher Davida all waiting for a chance to make an impact.

First Half

The match began with a 30-minute delay following the police request and due to crowd congestion outside Bloomfield stadium. When the match did eventually kickoff, Hapoel put Maccabi under pressure right from the off as the Yellow and Blue struggled to develop their regular game.

Maccabi did manage to break through in the 11th minute as Dan Biton shrugged off a defender and charged into the box from the left. Biton’s attempt to find a teammate with a cut-back wasn’t successful as Hapoel’s defense managed to clear the danger. This was a sign of what seemed like a pattern as two minutes later and from almost the exact same spot, Gabi Kanichowsky was given the time and space to float a cross into the path of Eran Zahavi. The veteran marksman who was lurking at the far post, headed the ball towards goal but saw his effort clawed out for a corner by Hapoel’s keeper Emilijus Zubas.

Maccabi came close in the 20th minute as Yvann Macon fed Dor Peretz who sent the ball across the face of goal, but Alon Azugi clear the ball for a corner before Milson could tap it home. The resulting corner however saw Maccabi take the lead. Kanichowsky’s corner fell to Roy Revivo who turned his defender and squared the ball to Peretz for an easy tap in.

Hapoel’s Or Blorian was booked by referee Gal Leibovic for stopping a Milson counter attack with a rugby tackle in the center circle.

Three minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi doubled their lead as Milson skipped past Azugi who was left on the ground before charging down the left. The 23-year-old Angolan winger cut the ball for Peretz whose shot was saved by Zubas behind the goal-line with Zahavi ensuring the goal counts by tucking home the rebound.

Zahavi must have been disappointed to discover the goal was given to Peretz, but within five minutes the 36-year-old forward celebrated an assist as Maccabi increased the lead. Milson found Zahavi through the middle before he slid the ball to Dan Biton. The midfielder run clear through, kept his calm and flicked the ball in off the post to score Maccabi’s third.

Second Half

Robbie Keane and his Hapoel counterpart, Michael Valkanis, made one change at the restart as Avishay Cohen replaced Macon at right-back while Ran Binyamin came on for Mavis Chibotafor the hosts.

Three minutes later Maccabi increased their lead even further at the end of a spectacular team effort that resulted with a Milson assist to Zahavi who tapped in the fourth from point blank range.

Maccabi continued to run riot as Zahavi snapped a shot over, Biton headed a Revivo cross straight at the keeper before Kanichowsky blasted a shot wide. Keane made another change on the hour mark as Joris Van Overeem and Milson both came off to a standing ovation allowing Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman to enjoy the action.

Zahavi received his standing ovation from Maccabi’s 2300 vocal fans as he was replaced by Osher Davida for the final 19 minutes. Hapoel fans greeted both players with a loud chorus of boos due to their time spent on the other side of town. Keane made his fifth and final substitution in the 75th minute as Idan Nachmias came on for Nir Bitton.

Turgeman had an effort saved by Zubas who also managed to deny Davida’s rebound, but just before injury time was added – Maccabi scored the fifth. Turgeman was sent clear through by Biton and with only Zubas to beat swept the ball into the bottom corner to seal the 5-0 victory.

Maccabi will continue their busy schedule at Bloomfield as they host Hapoel Petah Tikva on Saturday for the 17:45 early kickoff.

Sheran Yeini is in his 19th season at Maccabi Tel Aviv as the 36-year-old defender admits that a local derby is always exciting and emotional. On Tuesday, arch city rivals Hapoel hosts Maccabi at Bloomfield for the first Tel Aviv derby of the 2023/24 season. Yeini, who played in numerous derbies in his long career, reflected on the preparations for such a game: “A derby is the easiest match to prepare for in terms of motivation. There is plenty of tactical work to prepare for. Hapoel had a good start to the campaign as they are an organized side which had good results so far. We must do the right preparations, arrive for this match tactically ready, focused and try dominate the game to complete our job.”

With the derby taking place a day after Yom Kippur, Yeini admitted that this is something he had experienced in the past: “It will certainly be challenging for both teams as the game is right after Yom Kippur. But I believe this will not have an affect on either side. Coaches used to tell us in the past and rightly so: ‘at matches like this one must keep his heart warn and head cool. We will need to go all out in terms of emotions and feelings because this is what could win you the match. But on the other hand, we must be smart and know when is the right moment to do so. When we are dominant or have the right momentum, this is where our experience will have to play its part.”

Maccabi’s Head Coach Robbie Keane summed up the 3-2 victory over Breidablik in the opening group stage match at Bloomfield. “There are no easy matches in this competition. We took the three points and that is the important thing”

 

 

 Preview:

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the opening Conference League group stage match against Icelandic outfit Breidablik with a clear intention of getting this phase of the competition off to a winning start. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Robbie Keane, made four changes from the side which was held to a 1-1 draw by Maccabi Bnei Reineh in the league.

Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Enric Saborit and Derrick Luckassen lining up as the two central defenders Infront of him. Roy Revivo stepped back into the side at left-back with Yvann Macon completing Maccabi’s back-four on the right. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role together with Dor Peretz and Dan Biton who returned to the starting line-up were Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida made his debut start on one wing with Felicio Milson supplying te width on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran marksman spearheaded Maccabi’s attack.

On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishai Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Gabi Kanichowsky, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Dabidzada, Ido Shahar and Nir Bitton.

First Half

In a bid to get off to a good start Maccabi began the match with pressure on Breidablik’s defence, yet none of their efforts in the early stages caused a threat on goal. In the 11th minute however Yvann Macon produced an amazing strike that didn’t lack power or accuracy to break the deadlock. The French right-back picked the ball some 25 meters away from goal before unleashing a thunderbolt that rocketed past Anton Einarsson into the top corner to open his account.

Dan Biton rifled a shot that struck the side netting minutes later but on 24th the fans were back on their feet to celebrate the second. Joris van Overeem squared the ball to Eran Zahavi in the middle of the area before the 36-year-old turned his marker and found the bottom corner with a clinical finish.

Two minutes after the half-hour mark Maccabi made it 3-0 as Biton began the move down the right before sending the ball to Zahavi whose heavy touch saw it reach Dor Peretz. The midfielder broke into the box, but his effort was blocked only for Biton to slide in the rebound.

The visitors cut the deficit in the 44th after a quick move down the left side of Maccabi’s defense left Breidablik’s striker Klaemint Olsen with an easy tap-in to make it 3-1. On the stroke of halftime, Peretz was first to meet Biton’s free kick, but the midfielder couldn’t keep his header on target as the ball sailed over.

Second Half

With no changes after the interval to either side, the second half began with Breidablik looking dangerous mostly from set pieces. Maccabi on the other hand, came close four minutes after restart as Biton raced through and slid the ball to Milson whose effort was saved by Einarsson.

In the 55th minute the Icelanders punished Maccabi as Olsen was left unmarked at the far post to head in a corner to cut the deficit even further with his second of the game.

Olsen continued to be Breidablik’s dangerman as he fired a low powerful drive in the 61st minute which was equalled by Mishpati. Maccabi’s coach Robbie Keane reacted and made a double substitution as he introduced Avishai Cohen for Macon while Yonatan Cohen was introduced for Osher Davida on 64.

The visitors refused to break down despite the hot and humid weather conditions while Maccabi couldn’t find a clinical pass to open Breidablik’s defence. Keane made another change as Gabi Kanichowsky replaced Biton on 77. Three minutes later Roy Revivo skipped past a defender and left Enric Saborit with only the keeper to beat but Einarsson charged off his line to deny the Spanish defender.

Zahavi came off to a standing ovation while the introduction of Dor Turgeman on 87 raised a cheer from the 18,558 fans at Bloomfield. Turgeman looked lively twisting and turning a defender in the box before Milson forced a save from Einarsson.

The match against Breidablik will kick off Maccabi’s ninth appearance in a European group phase – more than any other Israeli side.

Maccabi will feature in the Conference League group phase for the second time, having played 5 times in the Europa League group stages (2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2020/21) Maccabi also featured in the Champions League group stage twice (2004/05 and 2015/16).

Maccabi’s record in the group stages currently stands on:

Conference League: Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 1.

Europa League: Won 9, Drawn 8, Lost 13.

Champions League: Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 10.

Maccabi advanced from the group stage on three occasions: Europa League (2013/14 and 2020/21) and Conference League (2021/22).

Up until the season Maccabi faced 22 clubs from 18 different countries (Villareal and Dynamo Kiev twice in two different seasons). Two of the three opponents Maccabi will face this season KAA Gent of Belgium and Breidablik of Iceland are from countries Maccabi didn’t play against in the group stages.

Breidablik with be the first Icelandic side to play Maccabi in the group stage and third in European competitions.

Maccabi played Keflavik in the Qualifying round of the Cup Winners Cup (1994/95) winning 6-2 on aggregate.

Maccabi also met KR Reykjavik in the Europa League 2^nd qualifying round of the 2017/18 season winning 5-1 on with Vidar Kjartansson, the only Iceland player to play for Maccabi, scoring one of the goals.

Maccabi’s highest victory in the Conference League group stage was a 5-0 win over Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki in the 2021/22 season.

Sheran Yeini leads the list of players to have represented Maccabi in the group stages with 27 appearances.

Eran Zahavi and Baruch Dego are the leading Maccabi goal scorers in group stages with 4 goals each.