Preview

After a month long break due to the World Cup in Qatar, the ONE Zero League returned to action as Maccabi faced newly promoted side Maccabi Bnei Reineh at Nof Hagallil’s Green stadium. Reineh changed a coach since both sides met on the first day of the season when Maccabi won 5-0 at Bloomfield as Sharon Mimmer replaced Adham Hadiya who has since joined last week’s State Cup opponents – Hapoel Umm al-Fahm. For the return to league action Vladimir Ivic made several changes to the side which beat Umm al Fahm 3-2. Daniel Peretz, who has the best defensive record in the league having conceded only 6 goals in 13 matches, started in goal. Shahar Piven, Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit lined-up as the three central defenders right in front of Peretz. Maor Kandil on the right flank and Yonatan Cohen in a new role on the opposite left flank were the two wing-backs expected to supply width to Ivic’s formation. Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan were the two players assigned to Maccabi’s midfield engine room with Oscar Gloukh in a slightly more attacking role of the midfield trio. Eran Zahavi led the line wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran talisman partnered Djordje Jovanovic upfront.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Ivic named Joris van Overeem, Gabi Kanichowsky, Parfait Guiagon, Shearn Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Nir Bitton and Matan Hozez who all waited for their chance to make an impact.

With the match being held at Nof Hagallil only minutes away from Nazareth where almost the entire city is decorated with lights for Christmas due to be celebrated in five days – Maccabi Bnei Reineh marked Chanuka with a candle lighting ceremony prior to kickoff.

First Half

Backed by more than 2000 fans, Maccabi began the match with an attack from the flanks as Maor Kandil’s cross from the right was cleared by Bnei Reineh’s central defender Sambinha before Eran Zahavi could head the ball. Amit Znati had the first shot on target with an effort from outside the area, which was easily collected by Daniel Peretz in the fourth minute. Three minutes later however Zahavi broke the deadlock and put Maccabi in-front. Avi Rikan won a tackle near the halfway line and released Dor Peretz who charged forward towards the area before sending a square ball for Zahavi to fire home from close range.

Maccabi came close to double their lead but Oscar Gloukh first, and then Kandil, were both judged to have been offside. Vladimir Ivic’s side continued to dominate the play and in the 22nd minute Gloukh charged through the middle and released Zahavi whose shot come cross rolled across the face of goal and wide.

A Reineh corner in the 42nd minute resulted with a Maccabi counter attack at the opposite end as Zahavi slid the ball to Cohen whose powerful shot was saved by Arik Yanko.

The halftime whistle of referee Ohad Asulin sent both teams into the dressing with Maccabi’s narrow lead still in-tact.

Second Half

Cohen’s shot on goal in the closing stages of the first half was his final contribution on the night as Ivic replaced him with Matan Hozez for the restart. Ivic’s counterpart, Mimmer, made a double change with Yaniv Brick and Znati made way for Richard Boateng and Ahmed Abed. Hozez could have made an immediate impact three minutes after his introduction as his cut back to Djordje Jovanovic only for the Serbian forward to hook his shot from the middle of the area over the crossbar. Gloukh had an effort blocked by a Reineh defender on 51 before Zahavi blasted a shot over two minutes later.

In the 56th minute, Yanko kept his side in the game as the Reineh keeper was at full stretch to push Dor Peretz’s close range header over the bar following a pinpoint cross by Gloukh.

Kandil was booked by referee Ohad Asulin in the 67th minute, while a minute later Ivic made his second change as Gloukh was replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky. Derrick Luckassen also saw yellow on 69, but two minutes later Daniel Peretz showed why he conceded the least number of goals in the league as Maccabi’s custodian pulled a stunning save to deny Boateng’s powerful close range header.

Maccabi doubled their lead in the 76th minute as Enric Saborit’s left foot shot seemed to have taken a deflection off a Reineh defender to catch Yanko off guard and go in at the near post. Ivic made a double change as Kandil and Peretz bowed out and were replaced by Sheran Yeini and Joris van Overeem in the 80th minute.

Parfait Guiagon was introduced by Ivic for the closing stages as the diminutive Ivorian came on for Rikan who was given a standing ovation by the Maccabi travelling fans.

The full time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory on the night to move ahead of Be’ersheva on goal difference with Ivic’s side hosting Hapoel Hadera at Bloomfield on Saturday.

“We are playing away from home against a team which has made some changes since the start of the season and we expect a tough match”.

On the back of the State Cup victory over Hapoel Umm al Fahm last week, Maccabi return to league action as they travel to Nof Hagallil for the MD14 match on Monday.

When asked about the influence the Cup toe should have on the league match, the veteran Maccabi captain replied: “One match is not related to another. From my experience, Cup matches are always tough. Period. The tougher they are, the longer your journey is in the competition.”

Yeini, who captained the side that came back from a two goal deficit against Umm al Fahm on the way to a 3-2 victory, said: “Obviously we don’t want the match to develop the same way. We will have to be aggressive, play fast, not allow them feel comfortable, and show that we are a dominant side”.

With a point tally of 29 from a possible 39 in the first round and ahead of the second league round, Yeini said: “We wish we would have never dropped points at all. We arrive at every match with an aim to extract the best without even thinking about our next match. We will however try and improve in this round”.

When asked about the suspended sentence of a radius ban Maccabi received for the fans’ behaviour against Umm el Fahm, Yeini sent a clear message: “We obviously condemn any acts of violence and racism regardless of the suspended sentence punishment we have. What I am urging ßour fans, and that is in the wake of our outstanding home record at Bloomfield stadium – is to behave and not do things which could force us away and damage our season”

The Israel Professional Football League announced the dates and kick-off times of Maccabi’s forthcoming ONE ZERO Digital Bank league matches with the Israel Football Association also publishing the State Cup round of 16 ties to schedule a busy schedule.

Maccabi will play their final match of 2022 as Vladimir Ivic’s side travel to Kiryat Shmona on New Year’s Eve MD16 (19:30) before hosting Bnei Sakhnin for the State Cup Round of 16 tie which will begin 2023 at Bloomfield stadium (17:30).
Four days later Maccabi then return to league action as they host Ashdod on MD17 (17:30) then travel to Teddy stadium for MD18 where they face local side Beitar Jerusalem (20:30). The following Monday Maccabi hosts Maccabi Haifa for another top of the table clash at Bloomfield stadium (20:30).  

ONE ZERO Digital Bank League fixtures:

MD 16 December 31^st Hapoel Kiryat Shmona vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Saturday, 19:30)
State Cup January 3^rd Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin (Tuesday, 20:00)
MD 17 January 7^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Ashdod SC (Saturday, 17:30)
MD 18 January 16^th Beitar Jerusalem vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Monday, 20:30)
MD 19 January 23^rd Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa (Monday, 20:30)

Roy Revivo (19) will continue at Maccabi Tel Aviv for at least the next three years after signing a new contract until the end of the 2024/25 season with an option to extend by two more years.

After signing his new contract, Revivo told the club’s official website: “I am excited to sign a new contract at Maccabi, the cub I grew up at from the age of six and where I see my future. Now all I have left is to continue working hard and justify the faith shown in me”.

Maccabi’s Head of Football Department, Barak Itzhaki, added: “We are delighted that such a talented and hard-working player as Roy Revivo who grew up at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy decided to commit his future to the club and we wish him all the best”.

Roy Revivo made his first footballing footsteps at Maccabi’s Youth Department at the age of six before rising through the ranks and joining the first team squad this summer. Revivo made his senior debut  appearance in August 2021 at a Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem.  

A member of Israel’s U-19’s national team squad for which he made 20 international appearances, Revivo, scored the winning goal against Scotland which secured qualification to the European U19’s finals last summer where Israel finished in second place.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will host fellow top flight club Bnei Sakhnin in the State Cup round of 16 following the draw which took place at the Israel Football Association Headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.

Having booked their place in the Round of 16 following Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Hapoel Umm al-Fahm, Maccabi entered the draw alongside eight other top flight clubs and seven clubs from the second division.

Bnei Sakhnin, currently ranked 7^th in the top flight, advanced to this stage after recording a 3-0 victory over fourth division outfit Hapoel Qalansawe on Monday.

Round of 16 draw: (Ties are set to be played between January 3^rd to 5^th)
Maccabi Bnei Reineh vs Maccabi Petah Tikva (2^nd)
Beitar Jerusalem vs Ironi Tiberias (2^nd)
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin
Maccabi Haifa vs Hapoel Haifa
Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon (2^nd) vs Ashdod SC
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (2^nd) vs Maccabi Netanya
Hapoel Ironi Afula vs Hapoel Kfar Sava (2^nd)