The 3-0 victory over Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield saw Maccabi regain the top spot in the ONE ZERO League table. The morning after the game we found some interesting numbers behind the impressive start to the season of Vladimir Ivic’s charges.

The victory over Maccabi Netanya saw Maccabi reach a landmark as this was the 1,100 league victory to date – the highest number amongst all the clubs. Maccabi Haifa are second with 954 league victories while Hapoel Tel Aviv are third with 889.

Netanya is the club Maccabi beat most times (73) with Maccabi Haifa (71) and Maccabi Petah Tikva (68) in second and third place respectively.

Maccabi extended the unbeaten home record against Netanya to 15 matches in succession. The longest unbeaten home run against Netanya stretches to 17 matches and was recorded in 1970.

Maccabi’s 100% home record in the league at Bloomfield stadium this season (2022/23) currently stands on five victories from five matches. Maccabi is the 32^nd team to have reached this landmark in Israel’s history. Victories over Maccabi Bnei Reineh (5-0), Hapoel Kiryat Shmona (3-1), Beitar Jerusalem (4-0), Hapoel Tel Aviv (3-0) and Maccabi Netanya (3-0) set Maccabi on a goal record at home of 18-1. The fifth best goal record of all time and the best since Maccabi Netanya’s class of 1981/82.

Maccabi scored 3 goals or more in all of its’ five first home matches. Only Hapoel Petah Tikva reached a similar achievement in the 1957/58 season.

Maccabi scored 25 goals in 9 league matches so far – the highest number amongst the top flight clubs in the new millennium in 17^th place of the all-time charts alongside Maccabi Haifa (2003 and 2005).

The last time Maccabi scored 25 league goals or more before the 10^th league round was 29 in the 1993/94 season.

On the other hand, the three goals Maccabi conceded in nine matches ranks them 10^th in the all-time records.

The best record in nine matches is held by Maccabi (2019/20) which conceded the first league goal in MD14.

Eran Zahavi scored his 4^th league goal and 6^th in all competitions this season. The goal against Netanya was Zahavi’s 102^nd league goal at Maccabi which places him in the 5^th place of the all-time goal scorers chart and the 133^rd goal for the club in all competitions.    

Ivic, praised his teams’ performance on the night, as he added: “I believe that from the beginning of the game we were the better side with the right attitude and energy. We scored a goal after 10-15 minutes but after that the game was wide open and Netanya played open football with plenty of movement upfront”.

On his reaction after Djordje Jovanovic’s first goal, Ivic said: “There was a good link up with good passes and first time touches. It was one of the best goals we scored so far”.

On the performance of Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit who both impressed on the night: “Derrick had a good game, Saborit played well as all my players were serious throughout the match. We signed Derrick so he can help us, he had a few minor issues but now he is fine. I just hope he continues in this form so he can hopefully improve us in the future”.

Ivic complimented Netanya as he summed-up his opponents and related to the rest of the season: “Every match is a different story. This game wasn’t easy as we played against an opponent that are ranked at the bottom of the table but their position doesn’t reflect on their real ability. They have good players and a good coach and wish them to get out of their run of poor form. Our target is to be in the position we are now as our philosophy should be to improve our game and our seriousness in training”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium aiming to build on the victories in the derby and away to Bnei Sakhnin and record their third win in succession. With 19 points from eight matches and two adrift of the leaders, Maccabi knew that a win will not only stretch their run to three victories in succession but will also see them climb to the top of the table.

Coach Vladimir Ivic made several changes to his side as Derrick Luckassen made his second start since joining Maccabi earlier this summer as the Dutch central defender joined Enric Saboroit and Nir Bitton as the three central defenders. Bitton who played at the heart of midfield in Sakhnin returned to his regular position as a central defender right in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Maor Kandil, was rewarded for his second half substitute appearance at Doha stadium which resulted with the late winning goal as he started as the right wing-back. Ofir Davidzada was named on the opposite left flank to complete Maccabi’s defensive line. Dan Glazer returned to the anchorman role as he was partnered in the midfield engine room by Gabi Kanichowsky. Oscar Gloukh completed the midfield trio as the diminutive youngster was named ahead of Glazer and Kanichowsky and right behind Eran Zahavi and Djordje Jovanovic.

On the bench alongside Daniel Tenenbaum, Ivic named Dan Biton, Joris van Overeem, Guiagon Parfait, Sheran Yeini, Avi Rikan, Eyal Golasa, Andre Geraldes and Dor Peretz.

First Half

The match began at frantic pace as Maccabi moved the ball around trying to beat Maccabi Netanya’s high pressure and aggressive style. It took Maccabi 12 minutes to create their first chance but when they did Vladimir Ivic’s side produced a spectacular goal which should complete as one of the goals of the season.

Eran Zahavi turned a Netanya defender and fed Oscar Gloukh who released Enric Saborit down the left flank before the Spaniard squared the ball into the path of Djordje Jovanovic. With every player touching the ball once, the Serbian forward followed suit as he volleyed his fifth of the season past Itamar Nitzan to break the deadlock.

Jovanovic came close to double the score shortly after or at least fed Zahavi as Maccabi charged forward for a counter attack, but this time the shot was too weak to beat Nitzan. Dan Glazer was booked by referee Gal Leibovic for a tackle on Aviv Avraham at the centre of the park. Erich Berko forced Daniel Peretz to dive and make a save as Netanya enjoyed a purple patch with Eden Kartzev dominating the midfield.

The visitors continued to look dangerous as two minutes after the half hour mark Amir Berkovitts received the ball from Avraham, cut inside and forced Peretz to make another save. Four minutes later, Zahavi came close as he released Kanichowsky first, ran into space and received the ball back before firing his shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Derrick Luckassen showed his speed and aerial superiority every time the Dutch central was challenged by a Netanya opponent. In the 41st minute Gloukh and Davidzada exchanged passes to break into Netanya’s area, but the attempt to cut the ball back for Jovanovic was cleared by the visitors’ defence. On the brink of halftime Maccabi doubled their lead as Gloukh fed Zahavi who gave Nitzan no chance as he blasted the ball from the edge of the area into the top corner.

Second Half

With no changes to personnel, Maccabi returned to the pitch after the interval determined to begin the second half where they left off. Netanya made two changes as Ido Vair replaced Erich Berko while Shai Konstantini came in for Berkovitts. Jovanovic almost doubled his tally on the night but this time Nitzan charged off his line and dived at his feet to squander the chance on 47. With Glazer carrying a yellow card from the first half, Ivic didn’t want to take any chances as Dor Peretz was introduced on 53 stepping into the heart of midfield.

Saborit added to his assist with a spectacular goal of his own right on the hour mark as he sent a powerful left foot rocket right on the hour mark to make it 3-0. Ivic made another double change in the 64th minute as Andre Geraldes and Joris van Overeem came in for Maor Kandil and Kanichowsky.

Luckassen and Gloukh bowed out to a standing ovation as they were replaced by Eyal Golasa and Guiagon Parfait in the 75th minute. The substitution was delayed for several minutes as VAR checked the decision to dissallow a Jovanovic goal from the goalline after Saborit chipped the keeper from inside the area.

Gabi Kanichowsky, who will face the club he scored 16 goals in 102 appearances in all competitions between 2018-2021 spoke ahead of the home match against Netanya: “It is always special to play against a side you played at for three seasons and gave you so much” Kanichowsky said. “But last year was special and this year it wouldn’t be as football ,makes you get used to certain things”.

Kanichowsky, who still remembers the 4-2 defeat to Netanya last season, added; “Matches against Netanya are always interesting as they play attacking football, so for the neutral fan the matches are entertaining. But, we need to continue doing our job and be prepared for the game. Every match in this league is tough regardless of the opponent. We need to continue doing the maximum, prepare like in every match and take the three points”.

On the competition for places in Maccabi’s midfield, Kanichowsky who scored three league goals so far this season, added: “Obviously it is not fun to sit on the bench but I knew that Maccabi has a deep squad and the best players in Israel. It is a good thing if you take it in a good way. I want to start in every game but this is part of the business. I am here to give everything and play regardless how much”.