Bitton, who returned to Israel after nine successful years with Celtic where he played Rangers at the world famous Old Firm derby, is looking forward to play in Israel’s biggest derby. The 30-year old central defender who sat out the defeat away to Haifa said: “I am feeling good as I wasn’t actually injured just suffering from some back pain which kept me out of a training for a week. Now I am a 100% fit and at the team’s disposal”.

Ahead of his first Tel Aviv derby, Bitton, who only played in Israe for Ashdod SC, reflected on his time in Scotland: “I was fortunate enough to play in a few bid derbies in my career. I heard a lot about the Tel Aviv derby as I know there is a lot at stake as this is a game which is more than football. It is important for the fans and the club with plenty of local pride at stake. As far as the players are concerned, it is an important game and we need to take the three points in order to build a positive momentum and continue our league run”

The 27-year-old midfielder said after the defeat at Haifa: “We didn’t play a good enough game as Maccabi Haifa were dominant in large portions of the game. We reached several chances to score and thought the game was going for a draw or we might take the lead. But that didn’t happen as we conceded two late goals as we had to protect what we had hence my disappointment”.

Peretz remained adamant the first defeat of the season to the bitter rivals main title contenders is not going to be that significant: “We move on from here and will learn from our mistakes. Not to play that well and to our high standards is something which can happen and it did. We played against the reigning champions and against a very good team. We needed to show a higher level of football to win here and sadly it didn’t happen. The season however is still very long and there are plenty of matches still left to play”

Preview

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the Sammy Ofer stadium for the top of the table clash against Maccabi Haifa with a one point advantage over their bitter rivals. After five league matches, Vladimir Ivic’s side collected 13 points as the 4-0 victory over Beitar Jerusalem before the international break improved their goal tally to 18-1. Maccabi Haifa on the other hand suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Hapoel Jerusalem which kept them on 12 points with a goal tally of 10-6.

Ivic made four changes to his starting line-up that beat Beitar with Shahar Piven joining Sheran Yeini and Enric Saborit as the three central defenders. Andre Geraldes returned to the starting line-up as the right wing-back with Ofir Davidzada completing the defensive line on the opposite left flank. Dan Glazer returned to the anchor-man role in midfield as he was joined by Dor Peretz and Eyal Golasa to complete a strong midfield engine room. As Daniel Peretz grabbed the headlines during the international break by helping Israel’s U21’s qualify to the European finals next summer, Gabi Kanichowsky starred for Israel’s first team which beat Albania and reach the Playoffs. The diminutive midfielder was named by Ivic just in-front of the midfield trio in support of Eran Zahavi who led Maccabi’s front line.

On the substitutes bench Ivic named Oscar Gloukh, Joris van Overeem, Parfait Guiagon, Avi Rikan, Derrick Lukassen, Maor Kandil, Djordje Jovanovic and Matan Hozez. Goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum recovered from a virus which troubled him during the week to complete the list of players on the bench, while Yonatan Cohen who returned to Maccabi this week and held a couple of training sessions was left out of the squad.

First Half

Maccabi didn’t seem phased by the intense atmosphere at the packed stadium as Vladimir Ivic’s charges reached the first goal scoring opportunity early in the game. Ofir Davidzada won a tackle deep inside Haifa’s territory before releasing Eran Zahavi who was under pressure by a defender. Zahavi still managed to tee-up Gabi Kanichowsky whose shot flashed wide of the target with less than three minutes on the clock.

In the first 20 minutes the two teams seemed to have canceled each other with fierce battles on every tackle and duals at both ends of the pitch. In the 25th minute however, Haifa’s Tjaronn Cherry found himself unmarked on the edge of the area but his left foot shot that beat Daniel Peretz rattled the crossbar.Four minutes later at the opposite end

Haifa cleared the ball off the line twice in the space of the 30 seconds. Sean Goldberg first hooked Eran Zahavi’s lob which beat Josh Cohen and as the ball bobbled off the bar Dylan Batubinsika managed to keep out Kanichowsky’s half volley with his head. Referee Eitan Shmuelevic wouldn’t have awarded a goal had it gone in as his assistant Roei Hasan raised his flag for offside. In the 34^th minute Peretz was at his best as he was at full stretch to dive at Frantzdy Pierro’s feet and pull a stunning save following a Dolev Haziza cross.

Eyal Golasa was the first player to be booked by Shmuelevic as the veteran midfielder saw yellow on 36. Haifa looked dangerous on the counter as in the 41st minute Omer Atzili cut inside past Sheran Yeini but sent his shot wide of the far post. Zahavi released Kanichowsky with a pinpoint through ball on 42 but the diminutive midfielder who was also flagged offside – had his shot saved by Cohen. Enric Saborit was booked for what seemed like an Aztili dive on the stroke of halftime before Neta Lavie headed the free kick over the crossbar.

With no goals to either side, Shmuelevic’s halftime whistle sent both teams to regroup in the dressing rooms ahead of the second half.

Second Half

Vladimir Ivic made his first change at the restart as Joris van Overeem replaced Golasa. Maccabi came close once again on 56 as a Kanichowsky corner was flicked by Yeini into the path of Dor Peretz who headed over.

Ivic shuffled his side on 64 as he made a double change with Dan Glazer making way for Parfait Guiagon while Djordje Jovanovic came in for Eran Zahavi. Guiagon was let down by his first touch as he lost possession in the 65^th minute to Muhamad Abu Fani near the area but the Haifa midfielder’s low drive was equalled by Maccabi’s keeper.

Barak Bachar made two changes on 71 as Din David replaced Pierrot while Ali Mohamad came in for Abu Fani. In the 73rd minute Maccabi were awarded a free kick 25 meters away following a foul on Peretz. Jovanovic stepped up but the Serbian forward couldn’t keep his shot down. Peretz kept his goal locked in keep Maccabi in the game as he pulled another stunning save to deny David who was sent clear through by Atzili on 77. Piven could have broken the deadlock in the 82nd as the defender was left unmarked to meet Kanichowsky’s corner but headed across the face of goal. Oscar Gloukh replaced Kanichowsky as Ivic made another change. Within a minute though Haifa took the lead as Mohamad exploited a Saborit mistake broke into the area and squared the ball to David who rolled it home.

Matan Hozez came in for Davidzada in the 88th minute as Ivic made his fifth and final substitution. Maccabi tried ferociously to level the score as Saborit could have redeemed his mistake as a corner fell to his feet. But his the Spaniard’s right foot shot sent his shot high over the bar.

Inside injury time, Haifa doubled their lead as a long ball into the path of David saw Haifa’s forward beat Piven for pace before sending a back-heel flick past the advancing Peretz to seal the win.