ISSTA Sport and Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club have renewed their partnership for an additional season — the eighth straight year of cooperation. Under the agreement, the travel group will continue to manage all international travel arrangements for the club’s European fixtures. This includes assistance in planning flights, coordinating accommodation and logistics for Club delegation, as well as providing official fan packages that include direct flights, hotels, and match tickets.

Ido Vage, CEO of ISSTA Sport Group, said: “We are proud to continue our long-standing journey with Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and to provide a comprehensive suite of ground, aviation, and travel services throughout the season. Even during challenging times, we have proven our ability to overcome every obstacle together, and we will continue to offer fans a unique experience when traveling abroad with the team, while ensuring the players and staff have the best possible conditions for success.”

Jack Angelides CEO of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC said: Continuing into the eighth year of any partnership speaks for itself. Travelling to our European matches in these difficult times has raised complexities that require flexibility and initiative. ISSTA Sport working in close cooperation with the Club have managed to exhibit these traits and have dealt with the various challenges in a professional and diligent manner.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv is happy to announce the signing of Itay Ben Hemo on a three-year-deal with an option to extend by two more seasons. Ben Hamo (23) a product of the club’s Youth Academy who captained Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shahar’ (U-19’s), gained experience during loan spells over the past four seasons.

Afte signing his new contract Ben Hemo told the club’s official website: “After several loan deals that toughened me up and strengthened me, I am pleased to be part of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s senior squad and sign another contract with the club in which I was grew up. As a strong believer in hard work, I will continue to do everything in my power to wear the yellow jersey and to assist the team to the best of my ability.”

Ben Hemo joined Bnei Sakhnin on loan initially for the second half of 2023/24 before rejoining last season during which time he made a total of 45 appearances scoring four goals. Ben Hemo scored 8 goals in 56 appearances during an 18-month-long loan-spell with second division side Ironi Ramat Hasharon. He made his senior debut in the 2021/22 season at Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam and went on to make a total of 32 appearances in all competitions.    

Ben Hemo featured 3 times for the Israel U21 national team and an additional 21 international appearance for the young Israel sides (U17’s and 18’s) for which he scored 2 goals.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is happy to announce the signing of Saied Abu Farchi on a three-year-deal with an option to extend by two more seasons.

Abu Farchi, a product of Maccabi’s Youth Academy who scored 2 goals in 10 appearances in all competitions this season, said after signing his new contract: “I am delighted to continue my path at the Club where I grew up, which provided me with all the tools I needed to succeed in the senior side. Now, all that remains is for me to continue the hard work in order to achieve success with the team in all

competitions”.After an impressive record of 35 goals in 73 matches for Maccabi’s U16’s and U17’s, Abu Farchi made his senior Maccabi debut in August 2023 during a Conference League qualifier against Celje. Shortly after making his Maccabi league debut against Bnei Reineh in January 2024, Abu Farchi joined second division side SC Kafr Qasim on loan for the second half of the season where he scored 3 goals in 13 appearances. Last season during a loan spell with Bnei Reineh, Abu Farchi completed a full season in the top-flight scoring 6 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.

Abu Farchi is a member of the Israel Under 21 squad for which he made 8 appearances. He represented the young Israeli national sides at U-19, U-17 and U-16 levels making a total of 28 international appearances where he scored 6 goals.

 

Goals from Ilay Ben Simon (43) and Ben Lederman (59) helped Maccabi to a 2-1 friendly victory over Hapoel Petah at Kiryat Shalom.

Without eight international players who were given extra leave following their involvement with their respective national teams: Roy Revivo, Dor Peretz, Raz Shlomo, Denny Gropper, Noam Ben Harush, Saied Abu Farchi, Ion Nicolaescu and Helio Varela, Zarko Lazetic gave playing minutes to his squad.

Ilay Ben Simon opened the scoring just before the break with a well taken shot that went in off the post to beat Omer Katz and put Maccabi in-front. Shavit Mazal leveled for Petah Tikva shortly after the restart while Ben Lederman curled a left foot shot into the top corner in the 59^th minute.  

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Yoav Gerafi (Ofek Melika 57), Tyrese Asante, Heitor Dos Santos (Liran Spiegel 63), Itay Ben Hemo, Avishay Cohen, Issouf Sissokho (Itamar Noy 46), Ben Lederman (Liroy Abribaiya 69), Ilay Ben Simon, Osher Davida (Sagiv Jehezkel 46), Elad Madmon (Yonas Malede 57).   

“What can we feel? Disappointment and shame. Emotionally, this is the bad side of football” Peretz said.

On the Maccabi’s performance on the night and the heaviest defeat the team suffered in recent years the 30-year-old captain said: “Beitar had some good minutes, but not an entirely good game. In the second half they started well, with the support of their fans. Something happened for them, and the opposite happened to us. I can’t really describe what happened today.”

On Roi Mishpati’s sending off, Peretz added: “I don’t know, I have no idea, I haven’t seen it yet.”

When asked if this was one of the toughest moments of his career, he replied:
“As a match, yes, it’s among the hardest I’ve had in my career. It felt humiliating, something I’ve only experienced a few times while wearing Maccabi’s shirt. Unfortunately, today we felt it again. We’re taking responsibility, both the coach and the players.”

On the fans: “In the end, this feeling belongs to all of us. When we win, we all feel it together, and when it’s tough, it’s the same. We’re a family in good moments and in less good ones. I wish us happier days ahead. I have to say about the fans, in difficult moments they gave us beautiful moments from the stands, they deserve great respect. They have the ability to show us a true reflection of how they feel. They supported us from the stands and gave us a good feeling. I hope we can take that energy and move forward.”

Preview:

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD10 WINNER League match against Beitar Jerusalem aiming to record their eight league win of the campaign. Three days after the EUROPA League 2-0 defeat away to Aston Villa, Zarko Lazetic’s side know that a victory against fourth place Beitar will see them climb to the of the table just before the international break. But the Toto Cup winners are not expected to be easy pushovers as the side coached by Barak Itzhaki are experiencing a good season winning five of the nine league matches they played so far.

The rib injury Ali Camara suffered at Villa Park forced Lazetic to make a single change at the heart of defense with Heitor Dos Santos stepping in to replace the Guinean as Raz Shlomo’s partner. Tyrese Asante and Roy Revivo comleted Maccabi’s defensive line on the right and left respectively aiming to keep Beitar’s forwards at bay. Maccabi’s midfield remained unchanged with Issouf Sissokho and Itamar Noy occupying the engine room while Dor Peretz captained the side as the attacking midfielder amongst the trio. Peretz who leads the goalscoring charts with six in the league and eight in all competitions, led the team out with the captain’s armband. Helio Varela who impressed against Premier League defenders, kept his place in the starting line up on one wing with Osher Davida on the opposite flank. Elad Madmon led the line aiming to add to his tally of two league goals in his last two matches.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi, Kervin Andrade, Sagiv Jehezkel, Denny Gropper, Noam Ben Harosh, Ben Lederman, Saied Abu Farchi, Ido Shahar and
Ion Nicolaescu.

Prior to kickoff an emotional ceremony was held on the pitch for the return to Bloomfield of Gali and Zivi Berman who were released last month after 738 days in captivity in Gaza. The Berman twins who received last week the two shirts which were waiting for them for more than 2 years beside the technical area, received two framed shirts signed by the entire squad.

First Half:

Maccabi began the match on the front foot with Helio Varela and Osher Davida tormenting Beitar’s defense down the flanks. In the 5th minute Varela skipped past a Beitar as he charged down the left but his cross was cleared. Elad Madmon fired a shot which left Miguel Silva rooted to the goalline but effort crept wide of the post.

In the 19th minute Roi Mishpati was drawn into the action as Maccabi’s keeper reacted well to Yarden Shuah’s left foot drive.

Three minutes later Davida cut inside and tried curling a left foot shot which was easily caught by Silva.

Roy Revivo and Varela combined well on 23 to tear Beitar’s defense apart before squaring for Dor Peretz who couldn’t keep his shot down. Two minutes later
Madmom forced Silva to full stretch as his powerful pile driver was pushed away by the Beitar keeper.

Varela’s pace allowed the Cape Verde winger steal the ball off a Beitar defender near the center circle right on the half hour mark before charging forward and firing a shot which hit the side netting.

Grigoriy Morozov was booked by refree Sapir Berman for a tackle on Varela in the 35th minute.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 42nd minute from the unlikely source of Heitor Dos Santos. The tall Brazilian defender rose above Beitar’s defense to flick Revivo’s throw in and send the ball to bottom far corner for his debut Maccabi goal.

Second Half

Three minutes after the restart Beitar were on level terms as Shuah exploited a misunderstanding between Mishpati and Raz Shlomo to score an equalizer. Two minutes later Adi Yona picked the ball inside Maccabi’s box skipped past a defender and blasted into the net to complete a two goal comeback on 51.

Maccabi’s tripled in the 58th minute as Mishpati beat Shuah to a cross and released the ball but after the ball was released was judged to have headbutted the Beitar captain. Berman showed Mishpati the red card and awarded a penalty for Beitar as Lazetic replaced Madmon with Yoav Gerafi. Omer Atzili stepped up and blasted his spot kick past Gerafi to give Beitar a 3-1 lead on 63. A minute later the visitors tore Maccabi’s defense apart as Yona scored the fourth and his second on the night beating Gerafi with an accurate right foot shot. Lazetic made two more changes as Ido Shahar and Sagiv Jehezkel came on for Itamar Noy and Varela. In the 70th minute Gerafi pulled a stunning save to deny Shuah from scoring a fifth. Davida charged into the box on 73 but sent his shot sailed high and wide.

In the 77th minute Gerafi couldn’t prevent Shuah from scoring Beitar’s fifth as a long ball out of defense reached Beitar’s captain who lifted the ball over the advancing Gerafi before floating it into the open goal.

Maccabi cut the deficit in the 86th minute as Kervin Andrade’s pressure on Silva forced the Beitar keeper to a mistake while the diminutive Venezuelan winger was gifted his debut Maccabi goal to make it 5-2.

Inside injury time a Beitar counter attack resulted with Ziv Ben Shimol scoring the sixth to round off a miserable night.

Sunday’s forthcoming league encounter against Beitar Jerusale, will be the 170th match between Maccabi and Beitar in all competitions. The record currently stands on 76 Maccabi victories, 50 defeats and 43 matches that ended in a draw with a total goal tally of 254–180.

Both sides met each other in the league 140 times with Maccabi winning 59, Beitar winning 40 while 41 matches ended in a draw as the total goal tally currently stands on 204–145.
Of the 68 league matches Maccabi hosted, they won 35 drawn 20 with Beitar winning 13 and a goal difference of 127–68.

Maccabi won 8 of the last 10 home matches against Beitar, with 2 ending in a draw including a 5–0 victory on the final day of the season that sealed the Championship title. Eran Zahavi scored a brace, Dor Peretz, Dor Turgeman added a goal each while a Beitar player contributing with an own goal.

A total of 72 players played for both clubs in league matches as Avishay Cohen and Ion Nicolaescu the current squad members who previously featured for Beitar.

Over the years 378 players have worn Maccabi’s shirt against Beitar in league matches. Avi Nimni featured more than any Maccabi player with 30 appearances, followed by Sheran Yinei (29) and Eli Driks (27).

87 Maccabi players have against Beitar with Eran Zahavi and Avi Nimni, sharing top spot with 15 goals each while Benny Tabak is ranked third with 13 goals against Beitar to his name.

Maccabi’s highest victory over Beitar was recorded in the 2000/01 season Playoffs — a 7–0 victory at Bloomfield. Rodrigo Goldberg (2), Avi Nimni (2), Dedi Ben Dayan, Guy Tzarfati, and Baruch Dego were all on target.

In the 1954/55 season, Maccabi beat Beitar 6–0, and recorded two 5–0 victories, one at the end of last season and another in 2012/13.

There have been only two meetings between Maccabi and Beitar in Matchweek 10: Maccabi beat Beitar 1–0 at Bloomfield in the 1970/71 season with Moshe Assis scoring the only goal of the game. In the 1988/89 season, Maccabi won 4–0 at Bloomfield with Benny Tabak (2) brace, Eli Driks, and Haim Goldberg on target.