Monday November 1st: The State Cup 8^th round draw (15:00)

Maccabi enters the State Cup draw as the current holders as they soon discover the identity of the opponent facing them at the beginning of the defence of the title. Thirty two teams will play in this stage with matches scheduled to take place between December 16^th and 20^th.

Thursday November 4^th : Maccabi Tel Aviv vs HJK Helsinki (Bloomfield at 19:45)

Having completed the first round of group stage matches, Maccabi top their Conference League group 1 table with seven points. On the back of a 5-0 victory over HJK in Helsinki on MD3, Maccabi host the newly crowned Finnish champions at Bloomfield aiming to emulate the performance and collect three points that could help in the race to capture first place which secures automatic qualification to the next stage. This is a chance to remind everyone that the sale of the ticket bundle for the next two Conference League home matches is still underway with attractive prices ranging from NIS 60 per ticket. For full details and purchase click here

HJK arrive in Tel Aviv on Wednesday having retained the Finnish league title at the weekend after holding second place Kups to a 1-1 draw. The result was enough to secure HJK ’s 31^st league title.

Watch the video: The highlights from Maccabi’s 5-0 victory in Helsinki

Sunday, November 7^th: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (Bloomfield at 20:45)

One of the most interesting matches of the annual fixture list lands at our doorstep as the first Tel Aviv derby of the season takes place on MD9. Maccabi hosts bitter city rivals Hapoel for the first Tel Aviv derby of the season aiming to build on the 3-1 victory away to Kiryat Shmona against the team currently ranked fourth in the table.To purchase tickets for the match click here

Monday November 8^th to Wednesday November 24^th:  International and reseeding break

Just like every November the domestic league season enters a two-week break for the international matches as well as a reseeding process in all the stadiums across the country. During that break Israel’s national team faces Austria in Vienna (12.11) before hosting the Faroe Islands (15.11) at Netanya for two matches that will conclude the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. Still in with a chance to qualify for the Under 21 European Finals staged in Romania and Georgia in 2023, Israel’s Under 21’s face San Marino (11.11) before hosting Hungary (16.11) at Petah Tikva.

The biggest international shopping spree

The mad shopping month is already here as we offer you crazy sales during the ShoppingIL period that begins on November 8^th with the highlight being the traditional Yellow Friday on November 25^th. Follow us at the official online store and on social media for updates and expect surprises!.

Thursday, November 25^th : Maccabi Tel Aviv vs LASK Linz (Bloomfield at 22:00)

The Conference League group stage MD5 set Maccabi up for a head-to-head clash for first place with LASK. The Austrian outfit that was drawn from pot A is currently level on points with Maccabi (7pts) after the first match between the two sides in Klagenfurt resulted in a draw. Eden Shamir scored a late 87^th minute equalizer to salvage a point on September 30^th.

Sunday, November 28^th: Hapoel Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Sammy Ofer at 20:15).

Maccabi ends November with a trip to Haifa on MD10 for a league match against high flying Hapoel Haifa. Clearly the surprise package of the season so far, the Haifaites enjoyed a good start to the campaign with 16 points from their opening 8 matches – winning 5, losing 2 and drawing 1 which places them two points adrift of leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva.

State Cup holders will begin the defence of their title against third division side Hapoel Marmorek following the 8^th round draw which took place at the IFA Headquarters on Monday afternoon.

Marmorek reached the round of 32 after a 3-1 extra time victory over Beitar Yavne FC in the 6^th round before the Rehovot based side knocked out Hapoel Bika’at Hayarden 3-1 in the 7^th round.

The date of the match which will be staged at Bloomfield, will take place between December 16^th to December 20^th as the confirmed fixtures will be published at a later stage.

State Cup 8^th round draw:
Ironi Tiberias (3^rd)  vs Bnei Sachnin
Beitar Jerusalem vs Hapoel Afula (2^nd)
Maccabi Haifa vs Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Hadera vs Tira SC (3^rd)
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (2^nd) vs Hapoel Acco (2^nd)
Maccabi She’arayim (3^rd) vs Hapoel Rishon Lezion (2^nd)
Adumim Ashdod (2^nd) vs Ahva Kafr Manda (4^th)
Hapoel Petah Tiva (2^nd) vs Maccabi Netanya     
Hapoel Nof Hagallil vs Maccabi Petah Tikva
Beitar Tel Aviv / Bat Yam (2^nd) vs Hapoel Be’ersheva
Maccabi Kabilio Yaffo (3^rd) vs Kfar Qasm SC (2^nd)
Hapoel Haifa vs Hapoel Kfar Sava (2^nd)
Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Bnei Yehuda (2^nd)
Tzeiri Taybeh (3^rd) vs Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Ashdod SC vs Hapoel Um El Fahm (2^nd)
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Marmorek (3^rd)

 

 

Pre Match

A couple of thousand of Maccabi fans traveled all the way up North for the long trip to Kiryat Shmona in a bid to support the team that embarked on a new journey. The third victory of the season took Maccabi’s point tally to 10 from 8 matches.

Aiming to bounce back from Monday’s disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Ashdod that led to the departure of Patrick van Leeuwen, Head of Maccabi’s Football Department, Barak Itzhaki, who was appointed as interim coach – took charge of the team for the first time.  

Itzhaki didn’t make too many changes to the side as he welcomed Luis Hernandez back from suspension as the Spanish central defender returned to the side while Sheran Yeini was serving a one-match-touchline ban. Shahar Piven partnered Hernandez as the second central defender in front of Daniel Peretz while Enric Saborit returned to the left side of defence and Andre Geraldes completed the back-four on the right.

Dan Glazer, led the team out with the captain’s armband as he was joined in midfield by Eyal Golasa and Dan Biton as the midfield trio. Gabi Kanichowsky, Brandley Kuwas both kept their places in the supporting role for Stipe Perica upfront.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot as Stipe Perica reached the first goal scoring opportunity after 90 seconds. Brandley Kuwas and Andre Geraldes exchanged passes down the right flank before the Portuguese full-back sent a low square ball into the path of the Croat whose shot was blocked. Enric Saborit tried a shot from 25 meters that deflected off two Kiryat Shmona defenders before Dziugas Bartkus collected with ease.

Roi Kehat directed a header on goal in the 16th minute which went straight into the hands of Daniel Peretz. Three minutes later Maccabi kept pushing forward as Dan Biton tried a long range left foot effort that sailed over Bartkus’ goal. Perica was the first player to go into the book of referee Idan Leiba on 22 for raising his foot towards Kiryat Shmona’s midfielder Nadav Nidam.

The hosts took the lead in the 28th minute against the run of play as Yadin Lugassi released Ziv Morgan with a clever through ball that carved Maccabi’s defence open. Morgan crossed the ball into the area before Itamar Shviro sent a half volley that beat Peretz to break the deadlock.

Maccabi came close on 33 as Brandley Kuwas fed Gabi Kanichowsky whose square ball found Biton unmarked at the far post before crashing his shot from a tight angle against the side netting.

Maccabi claimed for a penalty in the 42nd minute after Biton who was released by Kuwas appeared to be taken down by a defender only for Leiba to wave those claims and signal for a corner.

On the stroke of halftime Maccabi were back on level terms at the end of a move that began with Peretz. The keeper released a quick counter attack as he threw the ball to Biton before the midfielder flicked it into the path of Kuwas. The Curaçao international cut inside to his strong left foot before unleashing a powerful drive that beat Bartkus from the edge of the area to score his first goal for Maccabi.

Second Half

With no changes after the interval Kiryat Shmona had the first chance on 46 as Kehat sent a left foot volley that was equalled by Peretz who was forced to dive and collect. Perica had the ball in the back of the net in the 52nd minute after a through ball from Kanichowsky but the celebrations were short-lived as the goal was disallowed for offside.

Right on the hour mark Peretz made a double save to deny Mohammed Shaker first before keeping out Yadin Lugassi’s rebound. Two minutes later Itzhaki made his first change as Kuwas bowed out and was replaced by Matan Hozez. Maccabi began dominating as Eyal Golasa narrowly missed the target with a fierce right-foot-shot on 64.

The comeback was complete in the 67^th minute at the end of a well drilled corner as Golasa had his initial effort blocked before the rebound fell to Luis Hernandez whose shot found the top corner that made it 2-1.

In the 76th minute, Perica released Hozez clear through but the winger who raced forward from the halfway line blasted a shot that cleared the crossbar. Maccabi continued pushing forward as Kanichowsky flashed a shot to the wrong side of the post on 79.

Itzhaki made his second change in the 83^rd minute as Eden Shamir replaced the industrious Golasa for the closing stages. Kanichowsky blasted a powerful right foot shot that was heading under the crossbar on 85 but Bartkus managed to punch it out and rescue the danger. Bartkus kept Kiryat Shmona in the game once again as he denied Perica’s shot from inside the area in the 89th minute.

This was Perica’s final contribution on the night as Osama Khalaila was introduced as a late substitute inside injury time. In what seemed like his first touch of the ball, Khalaila latched on a poor back-pass by Stephane Acka back-pass towards Bartkus and with the slightest of touches beat the Lithuanian keeper to seal the win at 3-1.

 

 

Ironi Kiryat Shmona hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Municipal stadium on Saturday (17:30) on MD8.

Maccabi arrive at this game on the back of Monday’s defeat to Ashdod which led to Patrick van Leeuwen ending his role as coach. Barak Itzhaki, Head of the club’s Football Department will guide the team as interim coach.

With seven points from the opening seven matches, Maccabi are currently ranked 12th in the table, while Kiryat Shmona has one point more at 8th.

Last week’s 3-0 victory over Bnei Sachnin was the second league win for Amir Nusbaum’s side that will face Maccabi for the first time this season.

Last season Maccabi couldn’t beat Kiryat Shmona in the playoffs having lost away and held to a draw at Bloomfield.

On the other hand, Maccabi has an 11 match long run of victories over Kiryat Shmona in the regular season. In 18 league matches away to Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi won 7 drawn 4 and lost 7 with a goal difference of 21-25 in Kiryat Shmona’s favor.

Both teams played each other in the league 38 times with Maccabi winning 21 encounters, Kiryat Shmona won 9 while 8 matches were drawn as the goal tally stands on 66-41.

Maccabi success rate stands on 62.3% which is the highest of the 19 opponents Kiryat Shmona played against in the league for more than one season.

Over the years, matches against Kiryat Shmona in the 8^th league round proved to be a landmine. Twice we played against the Northern club and twice the matches resulted with defeats – 0-1 in the 2008/09 season and 1-2 in the 2011/12 season.

Maccabi failed to beat Kiryat Shmona in the playoff of last season (a draw and a defeat) but in the regular season Maccabi holds a record of 11 successive victories over Kiryat Shmona (Since December 2015).

Maccabi’s record at the Kiryat Shmona stadium stands on 7 victories, 4 draws and 7 defeats with the goal tally of 21-25 in favour of the hosts.

Eleven penalties were given in matches between the two sides – 7 for Maccabi and 4 to Kiryat Shmona with all spot kicks successfully converted. There is no league fixture that features a 100% success rate in matches that produced 10 penalties or more.

Sheran Yeini is the current appearance record holder in matches against Kiryat Shmona with 25 matches.

Eran Zahavi is Maccabi’s leading scorer against Kiryat Shmona with 12 goals.

Maccabi’s highest victory over Kiryat Shmona (5-0) was recorded in the 2015/16 season. Eran Zahavi (4) and Omrio Ben Harush scored the goals.

 

“The parting ways from Patrick wasn’t easy, it is true” Itzhaki said at the beginning of the pre-match press conference. “Patrick spent many years at the club, at the Youth Department and did many good things at the Academy as well as the first team, but now we are looking forward. From here we will wish him good luck and all the best for the future. We are all focused now ahead of the game”.

On the position where he and the team are currently at, Itzhaki, who will guide the side as interim coach, added: “The situation is not normal, but as I said earlier, we are currently looking at what will happen in the forthcoming match. As far as I am concerned all the focus must be on the forthcoming match against Kiryat Shmona. I need to prepare the players in the best possible way. I believe in this group of players and think that there is a good squad with a lot more qualities from the position we are at. The players are also well aware of the situation as all of us together, but I mean all of us together, need to take Maccabi from the position we are at. As far as I am concerned I am always here for the club might ask or might need. This is something temporary as we are already working on the search for a new coach”