Pre Match

Carrying a one-point-lead over second place Maccabi Haifa before kick-off, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made several changes from the side that was held to a 1-1 against Haifa at Sammy Ofer in midweek . Maor Kandil stepped back into the starting line-up as he replaced Andre Geraldes at right back. The rest of the defense remained unchanged with Louis Hernandez and Eytan Tibi as the two central defenders while Enric Saborit in his usual left-back position. Sheran Yeini and Dor Peretz kept their place at the heart of midfield with Avi Rikan completing the midfield trio.

Eduardo Gurrero who came off the bench to score the equalizer against Haifa, earned himself a place in the starting-11 on the opposite wing to Tal Ben Chaim, while Aleksandar Pesic who served a one-match touchline-ban against Hapoel Be’ersheva led the three-man strike-force.

First Half

The game started slightly more aggressive than usual on both sides but Petah Tikva’s Yinon Eliyahu ended up being the first player to go into Orel Greenfield book for an elbow on Enric Saborit. It took Maccabi 12 minutes to create the first chance as Aleksandar Pesic had a header saved by Arik Yanko following a pinpoint Maor Kandil cross. But the chance wouldn’t have counted anyway as the tall Serbian striker was caught offside.

Three minutes later Tal Ben Chaim charged forward for a counter attack and threatened to break into the area before tumbling down under what seemed like an Eliyahu foul. Referee Orel Grienfeel however, waved Ben Chaim’s claims for a foul which could have awarded Maccabi a penalty if not a second Eliyahu booking.

Saborit’ long range attempt of a cross on 26 threatened to creep under the crossbar before Yanko pushed it over for a corner. Right on the half hour mark, Eduardo Gurrero sent a telling cross which caught Petah Tikva’s defense flat yet didn’t reach either Pesic or Ben Chaim.

A minute later though, the deadlock was finally broken with the Panamanian winger playing a key role as he blasted a powerful left foot drive which Yanko failed to hold on to. Pesic reacted first pounce on the rebound and slot home the opening goal for his ninth league goal which took him level with Yonatan Cohen.

On the stroke of halftime Maccabi came close to double the score as Guererro sent Maor Kandil into the area before the right-back forced Yanko to make a last gasp save from his dangerous shot.

Second Half

Van Leeuwen made his first change at the interval as Eylon Almog replaced Ben Chaim for the restart. Within a minute Pesic came centimetres away from doubling his tally on the night after being sent clear through by Avi Rikan. The Serb skipped past the advancing keeper but with the goal at his mercy struck the side netting.

Shahar Piven came in for Sheran Yeini on 56 as Van Leeuwen added a fresh pair of legs into the midfield. Yanko then denied Guerrero’s volley in the 63rd minute as the industrious Panamanian was released by a Rikan header.

In the 66th minute Petah Tikva managed to level the score against the run of play as substitute Morgan Ferrier beat Maccabi’s offside trap only to be denied by an initial Tenenbaum save. Liel Abada slotted in the rebound which was initially waved by the linesman as offside, only to be corrected by the VAR to make it 1-1.

Van Leeuwen made an instant change as Etey Shechter came in for Pesic for the final 23 minutes. In the 80th minute Van Leeuwen made his fourth change when Matan Hozez came-in for the tired Rikan.

Three minutes later, Maccabi were back in-front in spectacular fashion with Guerrero scoring a wonder goal. Louis Hernandez sent a long ball out of defense which Guerrero brought down, flicked it to Almog whose cross was nodded into the path of Gurrero. The Panamanian controlled the ball with one touch before sending an unstoppable shot that gave Yanko no chance and sailed into the top corner.

While Petah Tikva sent everyone forward in a desperate bid to snatch a late equalizer, Guerrrero had the last laugh. Five minutes inside injury time, the industrious winger picked the ball up deep inside his own half, sprinted almost from one box to another before finding Yanko’s bottom corner to complete a dream night and seal the score at 3-1.

“Petah Tikva is always a tough opponent but ojur coaching staff will prepare in the ultimate way. We know exactly what we need to do, to play our football and hope to win this match” Glazer said.

The 24-year-old defensive midfielder then related to the increased capacity which will come into effect in the forthcoming match: “This is powerful. It is fun, as we all missed that badly. We spoke about it between us in the dressing room, as this is something that gives us a massive boost. I really hope that we will be reflected on the pitch, that we will come fully charged with energies and that the fans will bring their energies and help us win this game”

137 league matches were held between both teams so far of which Maccabi won 65, Petah Tikva won 33 while 39 matches ended in a draw.

Maccabi suffered only 1 league defeat at the renovated Bloomfield stadium since moving back at the beginning of last season –to Maccabi Petah Tikva. The opening match of the season spoiled Maccabi’s home record at Bloomfield which currently stands on 25 victories, 10 draws and 1 defeat.

Maccabi faced Maccabi Petah Tikva twice in the top Playoffs – 2014/15 and 2016/17.

Our record against Petah Tikva in the Playoffs favours tomorrow’s opponents as Petah Tikva won twice, Maccabi won once and 1 match ended in a draw.

On the other hand, Petah Tikva is the team that missed the highest number of spot-kicks against Maccabi. Out of 19 spot kicks Petah Tikva were awarded against Maccabi, 8 were missed, with Maccabi’s keepers saving 6 while 2 others missed the target.

Maccabi’s highest victory over Petah Tikva (5-0) was recorded three times (1957/58, 1982/83 and 1987/88).

Fifty players appeared for both clubs with Tal Ben Chaim being the only member of the current squad to play for Maccabi Petah Tikva.

Avi Nimni is the all-time leading Maccabi goal-scorer against Maccabi Petah Tikva with 10 strikes.

Nimni, who also holds Maccabi’s record number of appearances against Petah Tikva (26), played his final career match against them in the 2007/08 season.

Guy Luzon coached 32 matches against Maccabi as his record shows: 16 victories for Maccabi, 9 victories for Luzon and 7 matches that ended in a draw.

 

After being held to a 1-1 draw in the first top of the table clash and retaining top spot, Ben Chaim who saw his side reduced to 10 men in the 76th following the dismissal of Nick Blackman, said at the end of the game. “There are two teams here that are equal in terms of quality as the race for the title will go to the wire. Based on how the match evolved and the fact we were reduced to 10 men for the last quarter of an hour we will not kid ourselves and admit that the result is good for us. But at the same time we are a team that only celebrates when we are winning. I am prepared not to score a single goal until the end of this season and next season as long as I am promised that we will win every game and win titles at the end of the season. At my age I contribute my experience which is a lot more important that personal goals”.

Pre Match

Maccabi arrived at Haifa’s Sammy Ofer stadium for the top of the table clash against Maccabi Haifa with a one point advantage over the local side currently second.

Head Coach Patrick van Leeuwen made three changes from the side that beat Hapoel Be’ersheva 2-1 at Bloomfield on Saturday that helped Maccabi capture top spot. Eytan Tibi stepped back into the heart of defense replacing Matan Baltaxa as the second central defender alongside Luis Hernandez. Sheran Yeini led the players out with the captain’s armband as he kept his place at the heart of midfield alongside Dor Peretz while Avi Rikan completed the midfield trio as he replaced Eden Kartzev who dropped to the bench.

Matan Hozez who won an injury time penalty when both teams last met at Bloomfield stadium, returned to the side and was named on the opposite wing to Tal Ben Chaim – with Eylon Almog waiting for his chance to make an impact amongst the substitutes. Nick Blackman whose brace of goals beat Be’ersheva led the attack from his striker’s role with the number nine shirt.

First Half

After an aggressive start which saw Omer Atzili tackle Enric Saborit but avoid a caution from referee Roei Reinshriber, it was Maccabi that threatened to score first. In the fourth minute Nick Blackman picked a loose ball just inside Haifa’s half before shrugging off three defenders and releasing Matan Hozez whose shot cleared the crossbar. Two minutes later Hozez saved a cross which threatened to go out before squaring to Avi Rikan who flashed his shot across the face of Haifa’s goal.

Andre Gerlades was the first player to go into the referee’s book for a tackle on Dolev Haziza in the 12th minute before Haifa’s winger tested Daniel Tenebaum with a right foot shot seconds later.

In the 31st minute Nick Blackman was handed a good chance to level the score as Maccabi were a warded a direct free kick on the edge of the Haifa area. But the English born striker was let down by his touch as his free kick sailed over Josh Cohen’s crossbar.

Tjaron Chery hit Tenenbaum’s side netting with a close range effort two minutes later before Maccabi came close once again at the opposite end. Haifa’s defense struggled to deal with a long range Louis Hernandez throw-in which fell to Rikan whose attempt of bicycle kick reached Dor Peretz who missed his shot.

Second Half

Van Leeuwen made his first change after the restart as Eduardo Gurrero replaced Hozez at the restart.

Three minutes later, a mix up in Haifa’s defense caught Cohen off guard before Rikan’s shot was cleared off the line by Ofri Arad. In the 51st minute however Gurrero leveled the score with a lightning quick counter attack. Peretz ran more than half the length of the pitch to carve Haifa’s midfield and defense before releasing the Panamanian forward who slotted home to make it 1-1.

Eden Kartzev came in for Ben Chaim right on the hour mark as Van Leeuwen made his second change of the game. Within a minute of his introduction, Kartzev blasted a right foot volley that was kept out by Cohen who also saw a Peretz volley go wide.

Van Leeuwen made a double change as Dan Glazer and Maor Kandil replaced Yeni and Geraldes on 71. Maccabi were left with 10 men for the final 16 minutes as Blackman received two yellow cards in the space of 3 minutes.

In the 80th minute Godsway Donyho found himself unmarked inside the area only to head Ernst Mbouka’s cross over Tenebaum’s crossbar

 

The league match that was played the most

The match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa is the league encounter that was played more than any other top flight match.

Both sides met in the league 165 times and the record stands on 69 victories for Maccabi, 48 victories for Haifa and 48 matches that were drawn.

Over the past eight seasons (since the 2013/14 season) Maccabi have a clear advantage. No less than 20 victories 7 draws and a solitary defeat from the last 28 encounters and a goal tally of 55-20.

Maccabi’s current run

Maccabi have an unbeaten run of 15 matches against Maccabi Haifa. The record against the Haifaites was set thanks to 11 victories and 4 draws.

This is Maccabi’s fifth longest unbeaten run in the league against any opponents. The longest unbeaten run is currently against Hapoel Be’ersheva (21 matches in succession) set at the start of the Millennium.

Our success rate in league matches against the Haifa side at their relatively new home at Sammy Ofer stands on 72.2% (7 wins, 5 draws and 0 defeats).

What is our record against Maccabi Haifa in the Playoffs?

Under the current league format that began in 2012/13 – Maccabi faced Maccabi Haifa in 14 Play-Off matches. Maccabi recorded 8 victories, 6 matches resulted in draws as the goal tally stands on 24-7 in Maccabi’s favor.

Besides the 2015/16 season, Maccabi always hosted the first Playoff encounter between the sides. The record currently stands on 5 Maccabi victories and 2 draws.

The dramatic late 2-1 victory when both teams last met at Bloomfield in the second round, led to another landmark. Maccabi Haifa (together with Bnei Yehuda) is the team that suffered the most number of injury time defeats ever by the hands of Maccabi – 4.