On his form from the start of the season, Kandil said: “The coach gives me confidence, I am feeling good and know I must take the chances I receive. I want to prove myself in every chance I get this year. I work hard and feel that my form is improving, but in football people have a short memory so one has to work all the time. I am feeling good and hope to continue in this direction”.

On Villarreal: “Everyone knows what opponent we are facing but in every game we believe in ourselves, especially at home. The coaching staff will prepare us for the game as they always do”.

 

Dor Turgeman signed a three-year extension on his deal at Maccabi Tel Aviv

The 17-year-old forward, who last season scored 19 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for the club’s Under 17’s Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Oded’ – has been part of the senior squad from the start of the season. 

Turgeman, who made two appearances for the Israel U-17’s and was called up to the U-21 side, told the club’s official website: “Today I made my first step on the way to become a professional player at Maccabi Tel Aviv. This is only the beginning of a long journey and I have still a lot to learn and prove. I would like to thank the opportunity I was given and the faith the system showed in my abilities to fulfill my potential. The burden of proof is on me and the hard work begins now”.

Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick van Leeuwen, added: “Turgeman is a talented player who led the attack of the Under 17’s before making the step up directly to the senior side for which he has been training since the summer. Dor has great potential and an excellent chance to become a professional player and the future of the club. In order to achieve that, Dor will require much needed playing minutes with the Under 19’s – something which will be coordinated by the club’s football department, the first and youth teams”.

 

Following the 1-0 victory over Hapoel Hadera in the 7^th league round, 24-year-old Glazer highlighted the importance of stringing a few league victories in order to narrow the gap from the top of the table. Glazer, related to the preparations ahead of the Europa League match against Villarreal and also spoke about facing his 20-year-old brother Tamir, currently on loan at Hadera.

“It is a very important victory, at this stage of the season I am not looking at other teams” Ben Chaim said. “The important thing is that we managed to string a second victory. It is difficult to play against a team that comes to play with one aim – not to concede. It was a battle of trenches to try and crack open such a defense, and I am delighted we managed to do it even if it was only from a set piece”

Having played 6 league matches, Maccabi recorded their second successive victory to take their tally to nine points.

Pre Match

Aiming to build on the victory over Bnei Sachnin before the international break, and knowing he now enters an extremely tight fixture schedule of 11 match in 35 days, Maccabi’s coach Georgios Donis made several changes to his side. Maor Kandil who recovered from the knee injury which sidelined him during the international break, was named at right back.

Luis Fernandez partnered Sheran Yeini as the two central defenders with Enric Saborit completing the back-four at left back having returned from a brief visit to Spain due to the berth of his newborn son. Dan Glazer and Dor Peretz lined-up at the heart of midfield just behind Dan Biton. Tal Ben Chaim was given his chance to start alongside the scorers of the two goals in Sachnin – Yonatan Cohen and Aleksandar Pesic.

First Half

Maccabi were dominant right from the start yet it took the visitors 16 minutes to launch the first threat on goal. Tamir Glazer the young brother of Dan who is on loan at Hadera, was penalized for a foul on Enric Saborit before Dan Biton fired the free kick only to see Robi Levkovic push the ball for a corner.

In the 28th minute Cohen found Pesic in the area before the Serbian striker teed-up Biton whose shot was blocked for a corner. Biton curled the resulting corner and Hadera Ubaida Hatab headed the ball into his own net to give Maccabi the lead on 29.

Maor Kandil came close to double the score from another corner in the 33rd minute as he rose high to meet Biton’s corner. But Kandil couldn’t keep his header down as the ball ballooned over the crossbar.

On the stroke of halftime Biton tried another long range effort but his left foot shot was easily collected by Levkovic.

Second Half

Maccabi began the second half where they left off, with pressure on Hadera right from the start. Hadera failed to clear a dangerous attack and as the ball fell to Cohen at the far post, his attempt to slide in and double the score saw the forward fail to connect.

On 53 Cohen couldn’t convert Saborit’s cross on target but five minutes later he almost turned provider as his delicate chip was narrowly missed by Pesic’s attempt of a header.

Cohen came even closer in the 61st minute as Ben Chaim charged down the left flank before his cross was headed by Cohen onto the crossbar.

Eylon Almog replaced Biton in the 74th minute but less than sixty second later Hadera’s substitute Odah Marshal hit Daniel Tenenbaum’s post from the edge of the area.

Eyal Golasa and Ofir Davidzada were introduced for Ben Chaim and Saborit in the 80th minute while Cohen and Pesic made way for Matan Hozez and Nick Blackman came for the final 5 minutes.

Despite Hadera desperately trying to level the score, Maccabi managed to hang on and secure the three points at final whistle