You thought you had seen everything? Think again! After revealing the Home, Away, and Third kits earlier this season, the collaboration between Maccabi and PUMA continues to surprise, this time bringing you the special and refreshing fourth kit.

Just in time for the holiday period, the new kit is exactly what you need to break the routine: designed in clean, sharp White and Sky Blue, and above all, it looks great!

Maccabi’s players will make their debut in the fourth kit this coming Saturday, during the home match against Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield stadium.

Anyone who wishes to gear up right before the holiday break can find the new kit in our online store and at the official flagship store at Bloomfield. It’s the perfect chance to add a new, and completely different, shirt to your collection.

Denny Gropper marked his Maccabi league debut and second appearance since joining the club in the summer with a solid performance in the 4-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva.

Gropper came close to score on his debut but was denied by Petah Tikva’s keeper in the first, paid tribute to the newly promoted side when he said minutes after the match ended: “First of all, credit to Hapoel Petah Tikva, I think they play good football. But you can see that we came prepared and knew what we had to do, and in the end that is reflected in the result.”

Despite Maccabi’s 100% record and the fact his side scored four goals in each of the opening three league matches, Gropper didn’t let himself get carried away as he insisted: “We don’t pay attention to what’s being said outside. We know what we want from ourselves, we’re working hard for it, and for now you can see it.”

The former Ludogorets full-back who returned to Israel after playing several years in Bulgaria, reflected: “Yes, I came back to Israel, to Maccabi. I came back to the biggest club. I see it everywhere we go, in the training complex, in the stadiums, with our fans. It’s great fun to be here, a lot of excitement. I’m happy to make my league debut.”
“I had other options, also in Europe. There wasn’t anything I could say was better than

Maccabi Tel Aviv. I was happy to come here. Maccabi showed me they wanted me. They spoke to me a lot, I think I made the right decision and I’m happy to be here.”

On the tough competition for places in the squad, Gropper said: “I know that at Maccabi there is competition for every spot in the squad, certainly in the starting lineup. I’m here to work hard for the club and to do what’s needed. I got feedback from the coach and the club about the effort I’m putting in, even though I played less at the beginning. I’m here to work.”

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the Petah Tikva stadium ahead of the rescheduled MD1 fixture against newly promoted side Hapoel Petah Tikva which was postponed due to the involvement in Europe.

Zarko Lazetic’s side that scored four goals in each of their opening two league matches against Maccabi Netanya (4-0) and Ironi Tiberias (4-1) will aim to try and maintain their 100% record. Lazetic who is aware of the demanding fixture schedule in the league and in Europe, made five changes from the side that won at Nof HaGalil three days earlier. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Heitor stepping in to partner Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of the keeper. Denny Gropper made his first Maccabi league start since joining the club in the summer as he was named at left-back with Tyrese Asante completing the back four on the right. Issouf Sissokho returned to the heart of midfield after shaking off an injury as the Mali midfielder partnered Kristijan Belic in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz, led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old will try continue his good form that saw him score 5 goals in all competitions so far. Sagiv Jehezkel who also scored one of the goals against Tiberias and added an assist, kept his place on the wing while Osher Davida returned to the starting line up on the opposite flank. Elad Madmon led the line as the 21-year-old who is one appearance short of his 50th Maccabi appearance will be seeking to increase his overall tally of 6 goals in all competitions since joining the club last season.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Lazetic named: Roy Revivo, Kervin Andrade, Raz Shlomo, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy, Ido Shahar and Ion Nicolaescu.

First Half

Around 6000 Maccabi fans made the short trip to Petah Tikva and gave the team the feeling as if this is a home fixture. Four minutes from the start Petah Tikva’s Idan Cohen was booked by referee Aviad Shiloah for tugging Sagiv Jehezkel’s shirt and preventing a counterattack. Four minutes later Dor Peretz forced a save from Petah Tikva’s keeper Omer Katz before Maccabi’s captain blasted the rebound high and wide.

At the opposite end Roi Mishpati was tested for the first time in the 15th minute as Noam Gissin picked the ball on the left before cutting inside and releasing a low drive which was equaled by the keeper. The deadlock was finally broken in the 19th minute as Peretz’s pressure on Petah Tikva’s defense saw the Maccabi captain gain possession and slip it to Osher Davida. The winger on his 100th appearance for Maccabi cut inside and blast a left foot drive that found the bottom far corner.

Right on the half hour mark Elad Madmon carved Petah Tikva’s defense open to release Denny Gropper who timed his run to perfection. With only the keeper to beat, Gropper, could have celebrated his Maccabi debut start with a goal, but Katz charged off his line and managed to block with his feet.

Second half

It took Maccabi a few minutes to gain composure after the interval as Petah Tikva appeared for the second half determined to try level the score. A Davida dangerous cross was missed by Peretz and Jehezkel. Kristijan Belic and Issouf Sissokho dominated the center of the pitch not giving their Petah Tikva opposite numbers an inch. In the 56th minute Jehezkel fed Peretz with a clever pass before Maccabi’s captain drilled in a low drive that beat Katz at his near post to double the lead.

Maccabi came close to score the third on 73 as Jehezkel carried a counterattack with a numerical advantage going forward as he slipped the ball to Peretz who was blocked for a corner. A minute later Lazetic made his first changes, introducing both Roy Revivo for Gropper and Kervin Andrade for Madmon.

In the 81st Jehezkel and Belic came off to a standing ovation as they were replaced by Ido Shahar and Itamar Noy. Less than a minute later Maccabi increased their lead even further. Davida won the ball deep inside Petah Tikva’s half before dribbling into the box and cutting back for Peretz who blasted home the third. Peretz received his standing ovation as he was replaced by Ion Nicolaescu for the closing stage. In the 89th minute Shiloah awarded Maccabi a penalty for a stamp in the box on Revivo. Shahar stepped up and successfully blasted the spot kick past Katz to score Maccabi’s fourth goal on the night and seal convincing 4-0 victory. Maccabi will now have three more days to recover and prepare for Saturday’s next league match at home to Hapoel Jerusalem.

The 24-year-old winger scored his first league goal of the season to open the scoring against Hapoel Petah Tikva on the way to Maccabi’s third victory in succession. “I’m happy we started like this,” Davida said. “We have good competition this season, and we saw that over the past 24 hours.”

Davida, who joined Maccabi in the summer of 2023 and on his 100th appearance scored his 17th goal for the club in all competitions, added: “I’m happy to have reached this landmark on a good match which is nice.”

On his recent good form, Davida said: “I am grateful to the coaches. The people at the club believe in me, from owner, the management all the way to the kit men. We are a team, everyone helps each other, and I’m happy to help them.”

On Maccabi’s form that saw his side score four goals in their opening three league matches, Davida said: “At Maccabi there’s no peak — there’s always room to improve. I’m glad we started like this, and I hope we climb to first place. We have good competition this season, and we saw that yesterday”.

Elad Madmon enjoyed a good start to the 2025/26 campaign as the 21-year-old forward who joined Maccabi last season scored two goals in the Champions League qualifying campaign and is enjoying more playing time. “Things are starting to come together much more for us” Madmon said. “Most of the squad has changed, a lot of new players have arrived, they’re settling in.”

On tomorrow’s match against the newly promoted side that are currently fifth with four points from two matches Madmon said; “Petah Tikva are a very tough opponent, we will come as focused and as ready as possible to do the job.”On the start of his second season at Maccabi, Madmon said: “Personally, I started well. In training I try to prove myself as much as possible. In the end, it’s the coach’s decision who receives the chance to play. There are many talented players and the competition is very tough, especially in attack, and every time he lets me play I’ll give everything.”

With several players leaving and plenty of new faces coming in, Madmon said: “We are only at the beginning of the season, and the ‘veterans’ from last year are doing everything to make the new players feel at home, to come with confidence and courage to do the things they know how to do on the pitch. I’m sure we’ll be a much better team with time, and our role is to be the best team we can possibly be.”

Maccabi’s tight schedule both in the domestic league and the Europa League will see Madmon and his teammates play another six matches between now and the international break on October 6th, he added: “Of course there’s pressure, we experienced it last season too and we’re used to it. There are a lot of players in the squad and I think the minutes will be divided. We’ll come and do our best, game by game.”

“Our team has really bonded, you could even say quickly. Everyone is friends with everyone, everyone likes everyone, and that’s the most important thing. We play together and we always lift each other up. Everyone trains as hard as they can to prove their place on the pitch. We have a good team, but we’re only at the start.”