Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Bulgarian outfit PFC Ludogorets Razgrad for a one-year-loan deal of midfielder Dan Biton.

Biton, who will wear the number 17 shirt at Maccabi, told the club’s official website: “After one year abroad I am returning to Israel with a big appetite to succeed at the biggest club in Israel and the club that wanted me more than any other. Last season I won the championship and played in a UEFA group stage and my intention is to continue doing exactly that. One must work hard for that to happen, and I am looking forward to meeting the coaching staff and my new teammates some of whom I know very well”.

Biton, joined the Bulgarian Champions in July 2019 from Ashdod FC and scored for Ludogorets 3 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions. Following their elimination in the Champions League qualifiers, Biton and the Bulgarians qualified for the Europa League group stage and won the league title at the end of the season.

Eyal Golasa will continue playing at Maccabi Tel Aviv after the 28 year-old midfielder signed a two-year contract extension with an option to extend.

After signing the new deal, Golasa told the club’s official website: “After four years at Maccabi which has become a home to me, I’m delighted to sign a contract extension at the club and continue wearing the Yellow strip. Despite attractive offers from overseas, my heart decided in favor of staying at Maccabi”.

Golasa, who last season won his second successive league title in the Yellow and Blue strip, completed an excellent campaign where he scored 4 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions.

Since joining Maccabi in the summer of 2016 from PAOK Thessaloniki, Golasa won 2 Toto Cups (17/18 and 18/19) a Super Cup (19/20) and played twice with Maccabi in the Europa League group stages. Over four years at Maccabi, Golasa scored a total of nine goals in 113 appearances.

Ben Chaim: “I missed the peace and quiet and Maccabi”

“I think we were good and dominant. This is a declaration domestically and something that will create a detterent force which is very important at these stages. Now we will place the medal in the trophy cabinet and focus on our next task in Europe”.

It is difficult times all around the world, but the powerful and unique feature Maccabi has is the ability to neutralise the background noises which is something I really missed at Kiryat Shalom. As players we get all the means and tools to do what is required from us on the pitch”.

Yeini: “It is great fun to keep winning trophies”

Yeini: “It is great fun to continue winning titles. This is our heritage. I am glad to see these kids grow up and raised in that tradition. I started off as a kid at the age of 6.5 in times which were less successful. There were many years who were less successful. I understood that nothing should be taken for granted and this message is something I am trying to pass onto those kids. To be the team captain, and lift so many trophies is not a trivial thing”.

Two first half goals from Yonatan Cohen (13) and Eylon Almog (45) led Maccabi to the seventh Super Cup in the club’s history as well as a place in the Toto Cup final.

 

Pre Match

With newly appointed Head Coach Georgios Donis and his coaching staff watching the match on TV from isolation – Maccabi’s players were handed a golden opportunity to make their impression on the Greek they trained under during the week. Performance Director, Patrick van Leeuwen, who guided the side to the 2-0 victory in the first leg, made three changes from the team which scored two away goals at Teddy stadium.

New signing Ben Bitton was handed his debut appearance against his former club on the right side of defense at the expense of Maor Kandil. Eden Kartzev replaced Avi Rikan in midfield while Yonatan Cohen stepped-in for Eduardo Guerrero upfront alongside Nick Blackman. Tal Ben Chaim was named for the first time in the squad, waiting for his chance to mark his return since rejoining from Sparta Prague.

First Half

It took Maccabi 13 minutes to break the deadlock as Yonatan Cohen did so in spectacular style to open his account for the season. The high pressure on Be’ersheva’s defense saw Nick Blackman pick Dor Peretz on the edge of the visitors’ area, before the skipper on the night flicked the ball to Cohen who blasted a left-foot drive that rocketed past Ohad Lewita to hit the roof of the net.

Naor Sabbag tried testing Daniel Tenenbaum with a long range effort on 25 but narrowly missed the target. At the opposite end, Cohen and Peretz exchanged roles only to see Peretz’s shot sliced agonizingly wide.

In the 40th minute, Matan Baltaxa almost doubled the lead as he rose unmarked to head Eylon Almog’s corner but with Lewita well beaten Qais Ganem clear the ball off his line. Maccabi’s efforts were rewarded in the 44th minute as Blackman released Almog whose shot went in off the post to make it 2-0.

Second Half

Maor Kandil replaced Ofir Davodzada at the restart before Peretz and Dan Glazer made way for Avi Rikan Eduardo Guerrero 10 minutes later, Ronen Hanzis replaced Blackman on 63. Tal Ben Chaim was given 19 minutes to make his debut as he came in for Almog in the 71st minute.

Seven minutes from time Ben Chaim whipped in a cross which both Cohen and Hanzis failed to connect on to, and Rikan had two shots float over the crossbar. Ben Chaim could have marked a memorable debut on 85 only to see Lewita clear his close range effort with his feet. The full time whistle sent the hosts to the podium as club captain Sheran Yeini lifted the Super Cup which was his personal 12th trophy as a senior Maccabi player.

 

 

“Every match should be approached separately. We will arrive at tomorrow’s game fully focused and with the utmost seriousness, said Rikan, “We would like to do well in any way, especially as this is the first title of the season, but we are at the beginning of our way, have a new coaching staff, and every player would like to stake a claim for their place. The match is very important for us so that we could start the season with a title and will do everything to ensure it happens”.

“I played under many coaches and every time you must prove yourself and adapt yourself to different requirements. We will need to adapt ourselves to the new coaching staff. We are all hoping that it would go well, that we will succeed and hopefully this would lead us to titles”

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC and Real Zaragoza reached an agreement for the sale of Jair Amador who will return to Spain after two years in Israel.

Amador, joined Maccabi in July 2018 and won two successive league titles, a Toto Cup and The Super Cup, making 72 appearances in the Yellow and Blue strip.

After two successful seasons at Maccabi, Zaragoza made an offer to purchase the player and the club agreed to Jair’s request to return to Spain in order to be by his family’s side.

Gracias y buena suerte