Central defender Eitan Tibi spoke to reporters ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s away league clash against Hapoel Beersheba on Wednesday and said a strong defence was at the heart of the club’s aims at all times.

“We always look to win and avoid conceding goals so our defensive play is always important,” Tibi said.

He added that as always, Beersheba would be tough opponents even if they aren’t currently in the form that has defined them over the past four or five seasons.

“Beersheba are a good team, although they have not been at their best recently, but we respect them and know that this will be a difficult away game.”

He said that in football, not team should be considered as favourites.

“There are no favourites in football. If you don’t give your best all the time, you certainly can’t be considered a favourite.”

Certainly, he said, the league chase this year is much tighter than last and Maccabi can’t afford to relax at any point.  

Maccabi Tel Aviv have won their last two league fixtures and look to make it three in a row in their clash against Hapoel Beersheba in the south on Wednesday. Ivic has called on the Maccabi fans to turn out in full voice, as always, and support his team

The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation concluded its annual “Wrapping Up Warm” drive on Saturday and together we collected thousands of clothes items for the needy as we try to ensure that their cold winter can be a little warmer and more comfortable.

The Maccabi family, fans, players and club staff all devoted their very best efforts to the cause to help those in need and the hard work was clear for all to see on Saturday at Bloomfield before the kickoff against Ashdod SC when a truck full of clothes took clothes for storage with our campaign partners, Pitchon Lev.

The call to collect clothes for the needy has completed its fourth annual campaign and over the years the Maccabi family has collected tens of thousands of items in one of many drives by the Foundation for the community.

Maccabi Tel Aviv registered a second straight league victory following the 2-0 home win over Ashdod SC at Bloomfield in what a dominant display of form.

The league leaders now have opened a seven-point gap at the top of the TASE Premier League standings although Maccabi Haifa, who have a game in hand, can close it back to four points if they beat Bnei Yehuda at Bloomfield on Monday.

Maccabi’s defensive record is also incredible and they have not conceded a goal in 18 of their 20 league fixtures so far this season.

Hitherto, the most games played without conceding until the 20th round of play was 15, by Hapoel Haifa in 1998-99.

There are 16 more rounds of play until the end of the season and Maccabi are only three matches away from equalling the all-time record of 21 fixtures without conceding a goal in a season which is currently shared by Maccabi, who reached the magic 21 mark last season, and by Hapoel Kiryat Shmona in 2011-12.

Additionally, Maccabi have now become the first club not to lose until at least the 20th round in two consecutive seasons.

Maccabi’s dominance against Ashdod yielded 19 shots at goal, 11 of which were on target.

There were also 14 telling passes, seven of which were accurate, compared to Ashdod’s two passes, neither of which found their intended recipient.

Coach Vladimir Ivic once again watched as Omer Atzili continued to display red-hot form and he was the fans’ pick as the Factory 54 Man of the Match.

Atzili scored the first goal against Ashdod bringing his season tally to four. He has also amassed six assists. Atzili’s main contribution has come since December 24 and in the month-long period he has scored four times and delivered four assists.

Yonatan Cohen, who scored Maccabi’s second goal from a penalty, continues to lead all Maccabi scorers this season with nine goals, second overall in the league.

Eyal Golasa is another player in fine form. He won all 16 one-on-one battles for the ball in which he was involved, a very rare statistic. Also, all five runs with the ball found their target and his four tackles were successful too.

Another red-hot player, Dan Glazer, led all players in the match with 12 dispossessions.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv juggernaut remained on course for more success on Saturday and the club dominated throughout the TASE Premier League home clash at Bloomfield against Ashdod SC, winning 2-0.

They lead the standings by seven points, although they have played 20 games, compared to second-placed Maccabi Haifa’s 19.

Maccabi held the vast majority of possession throughout and Ashdod under newly-appointed coach Ran Ben Shimon were clearly second-best in the clash.

An untidy start to the game finally came to light in the 35th minute when Omer Atzili struck a right-footed shot from the edge of the area after a well constructed move that and the in-form striker’s shot end up in the bottom right corner of the Ashdod net. The ball deflected off the inside of the post and left Ashdod goalkeeper Roy Mashpati no chance of keeping it out.

Maccabi almost doubled the score in the 52nd minute in an excellent move in which Atzili back-heeled the ball to Eyal Golasa, but the latter’s diagonal shot from the right was deflected by Mashpati and the ball rolled out past Ashdod’s left post.

Mashpati again came to visitors’ rescue in the 63rd minute when Chico Ofuedo was put clear inside the box in front of goal but his shot went straight in the direction of the Ashdod goalkeeper who again diverted the ball.

Ashdod’s faint hopes of getting anything from the match were finally snuffed out when Maccabi were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute after Mashpati sprinted off his line to try to intercept Itay Shechter who was speeding towards the ball just inside the left corner of the area. The ‘keeper was a fraction late and Shechter went down.

Yonatan Cohen stepped up to take the spot kick and shot low to the left as Mashpati, who was shown a yellow card for his foul on Shechter, went the other way.

That second goal put the result beyond doubt but Maccabi tried for more and Cohen came close in the 84th minute when clear in front of goal, his shot hit the left post and rebounded into touch.

Ashdod had nothing to show for their scant efforts while Daniel Tenenbaum in the Maccabi goal notched another clean sheet.

Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Ashdod SC 2-0 in a convincing display at Bloomfield on Saturday and Omer Atzili scored the first goal. He was the fans’ choice for Factory 54 Man of the Match.

Atzili has been in red-hot form since returning from a six-month layoff due to injury and he has notched four goals and six assists in the past month. Over 80 percent of fans picked him as their outstanding player in the match and one fan will sin a prize courtesy of Factory 54.