Matan Baltaxa will join Bnei Yehuda on loan until the end of the season after an agreement was reached between the two clubs. 

The 23-year-old left back, rejoins Bnei Yehuda on loan until the end of the season having spent the previous campaign at the Hatikva Quarter club.

As part of the arrangements put in place, Maccabi agreed with Baltaxa an option to be able to extend his contract with Maccabi for the 2021/22 season.     

Maccabi CEO, Ben Mansford, told the club’s official website: “Matan has made great progress since joining Maccabi in the summer of 2017 which resulted in him been part of the squad so far this summer and featuring in the Super Cup. We all believe it will better for Matan to continue his development by playing and therefore, we are pleased to announce that he will re-join Bnei Yehuda for this season. As part of the discussions with Matan about the loan, we have included an Option to extend his contract with us for the 21/22 season. We look forward to welcoming Matan back to Kiryat Shalom in the summer and wish him all the best for the loan period.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced to the final of the Toto Cup on Sunday with a 1-0 away win over Kiryat Shmona and goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, who replaced the injured Andreas Gianniotis between the posts talked about the game.

When asked about his ability, Tenebaum said: “I felt good during the game and I always do my best in training. I have to be prepared for any situation to be at my very best.”

He said he expected Gianniotis would be okay. “I’m certain he will recover but if I get the opportunity to play, of course, I will give my all.”

Tenebaum, a four-season veteran at the club said he was certain that he could assume the role of first-choice ‘keeper but that it was “up to the coach to determine who plays and I accept his decisions and do as is expected of me.”

He said Maccabi’s ending of the European campaign by FK Suduva last week was a difficult result. “We felt we were better than our opponents but we must look ahead with optimism despite the difficulties that football throws at us.”

Asked whether Maccabi had lost its edge, Tenenbaum said: “We are almost the same outfit that played last season, there have not been many changes. We want to play better in each game and I believe that slowly, in each outing we will improve.”

Jerusalem, who beat Hapoel Beersheba 3-1 in the other semi-final.

Maccabi Tel Aviv reached their third consecutive Toto Cup final on Sunday and will look to achieve a hat trick of titles after beating Hapoel Kiryat Shmona 1-0 in the semi-final which was held at the northern team’s home ground. The only goal of the game was credited as an own goal by Kiryat Shmona goalkeeper Dziugas Bartkus, who was unable to keep out Eylon Almog’s header. The Maccabi midfielder headed a cross from Eliran Atar towards the Kiryat Shmona goal in the 48^th minute. 

Maccabi reached the semi-final by beating Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 1-0 in the Champion of Champions playoff earlier this month. Kiryat Shmona’s path to the semis was secured via the Toto Cup group stage, where coach Masai Dago’s charges notched three wins and a defeat.

The final will be played against Beitar Jerusalem, who beat Hapoel Beersheba 3-1 at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem in the second semi-final on Sunday night.

Maccabi’s lineup: Andreas Gianniotis (Daniel Tenenbaum, 21); Maor Kandil (Jair Amador, 59), Eitan Tibi, Shahar Piven (Amit Glazer, 76), Ofir Davidzada, Ruslan Barski; Dor Peretz, Avi Rikan (Dor Micha, 63), Eylon Almog, Nick Blackman, Eliran Atar (Yonatan Cohen, 63).

Maccabi Tel Aviv will open the defence of their Premier League title next week when the new season begins. The league this year holds the name of title sponsor, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). First up will be an away clash with promoted Ness Ziona, who will host at the Moshava Stadium in Petah Tikva on Saturday, Aug. 24, kickoff at 20:30.

Ticket sales have begun and preference is given to season ticket holders until Aug. 20 at noon. Thereafter, remaining tickets will be available to all-comers.

Tickets are available from the Leaan ticket agency, call-centre number *8780, through their sales desk at 42 Frishman St. Tel Aviv, the Leaan web site and via the Maccabi Tel Aviv web site.

A “loyalty points” system is offered for this fixture. Loyalty points afford preference to supporters wishing to purchase tickets for away fixtures where tickets will be in very high demand. https://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/2018/05/points-allocation-system-away-matches/

For this match, 2019-20 season ticket holders purchasing a ticket will receive three points.

Season ticket holders who are also FOREVER supporters’ club members will receive six points.

Non-season ticket holders will earn 1.5 points.

FOREVER+ members who are not season ticket holders will earn three points.

Points can be earned only when quoting a membership number. Non-season ticket holders must quote their Leaan user name when making a purchase.

Please note that supporters who have purchased a ticket but do not attend the match will not receive their points.

Ticket prices:

Maccabi supporters will be seated in the eastern stand (Gates 10-14). Please print your tickets at home and bring them with you.

Purchasing at Leaan ticket desk: 66 NIS

Telephone/internet purchase: 71 NIS

Ticket pickup from Leaan ticket desk (Sun-Thu 09:00-19:00, Fri 09:00-13:00)

Ticket pickup from stadium box office starting three hours prior to kickoff. Stadium ticket booths will close 45 minutes after kickoff.