Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach looked back at his squad’s 2:0 win over Hapoel Hadera to begin the playoffs:

“This was an important win. We didn’t play our best football but we took the 3 points. We deserved the victory and were the better team. We still have to improve. Over the last few matches we haven’t showed what we have wanted to.”

About the championship:
“We have some time to rest before the next match. We have to change our mentality in order to give 100% to win and we have to play better. We haven’t played the football we have wanted to in the first half and we have to understand why that is.”

Working hard:
“It’s important to win every match. There are any times that I am happy with the way we have played and there have been many matches like that. We are expecting some difficult matches in the playoffs and we have to change our mentality and work hard to show that on the pitch.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach looked back at his squad’s 2:1 win over Bnei Yehuda at the Netanya Stadium and began by talking about the change of mentality from the first half to the second:

“The players changed their mentality at the beginning of the second half and played better than the first half. But there were a lot of places where they still had to improve. We won the game but I am not satisfied as to how we won. Our opponent created a lot of chances in the second half and we had a lot of problems whereas they didn’t create any chances in the first half. We have to play them three more times this season.”

Going undefeated in the regular season and looking ahead:
“The players fought from the first game until the last game of the regular season. But now we have 30 points in front of us and we have to be ready for the mini league. We must look at every game and prepare game by game including this coming Saturday against Hadera.”

Easy to win?
“Every game isn’t easy. We have to concentrate, prepare ourselves and analyze today’s mistakes and give our best to win the game on Saturday.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv dropped Bnei Yehuda 2:1 to end the regular season undefeated after 26 Matchdays. Visiting Bnei Yehuda took a 1:0 lead in the first half as Tambi Sagas scored off a missed penalty but an Eliran Atar second half free kick and a Rikan strike in the 81’ off an Atar assist completed the comeback as Maccabi took the 3 points. Vladimir Ivic’s squad will now ready to open the Championship Playoffs on Saturday afternoon when they host Hapoel Hadera at 16:00.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included, keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Enric Saborit, Shahar Piven, Sheran Yeini, Eli Dasa, Dor Peretz, Avi Rikan, Dor Micha, Chico Ofoedu, Omer Atzili and Eliran Atar.

Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Jair Amador, Maor Kandil, Ruslan Barsky, Dan Glazer, Itay Shechter, Yonatan Cohen.

First Half
Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi traded chances in the 5’ when Baltaxa’s attempt in the box was saved by Rajkovic and Micha’s shot from 15 meters went out. Two minutes later Chico’s opportunity missed the target and in the 12’ Rikan’s long shot was blocked by the defense.

Maccabi continued to control the pace of play but couldn’t create any opportunities until Atar’s free kick went off target which was followed by Rikan receiving a yellow card in the 30’. However, Dasa pulled down Tchibota in the box to set up a penalty for Bnei Yehuda. The initial spot kick by Shay Konstantini was saved by Rajkovic when he dove to his right but Tambi Sagas put in the rebound for a 1:0 lead.

Yonatan Cohen replaced an injured Micha in the 40’ as Ben Yehuda took a slim one goal advantage into the break.

Second Half
Cohen opened the half with a long distance effort but keeper Yehonatan Shabi made the save and in the 50’ Dasa crossed the ball to Ofoedu but he missed the goal. Two minutes later Atar sent the ball to Rikan and his 20 meter attempt just went out while Cohen and Ofoedu almost found the equalizer a minute later.

Atar would find that equalizer in the 60’ when he sent a perfect free kick into the top right hand corner of the goal. Itay Shechter entered the contest for Ofoedu as the striker almost completed the comeback but his 64’ header just went by the post. Saborit was issued a yellow card a minute later while Rajkovic was up to the task in the 72’ when he saved a one on one chance by Tchibota.

Atzili’s attempt went over the goal and Ivic made his third substitute in the 76’ when he inserted Ruslan Barsky for the aforementioned Atzili. Two minutes later Cohen sent a ball to Peretz but his header just missed the target as Maccabi came closer to taking the lead.

And take the lead they would in the 81’ when Rikan pounded home the ball thanks to an Atar assist as the Yellow & Blue went ahead 2:1. Tchibota almost drew even in the 89’ but his shot went off the bar. Barsky picked up a yellow card in added time while Bnei Yehuda were reduced to ten men when Ismaila Soro was issued his second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Rikan.

Tchibota had a last gasp free kick to find the tying goal but the ball was cleared by the Maccabi defense and the referee blew the whistle as the Yellow & Blue remained undefeated throughout the regular season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is heading into the final stages of the season and each week becomes yet another moment in history as records continue to be broken. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of the Yellow & Blue action with the opportunity to witness history being written right before your eyes.

If you want to secure your seat and be a part of the action, this is your last chance to do so as the next 3 home matches there won’t be regular single seat ticket sales. Make sure to purchase your 4 Match Playoff Ticket Package now.

Sale Points

• Leaan Website
• Leaan Ticket Office, Frishman 42, Tel Aviv Sunday-Thursday 09:00-18:00, Friday 09:00-13:00.
• Phone *8780 Sunday-Thursday 09:00-18:00, Friday 09:00-13:00.

Please note

• Home Ticket Printing Only! – The 4 Match Ticket Package will be sent to your email
• Single ticket sales will occur should tickets remain
• Youth Ticket Packages are only available at the Leaan Ticket Office and phone after identification

Last chance to be a part of history
Playoff Packages

West 109/209 Youth – 250 NIS
West 108/208 – 400 NIS
West 109/209 Adult – 400 NIS
Lower East – 440 NIS
West 204-207 – 440 NIS
E+ – 600 NIS
Silver – 1,200 NIS

Limited availability

Playoff packages purchased via the website or phone are 5 NIS more than the
Leaan ticket office (amounts listed)

Sheran Yeini, the Maccabi Tel Aviv captain looked ahead to Monday night’s (20:30) contest against Bnei Yehuda:

“Our philosophy at Maccabi is that we don’t look too far ahead. Every game is important to us and we come as prepared as possible. We aren’t even thinking of the Cup match at the moment.”

About the preparations:
“We’ve been preparing the best that we can this past week. We aren’t thinking about the playoffs, just about the next match.”

The opponent:
“It’s always tough to play Bnei Yehuda and it will be a challenge.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed regular assembled media ahead of tomorrow night’s Matchday 26 clash against Bnei Yehuda:

“It’s for sure a tough game and we respect our opponent a lot. They spent a lot of time in the second position on the table up until a few weeks ago. They deserve to be in the playoffs and they have quality players.”

Facing Bnei Yehuda in the State Cup as well:
“It’s not a problem to play them twice and that’s what is going to happen. This is now the last game before the beginning of the playoffs and they are a tough and strong team. We need to work hard to win this game as they play quality football and there is a specific system of how they play. I believe it’s a success for them to also be in the Cup semifinal.”

Thinking about the championship?
“No as first we have to play against Bnei Yehuda and then Hadera. You need to give 100% versus every opponent otherwise it will be tough. We want to finish the regular season in the best possible way.”

About Hadera making the playoffs:
“They are a team which will play in the playoffs it’s not an accident. There are many teams with bigger budgets but they finished ahead of them and they deserve to be in the playoffs.”

About the loaned players on Hadera:
“This was our decision to loan players from our squad who didn’t play many minutes. They are in the semifinal of the cup which is good for Hadera as well as the players because they need to play. The team is satisfied with them and that’s good.”

Injury update:
“Nikolic has a difficult injury. He worked the first 10 days but now he has a problem. We are waiting for him to be in good condition so we can use him. He may be available against Hadera but for sure after the break. Golasa has a condition and we need to see and follow what will happen in the next few days. We need to make a decision. We need to take one decision to know if he will be able to play by the end of the season. It’s a problem with his knee. We have to figure out if surgery may be needed.

Keeper status:
“We don’t know yet what will be. Rajkovic is with us and we don’t want to have 2 foreign keepers. Normally like every club we are thinking about the future. Normally we have a foreign keeper but it’s not a necessity.”

The final Matchday (26) of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika’s regular season is being played this weekend and after four matches on Saturday, the championship playoff picture is becoming a bit clearer as well as Maccabi’s schedule for the final ten contests.

Saturday’s results:
Kiryat Shemona 2:3 Maccabi Haifa
Hapoel Hadera 2:2 Maccabi Netanya
Hapoel Haifa 2:2 Hapoel Raanana
Beitar Jerusalem 0:1 Hapoel Tel Aviv

Hapoel Hadera will finish the regular season in 6th place and will be Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first championship playoff opponent on March 16, 2019 (date and time TBD) when they host Niso Aviran’s club at the Netanya Stadium.

The following Matchday, Maccabi Haifa will visit the Yellow & Blue after the Greens finished in 2nd place while the third playoff contest will be away to Maccabi Netanya.

The other positions on the table will be determined after the remaining 3 matches are completed this Matchday. At that point the full schedule will be known which will include contests against both Hapoel Beer Sheva and Bnei Yehuda as well.