Dor Peretz is Maccabi’s most experienced player in Zarko Lazetic’s squad as the skipper who recently marked his 400^thappearance for the club featured in Tel Aviv derbies more than any of his teammates. The 30-year-old who was still a youth team player when Maccabi suffered their last defeat in a Tel Aviv derby more than 11 years ago back in April 2014. “If we stick to our game principles, keep our heads clear from all the crazy energy that will be on the pitch, we can do our part” Peretz said.

While Maccabi’s unbeaten run at derbies stretches for more than a decade, Peretz would like to see his side return to winning ways after four matches with a victory – two in the domestic league and two in the Europa League. “First and foremost, we want to win after two league matches without a victory,” he said. “It is a match with plenty of pride at stake and the will to win. As a team, we want to give our best in every match, and hopefully we will do that tomorrow. If we stick to the coach’s principles, keep a cool head amid the intense excitement on the field, and make the right decisions, I think we will complete our job.”

Following the promotion of Hapoel back to the top-flight after a year in the second division, Peretz is one of seven squad players who previously featured in Tel Aviv derbies. “We are doing everything we can to explain what the derby is and how important it is to us, to the club, and to the fans. Only derby experience truly shows how important it really is. I can say that there’s a team on the other side that looks good and is doing a solid job, and we need to take that very seriously and prepare just like for any other match.”

On the return of fans Gali and Ziv Berman, as well as Omri Miran who were released from captivity in Gaza, and the desire to bring them joy Peretz said: “I hope we can dedicate this moment to them. This week has been filled with incredibly joyful events on one hand, but also grief for families who are still hoping their children will return instead of having to bury them. Hopefully, we can dedicate a win to them.”

Peretz who scored this season seven goals in all competitions and was deputized in recent matches to a more forward role, added: “I’m here to serve the coach, and I’ll carry out any decision he makes. Of course, we can discuss what suits better or less, but I’m here to do everything I can to help the team. Whatever he decides, I am at his and the team’s service.”

After a two weeks break due to the International calendar, Maccabi will return to the WINNER League action shortly.

Maccabi will step up preparations for Sunday’s Tel Aviv derby which returns after a year absence, as the International players report back and rejoin the rest of the team on Friday.

In the meantime, Zarko Lazetic’s side held an 80-minute-long practice match against second division side Hapoel Kfar Shalem at the Kiryat Shalom training complex on Wednesday morning.

do Shahar scored the only goal of the game in the 9th minute with a strike from the edge of the area.

Maccabi: Roi Mishpati, Noam Ben Harush, Heitor, Raz Shlomo (Itay Ben Hemo 55), Tyrese Asante (Avishay Cohen 55), Kristijan Belic (Yoav Junio 55), Issouf Sissoko (Ben Lederman 55), Ido Shahar, Elad Madmon, Saied Abu Farchi, Osher Davida (Yonas Malede 55).

Roi Mishpati, who had another solid performance in the 1–1 draw against Maccabi Haifa, conceded a dramatic late penalty that denied him from keeping a clean sheet. The controvercial late spot-kick that Djordje Jovanovic successfully converted, also denied Maccabi three valuable points. “Of course there is disappointment, and it is frustrating to concede a penalty in the 90th minute” Mishpati said after the match. “I think we could have finished it earlier with two or three good chances we had, but we were punished for that in the 90th minute.”

The 32-year-old Maccabi keeper reflected on Yigal Frid’s decision to award Haifa a penalty after Ali Camara was judged to have tripped Eitan Azoulay in the box: “I didn’t look at it. On the pitch, it looked like Ali got the ball. I’m not getting into what the referees decided or what they saw.”

“The expectations here are high. We want to win every game, and we do everything we can to win every game,” Mishpati added. “If you look at our recent matches, we have played good football. Sometimes you just miss that bit of luck, and I am sure it will come.”

After a first half in which Haifa were dominant and he was forced to pull a string of good saves to keep his goal locked, Maccabi emerged for the second period a much better side, as Mishpati admitted:  “We didn’t play good football in the first half. In the second, we looked better, created chances, and showed our football. We could have scored a few goals from the opportunities we had. It could be fatigue, it could be the flights or Yom Kippur. We worked hard to earn the right to play in Europe. We have a big and deep squad, we’ll use the break to learn what we did well and what we need to improve.”

On his own recent good form, Mishpati added: “Since the start of the season, I’ve felt confident, that I’m doing the right things, what the club, the team, and the coach expect from me. I felt very good in the first half and in the second as well. I’m happy about the saves I made and that I kept us in the game. Still, I think we could’ve finished it off in the second half.”

Looking ahead to the next fixture, the Tel Aviv derby after the international break, Mishpati said: “A week of rest will help us recover, both those heading to their national teams and those staying here.”

On Maccabi’s style of play that sometimes gets the fans actions with the ball being played from the back between Mishpati and his defenders, the keeper added: “We do our job. Everywhere in the world now, teams focus on the build-up. We don’t just want to launch long balls forward for nothing. We want to build from the back properly, and I think we did that very well today.”

On the Maccabi fans who pushed the team on: “We felt the energy and confidence from the fans. Even during moments of pressure, we stayed composed thanks to them.”

Mishpati then reflected on the team’s hectic schedule, which included fasting, travel, and back-to-back matches: “If you told me we would take all three points today, I would fast another day,” he said with a smile. “But really, it wasn’t easy. We do everything to compete in Europe and in big league matches. For me, it is pure joy, it was a great experience.”

Raz Shlomo faced the media at the end of the dramatic 1-1 draw against Maccabi Haifa that saw Djordje Jovanovic score a controversial injury time penalty to deny Maccabi victory. “They say there wasn’t a penalty, but we will have to review it afterward. It was too easy to blow the whistle in such a moment and in such a match for something like that, it’s a shame.”

On the title race which currently leaves Maccabi four points adrift of the top: “Just like in recent years, it will be close until the end. We hope to do our best and celebrate in May.”
After the international break, Maccabi will face Hapoel for the Tel Aviv derby, as Shlomo reflected: “We don’t look at who’s the favorite and who’s the underdog. We have the break now, we will analyze things and work on what needs improvement. We will do everything for our fans and for this great club, and with God’s help, we will win.”

Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD6 WINNER League match against Maccabi Haifa. On the back of Thursday’s defeat to Dinamo Zagreb and the goalless draw away to Bnei Sakhnin, Zarko Lazetic’s side that have 13 points as they won 4 and drawn one in the league so far, will be aiming to return to winning ways.

Lazetic made five changes to the side that suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Croatians in Serbia three days ago. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal while Raz Shlomo stepped in to partner Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of the Maccabi keeper. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Ido Shahar recovered from the ankle injury he suffered at Sakhnin which ruled him out of the Europa League match as the diminutive midfielder joined Kriztijan Belic in Lazetic’s engine room. Kervin Andrade was named at the top of the midfield trio as the 20-year-old Venezuelan is seeking his first goal in a Yellow and Blue strip. Sagiv Jehezkel who missed the injury time penalty against Sakhnin last week, and Osher Davida on the other flank supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation. Dor Peretz led the team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old skipper who scored 5 league goals and 7 and all competitions this season will try and extend his tally. 

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi, Heitor, Denny Gropper, Elad Madmon, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela, Itamar Noy, Saied Abu Farchi and Ion Nicolaescu.

Prior to kickoff a ceremony was held to commemorate the October 7th atrocities and raise the profile of the five Maccabi fans still held hostage in Gaza.

First Half

A sea of Yellow and Blue surrounded three quarters of the pitch at Bloomfield stadium while Haifa’s visiting fans occupied the north stand. Shortly after kickoff dozens of flaires were lit up in the away sector yet referee Yigal Frid allowed the match to continue. In the seventh minute a Kristijan Belic tackle on Eitan Azoulay earned the Maccabi midfielder a booking. Several minutes later Suf Podgorano tackled Belic bear the halfway line but Frid who awarded Maccabi a free kick opted to book Zarko Lazetic for dissent.

Haifa almost stunned Bloomfiled as Trivante Stewart broke free from the left and with only Roi Mishpati to beat struck his shot against the base of the post. Kervin Andrade’s pressure on Haifa’s defense right on the half hour mark saw the visitors concede possession to Osher Davida deep inside their territory. Davida slipped the ball to Dor Peretz whose attempt of a shot on goal was blocked for a corner. Three minutes later a mistake in Maccabi’s defense gifted Podgorano with a glorious chance to score but Mishpati produced a stunning save to tip the ball onto the crossbar before it was cleared.

Haifa almost stunned Bloomfiled as Trivante Stewart broke free from the left and with only Roi Mishpati to beat struck his shot against the base of the post. Kervin Andrade’s pressure on Haifa’s defense right on the half hour mark saw the visitors concede possession to Osher Davida deep inside their territory. Davida slipped the ball to Dor Peretz whose attempt of a shot on goal was blocked for a corner. Three minutes later a mistake in Maccabi’s defense gifted Podgorano with a glorious chance to score but Mishpati produced a stunning save to tip the ball onto the crossbar before it was cleared. At the opposite end Tyrese Asante carved Haifa’s defense to release Andrade whose square ball which was aimed at Peretz was blocked by Abdoulaye Seck for a corner. Davida tried curling a left foot shot come cross which Shareef Keouf managed to turn over his crossbar.

Second Half

Lazetic made a double substitution at the interval as Itamar Noy replaced Shahr while Elad Madmon came on for Andrade at the restart. The substitution paid off almost instantly as Noy was released into the box by Asante but conceded possession. The combative midfielder fought to win the ball back, cut inside and buried a left foot drive that found the bottom corner to put Maccabi in front and ignite Bloomfield. Maccabi continued their blitz as a Roy Revivo throw in released Sagiv Jehezkel whose snap shot fizzed across the face of goal. A Maccabi counter attack on 53 saw Peretz send Madmon chasing before he was brought down by Seck who was consequently booked.

Two minutes after hour mark Noy could havebbagged a second as he exchanged passes with Peretz but saw his effort rattle the crossbar from close range. Lazetic made another change in the 68th minute as Helio Varela replaced Jehezkel adding a fresh pair of legs on the wings. Belic came off to a standing ovation in the 80th minute as he was replaced by Ben Lederman.

In the 83rd minute Asante burst forward and had his shirt tugged in the box by Lissav Eissat. Frid pointed at the spot but was called to the screen by the VAR and reversed his decision. A minute later Azoulay broke into the box and went down before he was challenged by Camara. Once again Frid awarded a penalty and after a lengthy delay and inspection by the VAR kept his decision. Djoedje Jovanovic stepped up as the former Maccabi Serbian striker blasted the spot kick in to level the score. The fourth official added six minutes of added time as Lazetic introduced Saied Abu Farchi for Davida as his fifth substitution.

Peretz had a chance to win the match in the dying seconds after good work from Madmon but a last gasp tackle denied the Maccabi captain. Raz Shlomo also blocked a Haifa attempt at the death as the contest ended in a draw and the points shared.