There was plenty of action in the month of September which included Europa League Group Stage matches and exciting Ligat Ha’Al contests. Now’s your chance to vote for the HISENSE September Player of the Month.

All you have to do is to cast your vote by Tuesday October 3rd at 14:00. On that same day at 17:00 we will announce the player of the month and those who voted for the winner will receive an SMS with a trivia question. The first person to answer the question correctly will win a 32” TV from HISENSE.

“Amazing fans” and “Proud to be Maccabi” are just couple of quotes from the Official Facebook Page after the incredible experience of being at the Villarreal Europa League contest.

You missed out on buying a Mini-Season Ticket for the 3 matches? Now you have the chance to be a part of the action for the two remaining Europa League games against Astana on November 2nd and Slavia Prague on November 23rd. 2-Match Packs are now on sale at the Leaan Ticket Office, the Leaan Website and by Telephone *8780.

*There is a 5 NIS surcharge when purchasing tickets via the website and telephone.

Sales Points
Leaan Website
Telephone *8780 – Sunday through Thursday 09:00-18:00, Friday 09:00-13:00.
Leaan Ticket Office 101 Dizengoff Street – Sunday through Thursday 09:00-18:00, Friday 09:00-13:00.

Sukkoth Holiday Hours
Wednesday Sukkot Eve October 4th 09:00-13:00
Thursday Closed
Friday October 6th 09:00-14:00

Entrance for the Physically Challenged
Maccabi Tel Aviv continues its long standing policy of not charging for physically challenged fans and their chaperones and will provide these tickets free of charge.
You must register in advance by sending an email to support@leaan.co.il with a scanned copy of your disability certificate. Priority will be given to the physically challenged fans who have been attending Maccabi Tel Aviv matches in the past, however when registration opens a week before the match, you still must submit a request.

Please note:
– If you arrive on Matchday without registering beforehand you will not be permitted to enter the Stadium
– Entry is for physically challenged fans who use wheelchairs on a regular basis

Ofir Davidzada, the Maccabi Tel Aviv left defensive back summed up his side’s 2:2 draw at Hapoel Ashkelon on Matchday 6 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al:

“We went back too much and we should have continued to put pressure and force Ashkelon to make mistakes. We will know what mistakes we made after we analyze the match itself.”

Plenty of matches to go:
“It’s just the start of the season and we aren’t heading downhill. We have plenty of matches left in the season. Of course it’s disappointing to draw after being up 2:0. we will have to correct those mistakes in the game ahead.”

Moving on:
“Against Maccabi Haifa we had only 10 players from the 45th minute and it wasn’t easy but we could have won the match. We all know the quality of a side like Villarreal and again, it’s disappointing but we have to just think positively and move on.”

Correcting mistakes:
“We have been playing well for a number of matches now and we will fix up those errors which occurred in this match.”

Guarantee:
“We showed what type of team we were in the first half and we took our foot off the gas in the second and that won’t happen again, I can guarantee you.”

“There are matches that it doesn’t matter how much you control the ball and do the maximum, you can still lose points,” explained Dani Poyatos after the 2:2 draw at Hapoel Ashkelon. If there is someone who understands best the disappointment it’s Omer Atzily who missed a 90th minute penalty.

“We took our foot off the gas when we were ahead 2:0 and they took advantage of tha5 by scoring a goal to cut the lead. They gained confidence because we didn’t finish the game off earlier. Once it was 2:2 I had the chance to win the match but I didn’t succeed. I’m going to lift up my head and guarantee that I’ll bring back plenty of points for Maccabi.”

Thoughts before taking the second penalty:
“I didn’t knew the minute. I was so disappointed when Aiyenugba made the save. I’m sure I won’t be able to sleep tonight but we have to keep going.”

About Ashkelon:
“We began the match well and we scored two goals, we should have won the game. We have to look forward.”

Beer Sheva:
“We aren’t looking at them but only on ourselves. We have to take many more points. I hope that we will take them next match.”

After coaching his first professional match, Dani Poyatos who was on the sidelines in place of the suspended Jordi Cruyff explained how the Yellow & Blue gave up a 2 goal lead late in the match which ended in a draw.

“Sometimes this happens in football. We faced a very good side and this can happen in football. We have to focus and keep improving.”

Giving up 2 goals in two minutes:
“We gave up the goals during the minutes that we didn’t maintain possession. When this happens you can be punished, especially when you are facing good players. We have to fix this. Of course, we don’t want to lose but that’s part of the game.”

Jordi had warned that Ashkelon is a tough squad:
“Jordi knows this league very well and he knew what he was saying when he stated that this was going to be the toughest match of the last 3 games. Ashkelon and all of the other clubs are good and we have to improve and improve.”

About his first match as a Head Coach:
“Of course I wanted to win the game as a Head Coach for the first time, but that’s football.”

Atzily’s second penalty:
“We have clear instructions about penalty kicks during the game. We practice every day so we know who the best player is that can take the penalties. Unfortunately he didn’t score the second one.”

Difficulty breaking away from Beer Sheva:
“I’d prefer not to discuss Beer Sheva. We focus on Maccabi. The best thing for us is to improve.”

The Yellow & Blue received goals by Nick Blackman and Omer Atlizy (penalty) while Oz Raly and Milan Smiljanić grabbed a late draw for the hosts as each club took home one point ahead of the international break.

With Head Coach Jordi Cruyff suspended for the match, Dani Poyatos filled in on the sidelines and had a Starting XI that included keeper Predrag Rajikovic along with defenders Yuval Shpungin, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Eitan Tibi and Ofir Davidzada. Captain Sheran Yeini manned the midfield along with Jose Rodriguez and Cristian Battocchio while Nick Blackman, Omer Atzily and Vidar Kjartansson provided the attack.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Barak Itzhaki, Eliran Atar, Egor Filipenka, Avi Rikan, Tino Susic and Dor Peretz.

First Half
Atzily had the contest’s first chance in the 5’ when #7 sent a screamer of a free kick that Ashkelon keeper Dele Aiyenugba dove to his left to tip out for a Maccabi corner while three minutes later, Davidzada sent a cross into the box but Blackman’s header missed the target. In the 18’ Battocchio fed Blackman the ball on the left side but his stunning strike was saved by the keeper. At the other end of the pitch Ashkelon had their first chance of the contest when Mirko Ormush threatened the Maccabi goal inside the box but his effort went over the bar and out.

All of the Yellow & Blue’s hard work paid off in the 24’ when Atzily’s corner found Blackman in a busy Ashkelon box as #11 popped the ball into the goal for 1:0 Maccabi lead. The visitors came close to doubling their advantage in the 30’ when Davidzada fed Atzily a brilliant ball in the box but the latter’s effort just grazed the right post and went out.

Ormush again tried to make life difficult for Maccabi as his volley was smartly stopped by Rajikovic in the 32’ while 7 minutes later Yeini took a Davidzada pass and slammed it off of the right post. The sides went into the break with the Yellow & Blue holding a 1:0 lead.

Second Half
Maccabi looked to add to their advantage as the 2nd half began and they did just that in the 49’ when Battocchio sent Atzily a terrific pass in the box and was pulled down good for a penalty that he duly converted from 11 meters sending the ball into the far left corner of the Ashkelon goal, 2:0.

Oz Raly tried to pull his side to within one but his effort from the left side missed the target in the 55’ while two minutes later the hosts created more problems for Maccabi as Ormush’s 18 meter blast went over the goal. Tal Ayala tried his luck in the 69’ but Rajikovic was in place to make the save while Maccabi made their first substitution of the match introducing Barak Itzhaki for Kjartansson one minute later. Tino Susic came in for Battocchio in 77’ and 2 minutes later Avi Rikan entered the contest in favor of Nick Blackman.

However, Oz Raly and Milan Smiljanić drew the hosts even scoring in the 82’ and 84’ with the first coming from 15 meters and the second from just at the top of the box. With Maccabi on the attack, Ashkelon was called for a handball in the box good for a Maccabi penalty. But, Atzily’s 11 meter kick was saved by Aiyenugba in the 89’. With 4 minutes of added time and Maccabi pressuring for the winning goal, Ashkelon was able to withstand the heat and the sides split the points.

Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Villarreal on Matchday 6 of the Europa League in Spain on Thursday December 7, 2017 at 19:00 Spain time (20:00 in Israel).

Please note:

• Every fan may purchase one ticket only with the name on the ticket being that of the buyer.
• When collecting the ticket, a copy of the plane ticket and copy of the Teudat Zehut (Passport, Teudat Zehut or Drivers License) must be presented. Should one of them not be presented, the ticket will not be issued.
• A fan may not purchase a ticket for another fan
• A fan that attempts to attend the match and is not only the list of ticket buyers, will not be permitted to enter the Stadium.
• Tickets must be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office at 7 Frug Street, Tel Aviv. To collect the ticket you must present a copy of the plane ticket and copy of the Teudat Zehut (Passport, Teudat Zehut or Drivers License). Tickets are non-transferrable.

Ticket Prices
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will sit in Section 25 (Behind the goal indicated on the setting chart in red)
Leaan Ticket Office – 95 NIS
Website/Phone – 100 NIS

Ticket Collection
Leaan Ticket Office Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.

15/10: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda, 20:15, Netanya Stadium
The first challenge after the break will be a Little Derby matchup against Bnei Yehuda on Matchday 7 of the Israel Premier League at the Netanya Stadium. Click here to purchase tickets.

19/10: Astana – Maccabi Tel Aviv, 18:00, Astana
It may only be Matchday 3 of the Europa League Group Stages but the 90 minutes of action in Kazakhstan will be critical in the Yellow & Blue’s campaign. Last season Maccabi visited Almaty in Kazakhstan and came home with a dramatic 1:1 draw. Click here to purchase an away trip package to Astana.
23/10: Hapoel Beer Sheva – Maccabi Tel Aviv, 20:30, Toto Turner Stadium
One of the most exciting matches of the season takes place down south on Matchday 8 as Maccabi will visit the defending champions in a head to head battle.

26/10: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda, 19:00, Netanya Stadium
Jordi Cruyff’s squad has yet another match against Bnei Yehuda in the month of October and this time it’s a Toto Cup quarter final contest at the Netanya Stadium.

29/10: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Acre, 20:10, Netanya Stadium
A busy two weeks for Maccabi comes to an end with a match against the club’s northern rival at home on Matchday 9 of the Ligat Ha’Al.

And that’s not all!

There will be plenty of action off of the pitch this month for all of the Yellow & Blue fans. What’s on tap? There will be a Community Day where the fans will have a chance to meet the players up close and personal.

“The Dressing Room” will be back with all the behind the scenes action from Kiryat Shalom and there will be some exciting new features for the Official App. There will also be a cherry to opt off the month with a great prize as part of the “Eurodrive” campaign.

Coach
Yuval Naim is still the man of the hour for Ashkelon and is one of the stars of the show. Last season, Naim was able to guide his squad to another campaign in the promised land after very few experts gave them a chance of staying up in the Premier League. So far this season Naim has been able to capitalize on the experience earned and will look to ensure that his club doesn’t have to go through a tough relegation battle as they did last year.

Comings & Goings
Naim made a number of signings over the summer and upgraded his squad with the likes of Elad Gabbay, Oz Raly and Tal Ayala who was with Hapoel Kfar Saba last season. In addition, Saar Benbenishti, Sean Malca, Ramzi Sfori and La Liga veteran Milan Smiljanić also joined the team. There were also a number of players who departed including Isso Lingane, Raz Meir, David Manga and Tomer Suissa.

What they’ve done so far
Unlike last season when Ashkelon was battling against relegation, they are currently sitting in 7th place with 7 points after 5 Matchdays. After a slow start, Naim’s side currently has a two match win streak after picking up victories against Hapoel Acre and Hapoel Raanana.

Under the magnifying glass
Is this Tal Ayala’s season? Last campaign with Hapoel Kfar Saba, the attacking midfielder wasn’t able to reach the potential that he seems to be striving for so far this season. Ayala is currently in fine form and has scored 3 goals while adding an assist. Mirko Oremus also has three markers while former Maccabi man Rudy Hadad who was a lock in Naim’s lineup last season, has been a critical component so far this campaign as well.

Last season against Maccabi
Matchday 12: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Ashkelon 0:0
Matchday 25: Hapoel Ashkelon – Maccabi Tel Aviv