Reinforcements have arrived for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Austria. Omer Atzily and Barak Itzhaki joined the Club at training camp in the city of Laa and had a chance to see the first preseason friendly that ended in a 1:1 draw against Slovakian side Terecin. Atzily met his new teammates for the first time and took part in a training session with Itzhaki prior to the match. Check out the photos:

Maccabi Tel Aviv drew 1:1 with Slovakian side AS Terecin in their first preseason friendly match with many players including some from the Under-19 team as well as players who returned from being on loan.

The Head Coach Jordi Cruyff commented on his debut match of the 2017/18 campaign:

“The most important thing was to test the players who have come back from loan. There was also a lot of young players and to see how they develop. In these kind of games we try split them up into two times 45 minutes and the most important thing is that the players show themselves and that they understand the basic concepts that we look for and to get 45 minutes on their legs. We only have trained for four or five days, so it’s very early to demand things. For me the most important thing is that they play free, not afraid and that they try to prove themselves.”

Shlomi Azulay who just returned from being on loan at Kiryat Shemona scored the lone Maccabi marker said:

“I feel really good after coming back from a season on loan. I’m happy to return to Maccabi and it was a decent match, but of course we need to improve. We’re looking ahead to next week’s game against Tirana.”

Working hard:

“I knew most of the squad from last season and they are a bunch of good guys. The most important thing for us to do is to work hard, improve and make sure we do well in next week’s match.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv moved their preparations for the new season into high gear as they played their first preseason match under new Head Coach Jordi Cruyff. The Yellow & Blue had to deal with a squad that was missing a number of players due to being with their national teams earlier in the month.

Left back Matan Baltaxa who joined the Club this summer featured in the Starting XI along with Daniel Tenebaum, Sean Goldberg, Dan Glazer, Dor Peretz, Eliel Peretz, Tomer Altman, Oscar Scarione, Eylon Almog, Yonatan Cohen and Aaron Schoenfeld.

First Half
The Yellow & Blue controlled the flow of play and had their first chance in the 3rd minute thanks to Oscar Scarione, but the Slovakian keeper was in the right place to make the save. Eylon Almog’s 11th minute header via a Yonatan Cohen cross also missed the mark as Maccabi threatened early. Scarione had a number of opportunities for Maccabi over the course of the half, while Almog needed to be substituted out of the contest in the 40th minute after a hard tackle by the keeper and was replaced by Eden Kartzev.

Second Half
Cruyff made wholesale changes to start the second half as keeper Daniel Peretz along with Yuval Shpungin, Sheran Yeini, Fadi Najar, Marcelo dos Santos, Shlomi Azulay, Sagiv Yehezkel and Vidar Kjatansson were all inserted into the lineup.

In the 52nd minute, Terecin took the lead via Čataković who stole the ball near the Yellow & Blue box and beat the keeper Peretz for a 1:0 lead. Five minutes later, Berancos almost doubled the score but Peretz was able to keep the ball out of the goal to keep the deficit as is.

In the 75th minute, Shlomi Azulay broke the ice for Maccabi and slotted home their first goal of the new campaign to draw even at 1:1. Eight minutes later Najar was taken out injured and was replaced by Tomer Altman. In the 91st minute Cohen almost found the winner but his header went off of the bar and out as the match ended in a 1:1 draw.

Omer Atzily, the Yellow & Blue’s new signing is coming back home to Maccabi Tel Aviv and is excited about getting onto the pitch for the preseason:

“I grew up here at Maccabi and began as an 8-year old and was at the Club until I was 16. Of course this was always something I had thought about and I wanted to come full circle. I’m happy that it happened now and I’m excited to be back where I grew up.”

Getting ready for training and playing in his first match:
“I am looking forward to the first training session to show what I can do. I’m also excited about the first match and the first home match.”

Competing for titles:
“Every player wants to fight for every title available in all of the various competitions and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv reached an agreement with Spanish club Granada CF to buy Omer Atzily who successfully underwent a medical and signed a four-year-deal at the club.

Maccabi’s owner  Mitch Goldhar told the clubs’ official website: “Omer is a player who was on our radar for a long while and we are happy to sign him. We are sure his qualities and attributions will contribute to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the near and distant future”. 

Atzily, added: ”I am delighted to sign for Maccabi Tel Aviv to return home and I’m looking forward to the first training session. I hope to help the team return to its’ natural position.

The 23-year-old winger, who began his playing career at Maccabi’s youth department before leaving to Ironi Rishon Lezion where he made his senior debut joined Beitar Jerusalem in 2013. Azily’s successful spell at Beitar which saw him score 19 goals in 78 appearances, generated interested from Granada who signed the player and for which he made nine appearances last season.

On Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv continued their Austrian Training Camp with two sessions over the course of the day. Vidar Kjaratansson and Oscar Scarione who joined their teammates on Sunday, took part in the sessions as they begin to prepare for the upcoming Europa League First Round Qualifying match on Thursday June 29th against Albanian outfit Tirana. Today, Tuesday, the Club will play their first pre-season match against AS Trenčín from Slovakia who finished last season in 4th place in their domestic league.

AS Trenčín won the Fortuna league two seasons in a row, 2014/15 & 2015/16 and may face Bnei Yehuda in the Second Round of Europa League Qualifying.

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Belgian outfit Gent for the loan deal of Ophir Davidzada for one season.

The 26-year-old left-back who joined Gent from Hapoel Be’ersheva last season and has since played in Belgium, is set to join the rest of the team later this week at the pre-season training camp in Austria.

Davidzada told Maccabi’s official website: “I am delighted to join Maccabi Tel Aviv. I am looking forward to meet my new teammates at the training camp and meet the clubs’ targets for the coming season”.