Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 3:0 last night at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 29 of the Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs and Yossi Benayoun was in the Starting XI for the second straight match and featured against his former club. Following the contest the veteran spoke about his feelings:

“Every match is important for us to win, we wanted to stay in the title picture and we did the job. It doesn’t matter to me who we play against, whether it’s Haifa or any other club. I just want to win. I have always said that I had a very nice and long history with Maccabi Haifa and I appreciate that but today I’m with Maccabi Tel Aviv and I want to do the best I can for my club.

On his contribution:
“I always try to give the maximum. The last few matches I’ve played in the middle of the pitch where you must work hard as well on defense and that’s what I’ve tried to do.”

His style of play which features less dribbling:
“They said this a few years ago already. Who other than Messi can go by 3-4 players and put the ball in the goal. Football has changed over the past few years and the best football is the simplest, play fast and hold the ball less and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. Football has changed and so has understanding the game from what it once was. When you get older you understand even more. Once upon a time there was room for dribbling but today there is a lot more movement. I always expect to be at the top of my game and help my club. I want to take advantage of my experience.”

Earning a starting position:
“I’m in the rotation, we have a deep squad. Everyone wants to play but everyone also understands that there are plenty of good players and that we have a big squad. It doesn’t really matter who plays but that we win the matches that we have from now until the end of the season.”

On his future:
“I’m not waiting for a telephone call from anyone. What concerns me right now is the next match against Maccabi Petah Tikva. I want to continue to enjoy it as long as I feel physically fit. I want to continue to play and enjoy myself. We’ll get to the end of the season and then everyone will make their decisions. I believe that everyone will be satisfied.”

Did you believe that you would enjoy being at Maccabi?
“I believed that I was coming here to enjoy football. From the first moment that I was here I saw that this is a club that operates at the highest levels and is just like European clubs and places that I had played in the past. I didn’t know how involved I would be and how much I’d play in the matches but of course when you do play you enjoy it even more. I feel like I’m part of the club and I’m enjoying every single moment that I’m on the pitch. That’s what I want to continue to do. The relationship with the coach is excellent. We are trying to understand more and more what he expects from us and learn how he wants us to play. Slowly but surely we are improving and I hope that it will continue this way.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv recorded a 3:0 victory over Maccabi Haifa and kept the gap to Beer Sheva at 6 points after the southern side defeated Maccabi Petah Tikva. Tal Ben Chaim, who scored a brace summed up his performance:

“I’m happy that we beat Maccabi Haifa because up until today we hadn’t defeated them all season long. I don’t want to take credit but rather I want to say how proud I am as to how we played as a team. I think that Dor Micha had a terrific game along with all of the players and I want to commend them.”

On his performance:
“I can tell you that I go into every single match no matter what, hungry to score. When the ball goes in, of course everyone asks what was different today. There wasn’t anything special except that I scored and assisted on a goal. After a match like this, people will say that I was focused. But as I’ve said in the past, I give it my all for the club to succeed. I really enjoy the club. It gives me everything and it would be only right for me to give back.”

The 6-point gap to Beer Sheva:

“We are obligated to believe and win every match that’s left in the season whether we win the championship or not. We were very disappointed that we didn’t beat or draw against Beer Sheva. As soon as that match was over we put it aside and just concentrated on the State Cup Semifinal. I’m happy that we won and that we also knew how to win tonight. We will continue this way until the last Matchday of the season and until the State Cup Final and we will do everything for what we are being paid to do. I hope that Maccabi will finish the season with one or perhaps two titles.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 3:0 on Matchday 29 of the Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs. Following the contest, the Head Coach Lito Vidigal addressed the assembled press.

“The players deserved this win. We had chances to score even more goals. I think we played well and that’s what is most important to the players and the fans. They supported us all game long. We aren’t raising our hands and we believe that we can still do something in the league and that’s the only way I know. Everyone that is here with me has to believe and we will see what will be in the future.”

Best match with Maccabi:
“I don’t know if this was our best match. We played well but we can still improve. We keep working and we keep playing better and better and we have much more to do. It’s very important that we don’t give up and come to every training session with the goal to improve. We still have a long way to go.”

The gap between Beer Sheva:
“It’s doesn’t really concern me. I’m not thinking about this but about my Club and my players. I want us to keep getting better and continue to fight to win every match we have left. This is what I want my players to think about.”

A Tal Ben Chaim brace and a Dor Micha strike was good enough for a Maccabi Tel Aviv 3:0 victory over Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 29 as the club will enter the Passover Holiday in good spirits. The win leaves the Yellow & Blue 6 points from the top of the table as they prepare for a home match Saturday night April 15th, 20:30 against Maccabi Petah Tikva.

Prematch
Lito Vidigal made a number of cosmetic changes to his Starting XI as Dor Micha, Gal Alberman and Vidar Kjartansson returned to the fray after not starting in the State Cup Semifinal. Also on the pitch were keeper Predrag Rajikovic along with a defensive quartet of Eli Dasa, Tal Ben Haim, Egor Filipenka and Captain Sheran Yeini. Eyal Golasa and Yossi Benayoun joined Alberman in the midfield while Tal Ben Chaim and Kjartansson played in front with Micha.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Lifshitz, Avi Rikan, Ramon Roma, Oscar Scarione, Eliel Peretz, Ruben Micael and Aaron Schoenfeld.

First Half
Maccabi looked to be in full control from the get go and had their first chance of the contest in the 13th minute when Alberman gave Kjartansson a short pass in the box, but the Icelander put the ball over the bar. Six minutes later Ben Chaim’s attempt was blocked while Benayoun handed Kjartansson the ball but again the striker couldn’t find the back of the goal.

However, Ben Chaim would do just that when he took a Golasa pass and slotted it home for a 1:0 Maccabi lead in the 28th minute. Two minutes later, the Yellow & Blue played Tiki-Taka but Golasa missed from 8 meters out while Filipenka’s header off a Ben Chaim corner couldn’t find the target.

But Micha did as he took a magnificent Ben Chaim pass and put it home to give the Yellow & Blue a 2:0 advantage in the 38th minute as the crowd went wild with delight.

Second Half
Haifa made wholesale changes to start the second half as Neta Lavie and Eliran Atar entered the match as the Greens tried to get back into the game. Golasa gave Alberman a nifty pass but the latter put it over the goal in the 52nd minute as Maccabi kept controlling the pace of the contest. Over the next ten minutes Haifa had a couple of chances as they looked to cut ten lead to avail.

Ruben Micael replaced Gal Alberman in the 67th minute as the Yellow & Blue looked for a 3rd marker. And a third they would find via Ben Chaim in the 72nd minute as number 11 pounded in a rebound from a Micha attempt to give Maccabi a 3:0 advantage.

Aaron Schoenfeld came on for Kjartansson in the 76th minute and Ramon Roma entered the match for Egor Filipenka as the Yellow & Blue fans sang into the night celebrating a 3:0 victory just before the Passover Holiday. Maccabi takes on Maccabi Petah Tikva Saturday night April 15th, 20:30 at the Netanya Stadium.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will play away at Beitar Jerusalem on Matchday 31 of the Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs and now’s the time to cheer on the Yellow & Blue at Teddy! The match will take place on Saturday night April 22 at 21:00 at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.

Please note that tickets purchased for this match are subject to earning points in the new Points System for Away Matches. Season ticket holders earn one point while the general public will earn half a point.

Important! When you purchase a ticket via the website, telephone or the Leaan Ticket Office, in order to accrue points, season ticket holders must complete the transaction with their season ticket number and non-season ticket holders via their User ID. When making the purchase please confirm your email and mobile phone number. Should the purchase not be done with your season ticket number or User ID, Points will not be accrued on your account.

Should you purchase a ticket and not attend the match, refunds are not available and Points will not be accrued to your account.

Maccabi fans will be seated in the south sections 1, 2, 3. Tickets are also available for the VIP Section and will include light refreshments and a parking pass.

Tickets are on sale via the Leaan Ticket Agency and are available now. You may purchase tickets at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 101 Dizengoff Street Tel Aviv, telephone *8780 and the Leaan Website.

• Please note
• Home printing is available
• Ticket windows for Maccabi fans will be located in the parking lot by the south section of the stadium
• We recommend that you pick up your tickets in advance
• Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office at 101 Dizengoff Street from Sunday-Thursday between 09:00-19:00 and in Friday between 09:00-13:30
• Tickets may be collected on Matchday beginning at 12:00 at the Western Side ticket windows. The ticket windows will close 45 minutes after the start of the match
• Parking will not be available at or around the stadium on Matchday
• Maccabi Tel Aviv fans may park at the Zoo Parking Lot and shuttles will be available to take them to and from the stadium

Ticket Prices

Telephone/Website
Adult Male – 104 NIS
Youth/Soldier/Woman – 54.50 NIS
VIP (not including refreshments and parking) – 280 NIS
VIP (including refreshments and parking) – 445 NIS

Leaan Ticket Office, 101 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv
Adult Male – 99 NIS
Youth/Soldier/Woman – 49.50 NIS
VIP (not including refreshments and parking) – 275 NIS
VIP (including refreshments and parking) – 440 NIS

At the ticket windows on Matchday should tickets remain
Adult Male – 90 NIS
Youth/Soldier/Woman – 45 NIS
VIP (not including refreshments and parking) – 250 NIS
VIP (including refreshments and parking) – 400 NIS

Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday night April 15th at 20:30 on Matchday 30 of the Ligat Ha’Al 2016/17 Championship Playoffs. The contest will take place at the Netanya Stadium and ticket sales are underway as Maccabi fans may purchase tickets in the following sections: Silver, E+, Lower & Upper West.

Tickets are on sale via the Leaan Ticket Agency located at 101 Dizengoff Street, on their Website and by phone *8780

• Tickets may be printed at home
• Discounted tickets (Youth/Soldier/Women) are available by phone or at the Leaan Ticket Agency Office with ID

Ticket Prices

Silver Section
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 400 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 405 NIS

E+
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 200 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 205 NIS

Upper & Lower West Stands Sections
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 100 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 105 NIS
Youth/Soldier/Women – 50 NIS (not available via the website)

Ticket Collection
Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 101 Dizengoff Street between Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.

Tickets may be collected on Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match until 45 minutes after the start of the match.

Prior to this evening’s match (Sunday 21:00) between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, the Club’s Legal Advisor, Adv. Moran Meiri issued an urgent letter to the Minister of Public Security, Mr. Gilad Erdan. The letter requested that the Minister intervene in the matter of security arrangements for the match and rescind the police ban on the Tifo, Choreography Display which the fans have worked on in preparation for the contest.

This is the text of the letter sent to the Minister of Public Security:

Honorable Minister of Public Security, Mr. Gilad Erdan

Re: Urgent request regarding the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa

I am writing to you on behalf of my client Maccabi Tel Aviv Ltd. regarding an arbitrary decision, without factual and legal basis, by the police, in connection with the football match that will take place tonight between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa:

1. I am turning to you after my client made every possible effort to convince the relevant police department to reduce the number of officers who will be paid by my client for this evening’s match, as well as to allow flags into the stadium that our club’s fans have worked on over the past few days.

2. The police’s decision to require the club to pay the salaries of roughly 270 police officers will cause significant financial losses to my client. Despite the disproportionate and unprecedented amount of officers that also does not meet the agreed upon amount by the leagues and the police in regard to the number of police officers and the financial implications that will be absorbed by the club, the police made an arbitrary and insensitive decision that doesn’t allow the club’s fans to enter the stadium with Tifo Choreography Display which they have worked on in preparation for the contest. This behavior may lead to the exact opposite result and increase the motivation of rioters while at the same time weaken the dialogue with the club’s management. This was explicitly stated to the relevant officers, but until recently the latter had not responded to the request of the club’s management to allow the Tifo Choreography Display, the only reason being that it was an unprecedented precedent with no basis.

3. In reference to the above, I ask that you allow the Tifo Choreography Display that the fans of the club worked on. I would be happy to give you further details about the sequence of events by telephone.

Sincerely,

Adv. Moran Meiri