The Yellow-and-Blue made sure to begin 2016 just as they ended 2015 with a win this time 2:0 over Hapoel Raanana at the Netanya Stadium. Captain Eran Zahavi picked up his first goal of the new calendar year, while Avi Rikan doubled the score in the second half.

Interim coach Javi Periera made a few changes in the starting XI that featured in the 5:0 win over Kiryat Shemona last week at Bloomfield Stadium. Veteran central defender Tal Ben Haim played in place of Carlos Garcia who was unavailable due to yellow card accumulation, while Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan returned to the starting lineup in favor of Nikola Mitrovic and Nosa Igiebor. Predrag Rajkovic featured in goal with Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi and Omri Ben Harush joining Ben Haim in front of him. Gal Alberman took his usual defensive midfielder spot with Rikan and Peretz beside him. The same attacking trio in Dor Micha, Dejan Radonjic and captain Eran Zahavi started up front.

Maccabi had the first couple of chances in the match as Zahavi’s 8th minute 18 meter free kick and Ben Harush’s long range effort ten minutes later were saved by Raanana keeper Arik Yanko. However, Zahavi didn’t have to wait much longer to score his first goal of 2016 when he pounced on Snir Shocker’s error and put the ball into the Raanana goal to give Maccabi a 24th minute 1:0 lead.

It was then time for the hosts to show their quality with a couple of opportunities just minutes later. The first came from former Yellow-and-Blue striker Barak Badash whose attempt was cleared off the line by Peretz and the second from Evans Kangwa as his effort just went wide of the left post as the half ended with Maccabi holding a 1:0 advantage.

With heavy rains coming down, Maccabi came out of break looking for a chance to double the score and they did just that when Rikan picked up a loose ball in the box and slammed it home to give his side a 2:0 lead in the 59th minute. The Yellow-and-Blue made a number of substitutions in search of a third goal bringing on Shlomi Azulay, Barak Itzhaki and Nikola Mitrovic but it was not to be as the Yellow-and-Blue picked up the 3-points in a 2:0 away win.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium on Matchday 18, Sunday, January 10th at 20:55. Keep up to date on the latest Yellow-and-Blue news by downloading the brand new App available at the App Store and Google Play.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is preparing for their WINNER League Matchday 17 encounter with Hapoel Raanana this Saturday, 17:00 at the Netanya Stadium. Interim coach Javi Periera will be handling the duties on the sidelines for the Yellow-and-Blue and he spoke to the assembled media prior to the Thursday’s training session:

“I am confident in my players and in my team and we are ready to play against Raanana and get a win.”

Raanana has been very difficult to play against:

“The match will be tough, and all the credit goes to Raanana. We learned a lesson when we lost against them in Bloomfield and we will show our quality on the pitch.”

Jokanovic leaving:

“Our players are very impressive and have put on a brave face for the upcoming game without Jokanovic and I’m happy to be here and I’m proud of my players.”

Wanting to be a head coach:

“I am not here to be the number one coach and I am here to help with the transition.”

Still celebrating the New Year and you’ve got a hangover? We all understand the feeling. To make sure you properly set up your calendar for the month of January, take a look at what’s ahead for the beginning of 2016 (not to mention the transfer window…):

WINNER League and Israel State Cup:

The Yellow-and-Blue will be the first WINNER League club to play this coming Saturday on Matchday 17 when thy face Hapoel Raanana at the Netanya Stadium. Later in the month, Maccabi will also begin their State Cup defense against Ramat HaSharon in the Round of 32. There’s also a match against Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield and a clash with Beitar at Teddy.

Here is a list of the January matches:

January 2, Matchday 17: Hapoel Raanana – Maccabi Tel Aviv, 17:00, Netanya Stadium

January 9, Matchday 13, Under-19: Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi Tel Aviv

January 10, Matchday 18: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Maccabi Haifa, 20:55, Bloomfield Stadium

January 14, State Cup Round of 32: Ramat HaSharon – Maccabi Tel Aviv, Grundman Stadium

January 18, Matchday 19: Hapoel Akko – Maccabi Tel Aviv, Akko Municipal Stadium

January 23 (Date & time TBD), Matchday 20: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Maccabi Petach Tikva, Bloomfield Stadium

January 30 (Date & time TBD) Matchday 21: Beitar Jerusalem – Maccabi Tel Aviv, Teddy Stadium

Come meet the Yellow-and-Blue:

Just like every month the Maccabi Tel Aviv Stars have already marked down the days that they will be meeting with you, the fans. Where and when? Get your diaries out:

January 14th, Cinema City, Rishon Le’Zion, Predrag Rajkovic and Omri Ben Harush will be waiting for you at the Official Team Store. Get your autograph pens and selfie cameras ready.

The First Community Day at Kiryat Shalom: Over the course of the month the date for the First Community Day will be announced and 150 Maccabi FIRST members will be able to visit the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility and meet the Yellow-and-Blue stars up close and personal.

(Stay tuned to the Official Website/App and social media networks for more information)

Player of the Month, Matchday Program, You ask – the players answer…

After the HP 2015 Goal of the Year will be announced, we’ll ask you to choose the HISENSE December Player of the Month. Following that, you’ll be able to send in questions to the players (Gili Vermouth will be the first) on Facebook where a selection of them will be answered.

Prior to the away matches, we’ll want you to take part in the Playerlist game, where you’ll be asked to pair up the names of songs to the names of the players that will accompany them to the away matches. The winner will receive a prize from Nivea.

Have you downloaded the App? Great, then you’ll be able to enjoy the Matchday Program prior to every home match (the next one will be against Maccabi Haifa) exclusively on the App.

90th minute St. Jakob’s Park, Basel. Maccabi’s arch-rival over the past few seasons is up 2:1 in the first leg match for a ticket to the Champions League Group Stages. And then, suddenly, Dor Micha lifted the ball to Eran Zahavi who leaped in the air to head it home and as they say the rest is history.

There were quite a few goals that were scored this past year, but this goal was chosen by more than 60 % of the Maccabi FIRST voters to be the HP Goal of the Year. Thousands took part in the very close vote as the top 10 goals of 2015 were ranked by you, the fans. How did the final list turn out and which goals were the big surprises? Watch the video: