A big celebration broke out after Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 1:0 Derby win over Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield Stadium with the help of Carlos Garcia’s 86th minute header goal. The players partied hard with the fans on the pitch after the game as the city was painted Yellow-and-Blue once again. After the singing and dancing, Gili Vermouth spoke about his feelings on the match, looked ahead to Porto and his relationship with the fans:

“This was an important victory. It’s funny that some wrote us off after losses in the Toto Cup and the Champions League. We lost to Beitar last match but we played well even though we didn’t take the points. To win the Derby is important to boost our morale and of course on the league table.”

Feelings about playing in a Derby:

“A league Derby is much more exciting than one in the Toto Cup. I was really excited tonight. When I go onto the pitch I only deal with the game and I’m happy we won. Over the last two months I feel that I’ve really been part of the team and that I’m in good shape. My job is to help the club win games and if I can score or add some assists then that’s terrific also.”

Relationship with the fans:

“When I’m even better the cheering will be even stronger, that’s how it works and it’s fine by me.”

What does the team need to do to win on Wednesday:

“We have to be more daring. We have to play to score and win the game. It’s possible.”

The win was dedicated to two people:

“It’s important for us to dedicate the win to Nimrod our physiotherapist and to Yuval Shpungin as both had children this week.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv picked up the important Derby victory over arch rivals Hapoel on Saturday evening playing away at Bloomfield Stadium. The three-points puts the club back into sole possession of first place thanks to Nikola Mitrovic’s corner kick that Carlos Garcia headed into the back of the Reds goal. Celebrating his 20th birthday, Predrag Rajkovic started his first Derby match in goal for Head Coach Slavisa Jokanovic. In front of the Serbian youngster who had family and friends at the game was a defense of Yuval Shpungin and Avi Rikan as the defensive backs while Eitan Tibi and Carlos

Garcia were the central defenders. Gal Alberman anchored the midfield with Dor Peretz and Nikola Mitrovic on his sides with an offensive front of Tal Ben Chaim, Gili Vermouth and captain Eran Zahavi. With both sets of supporters geared up for the big Derby, the Yellow-and-Blue produced more chances in the first half but couldn’t find the back of Tzlil Hatuka’s goal. With the offense centering

around Zahavi, Mitrovic and Shpungin both sent number 7 the ball in the box but he was unable to

capitalize on the opportunities that also included an individual effort in the 19th minute. Winger Ben Chaim also proved to be dangerous but his chances came up empty as referee Ziv Adler handed out five yellow cards to keep the tempers down with the half finishing scoreless. After controlling the ball for 62% of the first half Maccabi continued its domination but came up just inches short from breaking the deadlock in the 62nd minute. Zahavi came flying down the right side of the pitch, cut into the box and placed a perfect pass on the feet of Peretz whose shot just went inches wide of the short side of the goal.

Zahavi then sent a pinpoint pass to Rikan whose ball went over the crossbar as Maccabi continued to pressure Hapoel Tel Aviv into the dying minutes of the match.

 And then in the 86th minute it happened. Mitrovic’s absolutely impeccable comer kick found Carlos Garcia in the box and the central defender made no mistake by heading the ball into the Hapoel goal with authority to give Maccabi the 1:0 Derby win. The Yellow-and-Blue will now begin preparations for their return match with Porto on Matchday Four of the UEFA Champions League this coming Wednesday, November 4th, 21:45 at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa.

Saturday night October 31st, 18:00 will mark the first Ligat Winner League Derby of the 2015/16 season as Maccabi Tel Aviv will visit their arch rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield Stadium on Matchday Nine. The Reds underwent a major overhaul during the summer that has continued into the season with many changes, new faces and an old one as well.

Year Founded: 1923

Stadium: Bloomfield (15,000)

Head Coach: Walid Badir

At the beginning of the season Hapoel named Cesar Mendiondo as coach and former captain Walid Badir as an assistant. However, the Spaniard didn’t last long as the club’s boss and was let go after Matchday Two when he was unable to meet management’s expectations. Badir then took over as the interim coach of The Reds.

Players who left: Israel Zaguri, Lukas Sasha, Jurgen Colin, Matan Ohayon, Lior Levy, Apoula Edel, Shai Abutbul, Amido Balde, Avraham Chekol, Tom Almadon, Sean Malca

Players arrived: Ariel Harosh, Ram Strauss, Tzlil Hatuka, Claudiu Bumba, Edi Gutliv, Omri Altman, Mihai Pintilii, Shmuel Scheimann, Issoumaila Lingane, Omri Shekel, Eyad Abu Abaid, Guy Gomberg, Ofer Werta, Ben Grabli, Liviu Antal, Siraj Naser, Ben Reichert

Key Player: Claudiu Bumba

The 21-year old youngster Bumba, came to Hapoel Tel Aviv over the summer with another pair of Romanian footballers, Pintilii and Antal. The midfielder is considered to be an up and coming talent in his homeland and has already made his debut for his National Team. Bumba scored a brace in Hapoel’s victory over Bnei Yehuda.

How are they coming into the Derby?

The month of October has not been kind to Hapoel as Walid Badir’s side collected only one point out of three games. At the beginning of the month they drew against Hapoel Kfar Saba but then lost twice, 4:0 to Sakhnin and 3:1 to Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Yuval Shpungin and his teammates are getting ready to visit The Reds at Bloomfield Stadium this Saturday evening at 18:00. The Yellow-and-Blue veteran defender started this past Wednesday against Bnei Yehuda in Toto Cup action after coming back from an injury and also celebrated the birth of a baby boy:

“Of course the result was disappointing but I returned to play after some time away. It was good to be back on the pitch, to be able to play again and to get back into game shape. I’ll have to keep working hard and continue improving. I had surgery but I’m healthy now and I’m getting back into shape.”

The busy schedule:

“The schedule is packed, that’s for sure and we have to prepare efficiently and effectively for the Derby.”

On the deep squad:

“We have a number of players who can play right or left back and there are a few
people who can play the position. I want to get back as soon as possible and the training staff always has a proper plan in place going forward.”

The importance of the Derby:

“It’s a game for three points but it is also for the honor and we want to win very badly especially because we lost our last league match. It’s very important for us to win.”

About the losing streak:

“We’re not really thinking about it at this point. We will learn from our mistakes and work on the areas that need to be improved. We’re always looking ahead and we’ll do what we need to win.”

The club’s point total so far:

“It’s still very early and we’re not really looking at how many points we have right now. We are looking to see how we can continue to improve as a team and win our games.”

The best day of the year is Derby day.

That’s a surprising statement and it’s the truth. How am I going to spend the time until the match, brush my teeth thinking about all of the Tifo in section 11, driving in my car listening to Maccabi music, going to work and have people bother me when I’m flying high watching Zahavi’s goal in the 3:2 Derby. I’m counting the hours and the minutes until I can get to the fabled old stadium in Jaffa.

Dusk descends and then nightfall but everything is ready my mother tells me, three hours before kickoff the TV goes on. The Derby officially gets underway and at the moment I say, enough, I’m getting ready and I’m heading to Bloomfield with my scarf and lucky jersey, section 11 here I come.

I get to the streets of Jaffa and I look around, I see the shadows and I hear the voices, all of Jaffa is Yellow-and-Blue. I’m dying to get out of my car to smell the surroundings and feel the atmosphere. Buy a falafel, light a cigarette to relax and take a deep breath, Yalla Derby as I walk slowly towards the stands listening to the crowd already straining their voices as I walk up the magical stairs.

Quiet, silence and darkness, you’re alone in the friendly confines of Bloomfield where there are hundreds of things going on in the stadium within seconds. The lush green pitch in all of its beauty is before me and suddenly my ears perk up, I lift my hands and hold my scarf high. I didn’t come to a concert, I came to show off my religion, the religion I love, the religion of Yellow-and-Blue. I came to prove who is the most beautiful in the city, the excitement is in the air and I’m dying for the match to begin. Who am I you ask? I am Maccabi who comes to win every match, at every stadium with all of my strength and all of my might. “Not Yet” the fans say in stands. Soon. The referee blows his whistle…to be continued Saturday night…