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In the run up to tomorrow's match in Ashdod, Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Paulo Sousa talked about returning to league duty after a European tie: "The players gave it their all"

After returning last night from the French city of Bordeaux and conducting a post-match practice, the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad held a pre-match training in the run up to their Sunday evening league tie away at Ashdod FC, to be broadcast from 8.10pm on the Israeli sports channels Sport 1 and Sport 1HD. They'll be arriving for this matchweek five fixture on the back of four consecutive league victories and will be looking to register their first win at Ashdod's Yud-Alef Stadium since September of 2010.

Ashdod FC have won two of their first four league matches, both on home turf, a statistic that did not escape the attention of Maccabi head coach Paulo Sousa when he spoke at the end of today's practice ahead of the match: "We know Ashdod are a strong and difficult opponent, especially at home where they haven't lost yet this season. It's a great challenge to our players, both physically and mentally, to return from the total exertion of a European match away from home and with just one day of preparation to jump right back into league play. We'll be looking to make sure that from the very start of the match, and with the support of our wonderful fans, these circumstances will have no effect on our customary abilities and winning mentality".