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Last night Barak Itzhaki made his first league appearance in almost a year and was moved by his reception at Bloomfield: "It was really heart-warming"

After making a blazing comeback last week with a brace in Maccabi's State Cup win against Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramla, Barak Itzhaki last night made his first league appearance in close to a year against Hapoel Acre at Bloomfield Stadium: "It was really an experience. We were back at home and I thoroughly enjoyed my first game at Bloomfield after such a long time". The long-injured striker was deeply moved when he stepped out on the pitch to the thunderous applause of more than 11,000 Maccabi fans: "I'd like to thank everybody for that reception, it was really heart-warming. And not just last night. It's hard to express in words the affection I've received throughout my time being injured, it was absolutely amazing. I was really moved tonight and what's left is to get back to playing as much as possible and perform well".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj-NJgu9epQ&feature=youtu.be

Itzhaki came in off the bench on the hour and hoped to delight the home fans with a goal: "I really wanted to score in front of the fans behind the goal, especially because that's the direction we were playing in the second half. Since we were leading I knew I'd get my chance and I reckoned, what could possibly be better than scoring right there, that would have made the evening perfect for me. It didn't happen but that's okay, they'll be more games and the next one up is the derby".

Last Thursday Itzhaki was treated to a special moment off the pitch as well, when a new line of player-personal items in his name, "Barak 10", was launched at the official Maccabi Tel Aviv merchandise shop. "It's something I've been working on together with Maccabi Tel Aviv's marketing staff for a number of months now and they've done an amazing job. There's nothing better than launching this line just as I'm getting back to match fitness. I'd like to thank everyone for their support, the whole Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club in fact, who stayed behind me the whole way, from start to finish. Now it's up to me to repay that support right here on the pitch".

Itzhaki's lucky night carried on with his accurate prediction of who would be Maccabi's rival in the last sixteen of the State Cup: "I think it will be Hapoel Ashkelon, that's where I grew up. It's just my personal hunch". This morning, when the draw was held, Ithaki's hunch became a reality: Maccabi's ticket to the quarter finals must be earned at home against, who else, Hapoel Ashkelon.