Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Beitar Jerusalem on Matchday 30 of the WINNER League and can leapfrog Hapoel Beer Sheva into first place as the gap between the two clubs stands at only 2 points. Even though the Yellow-and-Blue can take over the number one spot, they must first contend with the capital city side who they have yet to defeat this season and will look to avenge the 4:2 loss at Bloomfield in the first round of matches.

Head Coach Peter Bosz discussed his Monday night rival and contemporary Slobodan Drapic’s team: “Of course the Beer Sheva result was good for us, but that’s only one thing. Now we must get a good result against Beitar Jerusalem. Tomorrow’s match is very important and we are focused on that. However, the most important game will be on Matchday 36. Even if we do win tomorrow the season is not over and if we lose the campaign isn’t over as well.”

On the first round loss to Beitar:

“I know what the result was even though I wasn’t the coach at the time. But I do know that tomorrow’s match will be very difficult. The fact that we didn’t beat Beitar yet this year will have no effect on the match. Statistics are nice and the fact that we haven’t beaten Beitar this year will definitely give us even more motivation to do so tomorrow.”

About some of the changes he may make for the match:

“I always want to learn from my mistakes. When I came to Maccabi, I wanted to play a certain style. But I’ve already said that defense is the responsibility of all 11 players and not just the defenders. That’s what I’ve told the players since the game we played at Teddy Stadium. If we do it correctly no one will be able to stop us.”

The preparation for the game:

“I’m not preparing anything extra special. I watch Barcelona. Everyone knows how they play and they still win. I believe that if we play the way we can, no one will be able to stop us.”

Barak Bachar’s comments:

“I’m not going to comment on them. I am only concentrating on my club and I don’t want anything to distract me. A lot of people talk about me and I can’t comment on every little thing, I have a lot of work to do and I prefer to concentrate on that.”

Playing with just Alberman and Medunjanin in the midfield:

“We didn’t play well at all in the first half of the Hapoel Raanana game. I started the second half with the same players and they looked much better. I don’t like to talk about different types of formations but it all depends on where the players are on the pitch. I believe that this was the problem we had in the Raanana match and I think we have solved this issue.”