Maccabi Tel Aviv takes on Bnei Sakhnin on Macthday 32 of the Ligat Ha’Al as the Yellow & Blue begin the second round of Championship Playoff matches. Following a 1:1 draw at Beitar Jerusalem, the gap to first place Hapoel Beer Sheva now sits at 8 points as the southern reds face Maccabi Haifa this evening.
VIDEO: Highlights of the Matchday 19 game against Bnei Sakhnin
מחזור 19 – תקציר הניצחון על בני סכנין
Who’s available and who isn’t:
The list of injured players got a bit longer after winger Tal Ben Chaim came out of the match against Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday night. If you recall, Ben Chaim left the game just a few minutes after scoring and it’s doubtful that he will be available for the match against Sakhnin. Eitan Tibi, Barak Itzhaki and Eli Dasa are all out with injuries and won’t be included in the squad.
There are also a number of key players who are hurt for Sakhnin including central defender Avraham Pas, Giorginho and Siraj Nasar.
What did he say?
“Maccabi is a big club and we are expected to be ready to fight and win every match,” the Head Coach Lito Vidigal said. “Last match we battled and played to win, it didn’t happen even though we had plenty of chances but we have to look ahead and work hard in order to win the next match. Whoever is on a big club has to have that mentality. There’s no time to think about the last match. We have 3 matches this week and we have to be ready and be professional. This is how big clubs like Maccabi work.”
Did you know?
Up until now there have been 37 matches between the clubs. Maccabi has recorded 25 wins, 8 draws and 4 losses against Sakhnin. Last season, the Yellow & Blue drew 0:0 in the Championship Playoffs away at Sakhnin and lost very important points.
Maccabi has won 20 of their last 22 league matches against Sakhnin. This season they have won all three meetings with them (3:0, 2:1, 3:0).
The biggest win was 4:0 which occurred twice, back in 2010/11 and 2012/13.
The first league match between the two clubs took place in November 2003. Central defender Tal Ben Haim played in that match and scored a penalty.
