The second best attack in the league
Hapoel Haifa has 37 goals so far this season – the most in the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika other than Maccabi Tel Aviv who have 47. According to the statistics Maccabi should pay close attention to the end of the first half. Sharon Mimer’s team has scored 7 goals between minutes 30-45 which is second most to Maccabi who have 11. That’s 19% of their total goals this season.
Another interesting statistic is how Haifa builds their attack. Maccabi leads the league scoring after 41.9 seconds from the start of an attack while Haifa is second with 24.3 seconds. Beitar Jerusalem is at 22.5 secs, Beer Sheva 20.6 and Bnei Yehuda 17.3.
Even though they are in second they find themselves in 9th place in ball possession at 49% on average per match.
Be careful of set pieces
Haifa has scored ten goals from set pieces including four from penalties, second most behind Maccabi Netanya who have scored 11 times from dead balls. Mimer’s squad has also scored twice from direct free kicks most in the league and are tied with Maccabi.
Haifa has Hapoel Hadera have conceded the least goals from set pieces with only two. However, they have given up the most goals from open pitch attacks along with Hadera (25).
On the defensive side of the game, Haifa has the lowest tackle percentage at 47% (74/156).
Another fact is that the Carmel Reds press the least on the opponent’s side of the pitch at only 0.5 items per match.
Nes Zamir’s absence
In the match against Maccabi, Haifa will be without out Nes Zamir who is suspended. Zamir and Yarden Shua are the two players in the league who have been involved in most of their club’s goals (12). Zamir has 6 goals and 6 assists.
Striker Ben Azubel will play and as one of the tallest players in the league he has been involved in many aerial battles, averaging 11 per match in which he wins 4.2 of them.
One of Haifa’s most important players is Dor Malul who grew up through the ranks of Maccabi. The right back has assisted on four goals this season just behind Eli Dasa who has six helpers and has a 56% accuracy rate when he sends the ball into the box.
Matan Hozez, who Maccabi loaned to Hapoel Haifa has scored 4 goals in 304 minutes he has played since joining the Reds for an average of one goal every 76 minutes.
Haifa has a very aggressive midfield which is led by Rasmus Sjöstedt who ranks 6th in steals with 137.
