Maccabi met Hapoel Be’ersheva 150 times in all competitions winning 77 matches, drawing 39 and losing 34 with a total goal record of 220-124.

Both teams faced each other for a 131 league encounters with Maccabi winning 62, drawing 38 and losing 31. The goal tally in the league currently stands on 183-111.

Since the 2018/19 championship winning season, Maccabi hosted Be’ersheva 11 times winning 7 and drawing 4 with a goal tally of 15-3.

The two clubs were teamed up only once on MD34 during the 2017/18 season at Turner stadium. A Dor Peretz winning goal ended Be’ersheva’s 51 match long unbeaten home run in domestic competitions to dampen the hosts’ championship celebrations.

Be’ersheva secured their championship in the 2016/17 season with a 2-1 victory over Maccabi in the Netanya stadium.

Maccabi on the other hand, won the league title twice in the past at Be’ersheva. An Alon Brummer winning goal on the final day of the 1994/95 season gave Maccabi a 1-0 victory and the 17^th league title. An Eran Zahavi brace on MD33 of the 2013/14 season gave Maccabi a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Be’ersheva at Vassermil stadium to win the 21^st championship in the club’s history.

Memorial Day, is Israel’s national day of mourning to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the State of Israel and victims of terrorism is observed across the country on Sunday evening and Monday. Maccabi is also marking this day with a deep sense of reverence and solemnity, at the Avi Cohen Youth Academy complex in Kiryat Shalom.

 

Previews:

Maccabi arrived at the Sammy Ofer stadium for the ONE ZERO League MD33 top of the table clash against Maccabi Haifa with 73 points – five points more than the hosts.

 

Maccabi’s Head Coach, Robbie Keane, whose only victory over Haifa this season was in the Toto Cup Final, knows that any result but a defeat would be a big step towards securing a second title and the most important one of the campaign. Following Monday’s 1-1 draw away to Bnei Sakhnin, Keane, was forced to try guide Maccabi to victory without his influential winger, Felicio Milson, after the Angolan was serving a one-match touchline ban after being sent off at Doha. In the absence of Milson, Keane made several changes to his side as Matan Baltaxa stepped into the side and lined up alongside Raz Shlomo and Enric Saborit as the three centra defenders.

Roy Revivo who set up Maccabi’s goal in Sakhnin and Ofir Davidzada were the two wing-backs on the right left respectively to complete Maccabi’s defensive line. In midfield, Keane stuck with his midfield trio as Eden Karzev, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky all kept their places. Dan Biton, whose last start was in the State Cup match against Maccabi Petah Tikva early last month, returned to the side for his 42nd appearance of the season. Eran Zahavi whose last goal was against Haifa when both teams last met at Bloomfield, led the line in chase of his 36th goal in all competitions.

On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Joris van Overeem, Younas Malede, Eyal Golasa, Derrick Luckassen, Ido Shahar and Osher Davida.

First Half

Maccabe began the match on the back foot as Haifa pinned Robbie Keane’s side in their own half during the opening stages. While Haifa missed several chances, Maccabi’s first shot on goal came in the 14th minute as Roy Revivo fired a shot which was collected by Shareef Keouf. Haifa’s tall Haitian striker, Fratzy Pierrot, sent a header wide of Roi Mishpati’s goal while Lorenco Simic headed a corner over.

In the 23rd minute Dor Peretz was booked by referee Roi Reinshreiber for a foul on Haifa’s Mahmoud Ja’aber, a fact which would sideline him from Saturday’s match against Haooel Beersheva. A minute later, Abdolaye Seck tripped Eran Zahavi inside the area before Reinshreiber awarded a penalty. Zahavi stepped up, sent Keouf the wrong way to give Maccabi a 1-0 lead with his 17th league goal and 36th in all competitions this season.

Five minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi came close to the score from a counter attack which began with Dan Biton and saw him release Ofir Davidzada down the left. But despite a perfect square ball across the face of goal, Zahavi, who suffered from a dislocated collar bone when fouled for the penalty, was inches away from reaching that cross before Haifa’s defense managed to clear the danger.

In the 42nd minute Haifa were forced to make their first change as Daniel Snudgren limped off and was replaced by Ilay Feingold. The fourth official signaled four minutes of added but Maccabi’s defense managed to deal with everything that Haifa threw at them before Reinshreiber’s halftime whistle sent both teams to regroup in the dressing room.

Second Half

Less than thirty seconds after the restart Roy Revivo was cautioned for a foul on Pierrot. Haifa took the free kick early as Lior Rafaelov charged forward and curled the ball into the box. Din David sent a backheel flick that beat Mishpati at the near post. But Haifa’s celebrations were short-lived as VAR intervened and disallowed the goal for offside.

Two minutes later Revivo charged into the box and was clearly brought down by Simic with no response from the referee. Once again VAR was called into action, sent the referee to the screen and a penalty was awarded. Zahavi stepped up once again, but this time Keouf dived to his left and saved the spot kick to deny Zahavi and Maccabi their second.

In the 65th minute Rafaelov blasted a shot over the crossbar before Keane reacted with a double substitution as Biton and Zahavi bowed out and were replaced by Joris van Overeem and Dor Turgeman. Keane’s counterpart made two changes himself as Gadi Kinda and Ilay Hagag came on for Simic and Rafaelov a minute later.

Keane made his third change in the 70th minute as Ofir Davidzada limped off with what seems like a tight hamstring and was replaced by Idan Nachmias. Revivo returned to his original role at left back while Nachmias slotted in on the right. In the 72^nd minute Turgeman charged forward for a counter attack and was stopped by Kinda who was consequently booked.

Enric Saborit went down with a hamstring injury and limped off in the 80th minute as Keane introduced Derrick Luckassen as his fourth and final change. In the 89th minute, seconds before the fourth official signaled 7 minutes of added time, Kinda was left unmarked and rattled Mishpati’s post with a powerful header. Haifa tried desperately to snatch an equalizer but Maccabi showed grit and determination, defended their lead and celebrated a massive victory at the final whistle.

Dor Perezt celebrated his 50^th appearance for Maccabi this season with a 1-0 victory over second place Maccabi Haifa which increased the lead at the top of the table to 8 points. The 28-year-old midfielder, said after the game which took Maccabi a step closer towards the league title: “From the first moment we showed what was our target. We had it in our heads to win rather than salvage a draw” Peretz said, ”Our attitude and application right from the start was amazing. We were aggressive and fortunately it manifested itself in the result. We are delighted now as it is an important victory here over Maccabi Haifa, but we still have plenty of work. It is not over just yet and until we officially secure this title there is no room for celebrations.”

 

On Maccabi’s impressive defensive display, Peretz added: “A defensive game is a team effort. Just as there are no single players to blame when mistakes occur, this is also part of a team. Our defensive display today was perfect. We were there to jump on every loose ball and didn’t give them a single chance besides Gadi Kinda’s header near the end which struck the post. We could be very proud of ourselves for the form we showed, for our will to win every dual and take it forward for the rest of our season.”

With owner Mitch Goldhar and his representative Jack Angelides both present, Perertz was asked whether their influence inspired the team: “I don’t know, because we do our best in every game we play. The fact they are here now just intensifies the fact we would like to win for ourselves and for them. Mitch totally deserves it, for all his investment over the years. I am just happy that this is exactly what happened today”.

As for the importance of beating their bitter rivals at their home ground, Peretz added: “Winning here is massive especially as you give the fans a great feeling of travelling back home happy.”

Answering claims made by Haifa’s captain, Lior Rafaelov, that they are a better at football, Peretz said: “I have a feeling that every time before a match against Maccabi Haifa when we are interviewed then we are asked to comment about something someone from Maccabi Haifa either their coach or one of their players said. After the game we are asked to comment on something they said as well. So, they can talk about us, and focus on us but as long as results go in our favor, they can continue talking and focusing on us, while we will continue doing our job and focusing on ourselves.”

Peretz, who will be suspended from the next match against Hapoel Be’ersheva summed up: “We will need to continue doing our job. Every match is important for us. Once we secure the title we will celebrate.”