Category: News
Maccabi held to 1-1 by Tiberias
Preview:
Three days after the defeat away to Sporting Braga in the Europa League and four days before hosting FC Midtjylland in Belgrade, Maccabi returned to league action. Zarko Lazetic who guided Maccabi to four victories from the opening four league matches, will aim to maintain his 100% league record against newly promoted side Ironi Tiberias. Due to the restrictions of the Home Front Command, the Israel Professional Football Leagues in view of the current security situation, the MD5 WINNER League match at Bloomfield was staged behind closed doors against newly promoted side Ironi Tiberias. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made seven changes from the side that started in Portugal handing young goalkeeper Ofek Melika his debut appearance in Maccabi’s goal. Nir Bitton who made two substitute appearances in Europe this season, made his first league start at the heart of defense since injuring his knee in December last year.
Bitton partnered Nemanja Stojic as the second central defender with Idan Nachmias deputizing at left back to complete Maccabi’s defensive line. Joris van OPvereem who was rested against Braga returned to the anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completing the midfield trio. Hisham Layous and Wesley Patati who were both introduced as second half substitutes in Portugal, started on both wings with Eran Zahavi leading the line and the team out with the captain’s armband.
On the bench, Lazetic named Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Stav Lemkin, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Issouf Sissokho and Osher Davida.
First Half
Welcomed onto the pitch by an empty Bloomfield stadium, newly promoted Tiberias didn’t feel the intimidation a visiting side would normally feel. Three minutes from the start, Ofek Melika, on his senior Maccabi debut, pulled a spectacular save to deny Tiberias an early lead. Four minutes later, Shai Konstantin found himself unmarked at the far post before snapping his shot which narrowly missed the top corner.
Tןberias sat back, soacking Maccabi’s pressure as goalkeeper Daniel Tenebaum who spent 8 years at Maccabi wasn’t put under any threat. A minute after the half hour mark, Maccabi finally took the lead from an unlikely source. Idan Nachmias, playing at left-back reacted first to a lose ball on the edge of the area before sending a volley that bounced infront of Tenenbaum and rolling in. Nemanja Stojic forced a save from Tenebaum and Wesley Patati cleared the crossbar with a powerful left foot drive as Maccabi continued to look dangerous.
On the stroke of halftime Maccabi came close to double their lead at the of an attack which began with a Melika long throw to Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder released Hisham Layous who charged forward and cut the ball back for Dor Pertetz whose effort was tipped over the crossbar by Tenebaum.
Second Half
Lazetic made one change at halftime as he introduced Osher Davida for Patati at the restart. In the 54th minute Davida almost made an immediate impact after he was sent charging down the right by Asante. Davida managed to cut into the area before his attempt of a cut back was cleared by Tiberias’ defense. Right on tbe hour mark Davida came close to score himself as he rose at the back post to head Layous’s cross which was caught by Tenenbaum on his line. Three minutes later Tiberias were back on level terms as Harun Shapso was allowed a free header that beat Melika to level the score.
Lazetic reacted with a triple substitution as Raz Shlomo, Issouf Sissokho and Elad Madmon came on for Nir Bitton, Joris van Overeem and Eran Zahavi on 73. In the 87th minute Lazetic made another change as Layous was replaced by Yonas Malede came on for the closing stages.
Lazetic ahead of Tiberias
Lazetic summs up Braga defeat
Another one to remember? 5 Maccabi Europa League goals
Peretz ahead of the Europa League
The Maccabi midfielder spoke ahead of the Europa League MD1 away to Sporting Braga (Thursday, 22:00) about the pride of representing Israel abroad.
The 29-year-old midfielder who enjoyed a good start to the season scoring 3 goals in the qualifiers spoke ahead of the start to the Group League phase. “We expect a tough match against a strong opponent” Peretz said at the start of the press conference at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. “They have quality players and are playing very well as a team. I think that if we remain focused, bring the level of intensity and aggressiveness required at this level, use the principals our coach introduced us to – we stand a chance of showing our quality at this tough match. This will be our task tomorrow.”
When asked about the tough situation Maccabi coping with, having to play away from home while the war is being fought in Israel for 355 days, Peretz said: “Playing abroad is something which we are experienced in for almost a year. We are doing this while our country is in s state of war and soldiers are dying protecting our country. Our friends are doing everything to try save the country and control the situation. We are here focusing on football and must look at the fact that we are representing Israel. As an Israeli team we are showing the country’s strength by playing football abroad. We must do our best for our country, even if it is only in football, but we still must do our best. We always think about what goes on back home and try bringing with us the passion of our fans who can’t be here with us and are disappointed we are not hosting matches at home. We are doing all this for their sake and for the sake of our country”.
Lazetic ahead of Braga
The numbers ahead of the Europa League phase
The 2024/25 season will be the 16th campaign where the Europa League is staged with Maccabi participating 10 times including the qualifying campaign.
Maccabi’s best achievement in the Europa League was qualification to the Round of 32 in two occasions. In 2014 Maccabi’s run was ended by FC Basel of Switzerland and in 2021 when they were knocked out by Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. On both campaigns Maccabi finished second in their respective group of four teams and collected 11 of a possible 18.
This will be the sixth season Maccabi advanced past the qualifying phase, more than any Israeli club. Maccabi played in the Europa League group phase in the 2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2020/21 seasons.
The 2024/25 campaign will see the group stage replaced with an inaugural League phase of 8 matches.
Maccabi’s record in 30 Europa League matches currently stands on 9 victories, 8 draws and 13 defeats.
Before this season in the Group stages Maccabi faced 14 clubs from 13 countries. Spanish side Villareal are the only side to face Maccabi in the Europa League group stages on 2 different seasons: 2017/18 and 2020/21.
Turkey is the only country Maccabi played against two different clubs: Besiktas 2011/12 and Sivasspor 2020/21.
Maccabi’s highest Europa League victory was a 4-2 win over Bundesliga side Frankfurt in 2013/14 with Eran Zahavi and Barak Itzhaki scoring 2 goals each.
Seventy-two different players represented Maccabi in the Europa League over the years with Sheran Yeini leading the list with 22 appearances.
Twenty-one players scored 29 goals for Maccabi in the group stages. Three players scored 3 goals each: Eran Zahavi, Barak Itzhaki and Dor Micha.
Europa League: Destination Portugal
Maccabi begins a new chapter on Thursday (22:00) as they kick-off the inaugural Europa League phase with a tough trip to Sporting Braga. The team held their final practice session at the Kiryat Shalom training complex before heading for Ben Gurion airport and jetting out on a 6-hour-long flight to Porto. The 30,286 capacity Estádio Municipal in Braga will host Maccabi’s MD1 Europa League match against the side which is currently 7th and finished last season 4th in the Portugeuse table.
Kanichowsy: “I feel a lot of responsibility at Maccabi”
Gabi Kanichowsy captained the side as Maccabi recorded a 2-0 victory away to Ashdod. “It is always fun to win, especially at a tough match against such a good side” Kanichowsky said after the match. “We played well after two matches of not showing the best of form as we played like we want to”.
It was a special occasion for Kanichowsky who captained the side, as he said: “I was surprised when handed the captain’s armband, but either way I have a lot of responsibility at Maccabi and I am delighted to be a key figure. My duty is to repay this club and the coach on the pitch. Regardless of the armband, I am not someone to force myself, but I try to help as much as I can. I just hope that I succeed in what I am doing, and that people accept my advice, yet it still surprises me everytime.”
On the push Maccabi received from the 3700 travelling fans at Ashdod, the midfielder added: “At the start of the season when you play in Europe and fans are not there to support us – it is tough. One gets excited every time there are fans that push you. It is very important for us and I am delighted we completed the job today.”
Ahead of Thursday’s EUROPA League match away to Sporting Braga, Kanichowsky said: “It is exciting. I think we have plenty to give and prove. We are not arriving there just to supply a backdrop and be part of the scenery. We will not just come there to be run over and say: ‘wow we qualified to Europe’. When we talk amongst ourselves, we are under the impression that we received draws at our levels. But once again, I have yet to compete in the Europa League and looking forward to an amazing experience”
