Asi Maman 27/01/2021 13:55
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa players (graphics: Carolina Arichman)
When the two empires of Israeli football meet, in a situation where the runner-up is in first place and the champion in second place, and the desire for victory is great – such a game can affect an entire season. Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Maccabi Haifa tonight (Wednesday) at 20:45 at Bloomfield Stadium. Ahead of the meeting between the teams, their former stars analyzed the lineups and determined who the favorite was.
Goalkeepers
The Yellows’ goalkeeper, Daniel Tennenbaum, absorbs more than last season after the many changes made in the defense of Maccabi Tel Aviv, but recently he shows stability, often keeps a clean sheet and even added a bonus in the form of cooking in the last round. On the other hand, between the posts of Maccabi Haifa, Josh Cohen presents a great season and precisely when he was missing, it was possible to see how great a goalkeeper he is. It seems that his return to goal after Sopsel gave a lot of confidence to the defense of Maccabi Haifa, but how will they cope in the Israeli Clasico?
Mizrahi Oak: “These two goalkeepers last season were on the same level, but this season I think Josh Cohen is much better than Tennenbaum. Josh Cohen is more dynamic, he has good instincts and he’s just like a cat. In my eyes, he’s an excellent goalkeeper and I like him.”
Itzik Zohar“The goalkeepers have complete equality between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa. There is no big difference and there is no dominance in this position, because both are absorbed into the team lineup. It is not the late Shura Obarov and not the late Avi Ran, but two good goalkeepers who need their defense with them.”
Yaniv Katan: “There is no such big difference between the two goalkeepers. Josh Cohen made outstanding progress, started less well with Barak Bachar, was on the bench, but in the end he believed in him and gave him credit. Now he is doing a fantastic season and hopefully it will be reflected This time, too, on the field. “
Amir sent: “There is no significant difference, these are two good goalkeepers but the performance of the entire defensive squad will make the difference.”
protection
In recent rounds, it is already clear that Maccabi Haifa has found its formula for the defensive quartet and it even receives an offensive contribution from it, especially from San Menachem, while Maccabi Tel Aviv has recently strengthened and is still rotating between positions. Still, both teams come with an improvement in the defensive game. Maccabi Tel Aviv has conceded just one goal after five games in which it maintained a clean sheet, while Maccabi Haifa has conceded only two goals in its last ten games in the league. Which defense is considered stronger?
Mizrahi Oak: “Maccabi Tel Aviv weakened in its defensive game, after releasing Jair Amador and Andre Geralds, who has only just returned. These are two that were the backbone of the backline last season. On the other hand, Maccabi Haifa brought in an outstanding brake, Bogdan Planic, who started badly but improved, so that he is now in great shape and in my opinion is at a higher level than any other brake. The defense in Haifa has stabilized and that is good. ”
Itzik Zohar: “Maccabi Haifa is a bit better momentum in defense, not because it has such good players, but more but because the glue and connection there works better than that of Maccabi Tel Aviv.”
Yaniv Katan: “The defensive game has improved at the team level in Maccabi Haifa. The main change is that Barak Bachar also demands from his offensive part – Mahiziz, Rokavica and Shari – to put a lot of pressure on the opponent, so he has a close and close team fighting together. Planich has improved a lot and looks fantastic, Ofri Arad “He does a good job and once Barak Bachar has put together a quality defensive trio in the middle, it will surely help them and prevent situations of occupation on the part of the rival.”
Amir sent: “Maccabi Tel Aviv has lost significant players but its defense has a mission, and it is first and foremost to prevent absorbs and stop Nikita Rokavica, because that is what may decide the game. How to do it? The brakes need to learn and think how to play against him, not give him the space “That he needs because he is very fast, and of course also to close the morale even before that. When that happens, it will be easier to stop him and keep the goal, and that is actually the key to Maccabi Tel Aviv’s victory.”
Link
In recent meetings between the teams, the link squad has won games. Barak Bachar has many options in the link, with a variety of players that Maccabi Haifa did not have in previous years. Maccabi Tel Aviv also has quality players in the center of the field, but the yellow card of Dor Peretz will be significant, as Dan Glazer and Yonatan Cohen are also injured and are in great doubt ahead of this game, which could upset the balance in Patrick Van Leven’s team.
Amir sent“In terms of staff and defense, Maccabi Tel Aviv is missing some key players. Dor Peretz and Yonatan Cohen are very significant, but this should not be used as an excuse because they built on a European league and a long season, so its deep staff should fill the gaps. Haifa are favorites but not “Maccabi Tel Aviv should be underestimated, it should be given a lot of respect because in this game they can surpass themselves in spite of everything. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s link has been very dominant in recent years, there are still players who will enter the missing box and it is still a strong team.”
Mizrahi Oak: “On paper, the link of each of the teams is quite equal. Dor Peretz, Dan Glazer and Eyal Golsa are an excellent trio, but since Dor Peretz does not play and Glazer doubts that he is after an injury, the link of Maccabi Tel Aviv is very damaged. One of the strongest things in the team “This is the link, but this time it will not be strong enough, dominant and aggressive. In Maccabi Haifa, the link is strong and dynamic, without significant deductions, so Maccabi Haifa comes to this game in a better way.”
Yaniv Katan: “Barak Bachar plays with three center field players and in the future he may play with two as soon as Omar Atzili gets involved. Barak, a versatile coach who changes his lineup a lot, has assimilated his requirement that every player should run and put pressure on the opposing team with hard work. “The quality of the link’s play. There is no doubt that Maccabi Tel Aviv has shortcomings, but Maccabi Haifa needs to concentrate on itself and its method of play.”
Itzik Zohar: “For this specific game, with these deductions, the link of Maccabi Haifa is better than that of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the most prominent way possible. If Maccabi Haifa wins, it will be solely due to its clear superiority in the center of the field, because as a result its attack will be much more Chances of reaching situations in front of a gate. “
attack
The two best attacks in the league meet. Maccabi Haifa has the best striker in the country, Nikita Rokavica, who is not in high capacity but still continues to score and reached 14 league goals. In addition to him, there is also Dolev Haziza and Chiron Cherry in the front. On the other hand, Yonatan Cohen will be missing because he was injured and Alexander Peshich may miss the game due to injury, but despite the deductions, the team also has Dan Bitton, Tal Ben Haim, Elon Almog and Itai Schechter. The assisting players will have to take the reins and fill in the blanks if necessary. will it help?
Itzik Zohar“There is a clear advantage for Maccabi Haifa, because of Rokavica, Haziza and Shari. It took them a while to connect and produce a warning force for Maccabi Haifa’s attack, because it usually relies on the amount of Rokavica’s goals, but they managed to produce a perfect connection and have a threatening attack. Maccabi Tel Aviv should be careful of three or four attacking players who will face her and that is a great warning force. ”
Yaniv Katan: “The offensive part of Maccabi Haifa is fantastic. Rokavica is a safe share, even when he is less good in certain games. Dolev Haziza is the one who makes the difference, he is in a fantastic period and he is my man in the offensive part, because I love his impudence and daring, Dolev is a technical player with the ball “Firecracker, Cherry, Rokavica and a nobleman who arrived can start in the lineup, with Yannick Videlshot also on the bench, so Barak Bachar has an outstanding attack and this part works great.”
Amir sent: “Rokavica gives two or three great years. He is the league’s scorer and he is a key part of Maccabi Haifa’s success, so he should be the player that Maccabi Tel Aviv will have to be most careful of. On the other hand, it is true that Yonatan Cohen comes to the big games and usually scores And beat them, but in Maccabi Tel Aviv there are those who will score goals despite his disadvantage, whether it is Peshich, Elon Almog, Tal Ben Haim or the experienced Schechter who can be very dangerous for the opponent.I believe Maccabi Tel Aviv can still score, take three points or a point , And transfer the decision to the rest of the season. ”
Mizrahi Oak“Offensively, Maccabi Haifa is in better shape than Maccabi Tel Aviv. Dolev Haziza is the best player in Israel right now, because he cooks, scores and does everything on the field. Cherry is also in excellent shape, and the fact that Noble Omar is waiting on the bench is a significant advantage. Maccabi Haifa looks very good on offense, but Maccabi Tel Aviv is out of order, because Schechter does not always play, Peshich is injured and it is not clear how he will get to this game, Yonatan Cohen is not expected to play and is very significant in terms of numbers. Tal Ben Haim does not have numbers like before – so Maccabi Haifa is much stronger and sharper. “
The Bottom Line
After comparing the different squads on the field, it was time to provide results. Who is better at the next meeting?
Yaniv Katan: “Maccabi Haifa should respect all its rivals, but not look at what they do but look only at themselves. I say this not out of arrogance or arrogance, but out of a belief that this team is better than any other opponent, so in my opinion it is the one that should dictate “What will happen on the field and think about how she can come as a surprise and do her best.”
Itzik Zohar: “In the balance of power that exists today, Maccabi Haifa is better in this game. If Maccabi Tel Aviv comes back with something that is not a loss, it will be an achievement for them.”
Amir sent: “Maccabi Haifa need to come and play to win the championship, Maccabi Tel Aviv need to come to keep the result and see how they win the game wisely after they started the season badly and now have lost significant players. Maccabi Haifa players come with an element of confidence, this difference Of 8 points gives a lot of air and quiet, and it plays in their favor, but I still would not underestimate the champion. ”
Mizrahi Oak: “To run for the Maccabi Tel Aviv championship you have to win, but Maccabi Haifa comes with a lot of confidence and quiet, it is not under pressure and it will stand to its credit. I think there will be a draw and up in favor of Maccabi Haifa. Maccabi Tel Aviv is a good team but in the current situation it will not win.” .
