Preview

Following the postponement of the league match against Hapoel Petah Tikva due to the European campaign, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium to host Maccabi Netanya for the match that will open the 2025/26 league season.
Zarko Lazetic made several changes from the side that secured qualification to the Europa League against Dunamo Kyiv on Thursday as Raz Shlomo partnered Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Tyrese Asante and Roy Revivo on the right and left respectively completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Ido Shahar was named alongside Issouf Sissokho in Maccabi’s engine room with Dor Peretz captaining the side at the top of the midfield trio. Osher Davida and Elad Madmon supplied the width on both flanks with Ion Nicolaescu leading the line as the Moldovan international striker still seeking his first official goal in a Maccabi shirt.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Heitor, Sagiv Jehezkel, Denny Gropper, Kristijan Belic, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy and Saied Abu Farchi.

First Half

Prior to kickoff a minute of applauds was held in memory of Dan Margalit, a journalist, media personality and Maccabi fan who died last week at the age of 87. Backed by an almost full to capacity Bloomfield stadium, Maccabi began the match with pressure on Netanya inside their own half. Ali Camara was cautioned by referee Ohad Asulin inside the fourth minute while Netanya’s Hriberto Tavares followed shortly after. It took Maccabi 20 minutes to open the score as Dor Peretz continued his league form from last season. Tyrese Asante split Netanya’s defense open with a perfect pass into the path of Maccabi’s captain whose darting run saw him shrug off a challenge and lift the ball over the hapless Omer Nir’on. Two minutes later Maccabi’s blitz continued as Issouf Sissokho fed Ion Nicolaescu who curled a right foot shot beyond the reach of Nir’on to double the score with his first competitive goal since joining Maccabi in the summer. Netanya’s coach Yossi Abuksis reacted with a double substitution as Amit Cohen and Lucas Fraizu replaced Tavares and Wilson Harris.

Nicolaescu came close to increase his tally on the night in the 36th minute as Peretz picked him unmarked in the middle of the area. The Moldovan striker couldn’t keep his flick down as it sailed over the crossbar. Two minutes later Nicolaescu came even closer as he rose above Netanya’s defense to meet Roy Revivo’s pinpoint cross with a powerful header which Nir’on managed to claw off his line. Inside injury time Elad Madmon who worked tirelessly through the first half saw yellow for a tackle on Netanya’s Seba Hawadajiani.

Second Half

Maccabi’s coach Zarko Lazetic made two changes after the interval as Heitor came on for Ali Camara while Sagiv Jehezkel replaced Madmon at the restart. Just like the first half, the second half began just like the first one with a Maccabi player booked by Asulin – this time it was Peretz who saw yellow. In the 50th minute a Netanya free kick almost cut Maccabi’s lead only for Ido Shahar who somehow managed to hook the ball over for a corner.

Asante came close to open his account as he headed Shahar’s corner from the goalmouth over the crossbar on 58. A minute after the hour mark Maccabi scored the third as Peretz picked the ball just inside Netanya’s half charged forward and drilled a low powerful drive that beat Nir’on to make it 3-0. Peretz could have completed a hatrick within a minute as he chested the ball and sent a shot wide. Lazetic introduced two more players as Shahar and Nicolaescu bowed out to a standing ovation as they were replaced by Itamar Noy and Kristijan Belic. In the 71st minute the two substitutes combined as Belic dribbled down the left, squared to Noy who blasted a powerful left foot shot that rocketed past Nir’on for his debut Maccabi and fourth on the night.