At a good and successful time, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bnei Sakhnin launch today (Saturday) the top playoff of the Premier League, which should be close, competitive and intriguing. The Yellows, who are in excellent momentum, come to the game with a streak of seven league victories and want to reduce the gap from Maccabi Haifa to 3 points again, but they are facing a stubborn opponent that has not won this season.
Mladen Krestajic started with a lineup similar to the one that defeated Hapoel Hadera in the closing round of the regular season, except for a single change: Dan Bitton, who is carrying an injury, was left out of the squad, and Eyal Golsa, who was preferred over Eden Shamir, replaced him. Tal Ben-Haim is again developing as a right-back, and the pair of Balkan strikers Georgia Juvanovic and Stipa Fritza will try to find the net again. Haim Sylves, on the other hand, moved Marwan Kabha to the brake position to cover the absence of the injured Ante Polic.
The composition of Maccabi Tel Aviv: Daniel Peretz, Tal Ben Haim, Idan Nachmias, Enrique Sborit, Matan Balteksa, Matan Hozaz, Dan Glazer, Eyal Golsa, Gabi Kanikovsky, Georgia Juvanovich, Stifa Fritza.
Bnei Sakhnin composition: Gad Amos, Fabian Sforkselda, Omri Ben Harush, Maron Gentos, Marwan Kabha, Mofalach Shalata, Roi Shukerni, Iahab Ghanaim, Biram Kiel, Ari Moreh, Marshall Odeh.