Game Summary – Courtesy of “Sports 1”
Barak Bachar prepared his players for the game against Olympiacos last night (Wednesday), as before any league game or game against a lesser opponent, and demanded that they press the Greek defensive players and look for a quick goal. Aside from the early goal the Greens conceded, his game plan worked, but in the end there was disappointment despite Dolev Haziza’s late equalizer, as the team had the feeling that the Greens had come to win this game, despite suffering from a lack of sharpness at the front.
Throughout the game and at the end, Maccabi Haifa was critical of the Greeks for wasting time, when the focus was on its goalkeeper, Tomasz and Atzlik, whom he approached at the end of Haziza, and commented on the waste, when the goalkeeper complained to the referees that objects were thrown at him from the northern stand. There were also many arguments against the referee throughout the game. In Haifa, they claim that the judges helped Olympiacos waste time, and that they were biased by the little whistles. In addition, there was anger among the Greens over the fact that in a game worth a great deal of money and prestige, UEFA decided that there would be no VAR system.
A source at Maccabi Haifa said at the end: “Olympiacos wasted time, the referees helped her. The fact that they had to waste time says it all. Apart from the situation they had at the gate, they hardly got into situations. We deserved to win, now we have to complete the task in Greece.”
Quite a few greens impressed on the grass last night. Maccabi Haifa were pleased with the performance of Ali Muhammad, Bogdan Planic, Chiron Sheri and of course Haziza. In addition, there was satisfaction with the substitutions of Barak Bachar, who upgraded the team in each substitution and entered the game well, including Prantzadi Piero, who suffered harsh criticism after the Champions League game and last night showed improved ability, despite the misses.
In all preparation for the season, Barak Bachar practiced two sets: a set that includes three brakes and also 4-3-3, his classic set. Last night he opened with four defenders, but while playing he changed formations. The club complimented the coach on the game, as the team knew what it wanted at any given moment, the lineup change was natural and the game management was right. In Haifa, they say that the team and the staff got stronger last season. The arrival of defenders Daniel Sundgren and Pierre Corno, in addition to the significant additions to the attack, in the form of Piero and Rokavica, testified that the team is stronger and so it would have looked yesterday and in the game against BS.
In addition, Haifa was satisfied with the physical fitness of the team at this stage of the season, when even in the final minutes the Greens did not take their foot off the gas, and especially noted the work of Dror Shimshon and the team of fitness coaches. Alongside this, there is great concern about the condition of Noble Omar, who twisted his ankle during a tackle in the first half. He tried to open the second half, but was substituted a few minutes later. He had difficulty stepping on the foot and will be checked during the day. The club will try to train him, but he is currently in a very big doubt for the rematch next week.
Maccabi Haifa also mentioned the crowd. Nearly 3,000 greens were present at the game in Sami Ofer, and the club claims that the Greeks told them that the atmosphere at the stadium in Haifa was no less warm than the atmosphere to which they are accustomed at games in Greece.
