After finishing a successful week with a victory over Bnei Sakhnin and qualifying for the cup final, Maccabi Haifa will meet Maccabi Netanya this afternoon (Saturday, 17:30) and try to increase the gap at least temporarily to ten points from Hapoel B’Shlosha, which will play tomorrow (Sunday) against Bnei Sakhnin. , Only on Tuesday did Maccabi Haifa achieve an important victory in the derby against Hapoel, and coach Barak Bachar asked his players to bring the enthusiasm and determination from that game to tonight’s meeting.
Although Maccabi Netanya has not yet won the top playoff, Carmel does not take it lightly: “We remember the previous game, they were very dangerous and we had a hard time.” Similar to the game against Hapoel Haifa, Barak Bachar plans to “attack” the opponent when the game opens with high pressure and try to score a quick goal.
As for the squad, it seems that there are ten safe players in 11, while there is a dispute between the captain, Neta Lavi who recorded a good game in the cup semi-final for Ali Muhammad who won a rest. Bogdan Planic and Dolev Haziza, who are carrying injuries, have received treatment and are expected to rise in Barak Bachar’s 11th.
Josh Cohen and Muhammad Abu Fani, who did not start in the cup, will return to the squad. Charon Cherry who is in tremendous shape will open under the Law of David. Noble Omar, who has cooked in the cup and shown good ability in the last two games, is looking for a first goal after two months.
Jose Rodriguez will miss the second game in a row after informing the professional team that he is suffering from ankle pain. Maccabi Haifa president Yaakov Shachar and his deputy, Uzi Moore, are expected to meet with the Spaniard earlier this week and conclude a new contract. The club hopes that the saga will be behind them and Rodriguez will be available to the professional team in the decisive games in the league as well as in the cup final against Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Estimated composition: Josh Cohen; Mikael Alphonse, Bogdan Planic, Sean Goldberg, San Menachem; Neta Lavie (Ali Muhammad), Muhammad Abu Fani, Charon Shari; Noble Omar, Dolev Haziza and Din David.