Intro: A high-stakes visit to Sakhnin
Three days after a 0-0 Europa League stalemate with PAOK Thessaloniki, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to the Israeli Liga Winner schedule with a challenging away trip to Bnei Sakhnin. The match, played at Docha Stadium in Sakhnin, was the fifth round of the season, and the Yellow Brigade arrived with a perfect league record—four straight wins—yet facing a dense calendar ahead that includes clashes with Dinamo Zagreb and Maccabi Haifa. Coach Zarko Lazetic again shuffled the lineup, giving starts to Heitor, Dani Gropper, Ido Shahar, Helio Varela, and Elad Madmon. Roy Raviv was left out after his red card against Hapoel Jerusalem.
First half: Pressure high, chances plentiful
The 1,200 Yellow supporters at Docha Stadium created a cauldron-like atmosphere as the visitors aimed for an early breakthrough. The opening minutes set a clear tone: Maccabi pressed high, looking to seize control before the break. In the fifth minute, Elad Madmon spun away from his marker, turned on the edge of the box, and struck a powerful shot that rattled the woodwork. The ball kissed the post and bounced away, signaling the evening’s intent from the visitors.
Midway through the half, a heavy foul by Otanga on Ido Shahar near the halfway line drew a yellow card, which became a bigger talking point after a VAR review. The referee initially showed a red card, but after review, Otanga’s dismissal stood, leaving Sakhnin with a one-man deficit for the remainder of the period. The ensuing possession saw Luciano-style improvisation from Maccabi as they sought to capitalize on the numerical advantage.
Three minutes after the red card, Sakhnin miscleared into the path of Varrela, who volleyed from the air, but the ball was saved by the keeper Mohammad Abu Niel. A well-worked free-kick created another moment of danger for Sakhnin: Christian Blitz found space in the box, yet his shot was deflected away by a defender just in front of the line. The relentless pressure continued, with a header from Varela narrowly blocked and another sharp chance for Arla that was also thwarted as the first half wore on.
Second half: Substitutions and further control
After the break, Lazetic attempted to maintain momentum by swapping personnel: Krovin Andrade entered for Dani Gropper, and Varela moved to left-back to adapt to the altered formation. Despite the reshuffle, Maccabi found it difficult to carve out a clear-cut scoring opportunity, as Sakhnin’s rearguard held firm and the chances stayed sporadic.
In the 61st minute, a key moment tested the visitors once again when Arla was substituted by Ohad Davida as Lazetic tried to refresh the attack. The intensity remained high, and in the 69th minute Roy Mishpati produced a vital save from Jobier Boshnak to keep the scoreboard clean. A second sequence of discipline followed as Andrade was involved in a clash on Ibrahim Darmi that led to a red card, the second instant of VAR intervention in the night—this time reducing Sakhnin to ten men but ultimately leaving the yellow card intact after review.
Late drama and the final moments
With regulation time fading, Maccabi pressed with renewed urgency, seeking a late breakthrough. A dangerous cross from Shagiv Yechazkel found Tyris Santa in the box; the header was on target, but Abu NIl, Sakhnin’s goalkeeper, parried away, earning a crucial point for his side. The foul play and time-wasting warnings that followed saw Abu NIl pick up a yellow, and a second yellow would have seen him dismissed, but the red card ultimately forced a change in goalkeeping—Ayed Abu Avod took the gloves as Sakhnin faced the closing minutes with ten men. The game concluded with the final whistle and a sense that both teams had earned a share of the spoils, despite the late controversy and several VAR checks that punctuated an intense 90 minutes.
What it means for the table and the road ahead
Maccabi Tel Aviv, still unbeaten in league play, will look to translate this pressure into points in the schedule ahead, with tougher fixtures looming against Dinamo Zagreb and Maccabi Haifa. Lazetic’s rotation policy produced a mix of opportunities and constraints, but the underlying intent—control, tempo, and goal danger—remains evident. For Sakhnin, the red-card twist tested their resilience, and the late penalty drama hinted at a compelling season arc for both sides as the campaign unfolds.
