Maccabi Haifa Eyes Comeback Against Hapoel Petah Tikva With Tactical Shifts

Maccabi Haifa is preparing to face Hapoel Petah Tikva on Saturday, aiming to rebound from a recent 3-1 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Head coach Barak Bakhar was reportedly displeased with his team's performance, particularly in the first half of the previous match, and is expected to make at least two changes to the starting lineup.

Ali Mohamed is anticipated to replace Yarin Levi, and new signing Andrea Novakovic is set to make his first start in place of Silva Kani. Bakhar is also contemplating further adjustments, including a potential shift in formation. The team has utilized a flexible system, defending with four players and attacking with Jelle Bataille moving into midfield to create numerical advantages. However, Bakhar is considering a 5-3-2 formation for the upcoming game, which could see Eyad Habashi start over Bataille, with Lior Refaelov joining Novakovic in attack and Kenny Saief playing in midfield.

Another area of uncertainty is the left-wing position, where both captain Tjaronn Chery and Cedric D'Almeida were practiced in the final training session. Yair Mordechai, who had a positive impact as a substitute against Maccabi Tel Aviv, is expected to start on the bench again. Guy Melamed, Maccabi Haifa's top scorer last season, will be available on the bench after missing the last two squad lists and is likely to get his first league minutes of the season.

Bakhar has emphasized the need for aggression and tactical discipline against their opponents. The club is hoping for strong crowd support, similar to a previous match against Hapoel Ramat Gan, which they believe contributed to securing three points. The projected starting lineup includes Omri Glazer in goal, a defense of Eyad Habashi (or Jelle Bataille), Nigel Hina, Pedrão, and Sun Menachem. The midfield is expected to feature Ali Mohamed, Eitan Azulai, and Lior Refaelov, with Kenny Saief, Cedric D'Almeida (or Tjaronn Chery), and Andrea Novakovic in attack.