Maccabi Haifa Defender Pedro Brazão Nearing Club Exit

Maccabi Haifa is reportedly considering releasing defender Pedro Brazão within the next 48 hours, following his exclusion from the squad for the upcoming match against Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Brazão, a recent acquisition, has not met expectations and is close to leaving the club.

The team is preparing for an away game against Kiryat Shmona, with an estimated 6,000 Maccabi Haifa fans expected to attend the stadium in Netanya. New signing Pedro Brazão is slated to start on the right wing, forming an attacking trio with Bruninho, who will play as a left winger for the first time, and Andrea Novaković. Yair Mordechai will also make his starting debut against his former club, playing in a role behind the forwards.

While Bruninho and Mordechai have proven their capabilities, Brazão's impact has been less significant, despite impressing in Turkey's second division. A source within Maccabi Haifa expressed hope that the attacking trio would add "quality and spark" to the team's performance.

Due to the absence of a natural left-back, Kenny Saif will play in that position, while Tsunami will shift to center-back. Striker Guy Melamed will also miss the match as he continues his recovery, with a decision made for him to return to training only after full recovery.

The projected starting lineup includes Omri Glazer; Yalla Betay, Nigel Lonwijk, Tsunami, Kenny Saif; Ali Mohamed, Eitan Azulai, Yair Mordechai; Pedro Brazão, Bruninho, and Andrea Novaković.