Maccabi Tel Aviv Faces Hapoel Jerusalem Amidst EuroLeague Struggles

Maccabi Tel Aviv is preparing to face Hapoel Jerusalem in the Winner Cup semifinals on October 4th, 2026, just hours before the game. The team is looking to rebound from a disappointing start to their EuroLeague season, having lost their first three games, marking the worst European season opening in the club's history. The players are frustrated but believe they can overcome the situation and are focused on improving their performance, particularly in terms of desire and energy.

Maccabi Tel Aviv returned from Greece early this morning after a double EuroLeague week. Center Daniel Theis did not participate in the evening practice due to an ankle injury and has not trained in recent days. The club is attempting to get him ready for the game, but it is likely he will not play to avoid aggravating the injury, as was the case in their last game against Panathinaikos.

Coach Oded Katash stated that the team's goal is to put the poor EuroLeague start behind them and concentrate on the upcoming game against Hapoel Jerusalem. He acknowledged the limited preparation time but expressed confidence that a challenging match against a strong opponent could help the team regain focus and the energy that has been lacking in recent games.