Maccabi Haifa Shifts to 4-3-3 Formation, Leads 3-1 at Half Against Tiberias

Maccabi Haifa implemented a significant tactical change by switching to a 4-3-3 formation in their Toto Cup match against Tiberias on August 4, 2026. This adjustment was made at the request of club president Yaankale Shahar. Unlike their previous two Toto Cup games where Haifa trailed 0-3 at halftime, the team led 3-1 at the break in this match. The midfield trio of Bruninho, Eitan Azulay, and Yarin Levi played a key role, with Bruninho returning to his natural advanced midfield position. The three goals all originated from the midfield, while the attacking line featured Guy Melamed, Kenji Hura, and Cedric Don.

Despite conceding a goal shortly after their third, Haifa maintained a two-goal advantage at halftime. Statistical comparisons highlight the impact of the formation change: against Hapoel Haifa, Haifa had 2 goals and 8 shots on target with 59% possession but trailed 0-3 at halftime; against Kiryat Shmona, they had no goals and 4 shots on target with 45% possession, again down 0-3 at halftime. In contrast, against Tiberias, Haifa scored 3 goals (including an own goal), had 2 shots on target, and dominated possession at 72%, leading 3-1 at halftime.

Tiberias had previously beaten Sakhnin 2-1 and lost 3-1 to Hapoel Haifa in the Toto Cup. Haifa's tactical shift appears to have positively influenced their performance, marking a clear improvement in their offensive and possession statistics compared to earlier matches in the tournament.