Maccabi Haifa Assesses Yila Btayi's Knee Injury After Toto Cup Win Over Bnei Sakhnin

Maccabi Haifa secured their second consecutive victory in the Toto Cup group stage on Saturday, defeating Bnei Sakhnin 1-0 away and finishing third in their group. This match marked the first clean sheet for Haifa in the 2026/27 season, with effective collaboration between Nigel Lonwijk and Tsunami praised by the team.

However, the focus shifted to the injury sustained by Belgian defender Yila Btayi, who suffered a knee blow near halftime. Btayi was bandaged and is expected to undergo further evaluation within 24 hours. The medical staff's initial assessment suggests the injury is not serious.

Coach Barak Bachar credited Iyad Khalaily, who started as a right winger before moving to right back, and Silva Cani, who played as a lone striker and scored, for their strong performances. Both players were noted for their work rate and pressure on opponents, qualities the team had previously lacked.

Manuel Benson made his return as a substitute after more than three months off due to injury, showing promising signs but still not at full match fitness. Meanwhile, American-Serbian striker Andrea Novakovic remained absent from the squad as he recovers from a virus but is expected to return for the next game.

Overall, Maccabi Haifa expressed satisfaction with their progress, emphasizing the importance of building confidence through these wins and aiming to be a team that plays quality football while delivering results.