Maccabi Haifa Assesses Yila Btayi's Knee Injury After Toto Cup Win Over Bnei Sakhnin
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Maccabi Haifa won 1-0 against Bnei Sakhnin in the Toto Cup, marking their first clean sheet of the season. Belgian defender Yila Btayi suffered a knee injury but is not expected to be seriously hurt. The team praised key players Iyad Khalaily and Silva Cani, while Manuel Benson returned from injury. Andrea Novakovic is recovering from illness and expected back soon.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Haifa won 1-0 away against Bnei Sakhnin in the Toto Cup group stage.
- Yila Btayi injured his knee near halftime but initial assessment suggests no serious damage.
- Iyad Khalaily and Silva Cani received praise for their high work rate and pressure.
- Manuel Benson returned after three months out but is not yet fully fit.
- Andrea Novakovic is recovering from a virus and expected to return soon.
- The team aims to build confidence and improve through these victories.
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.
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