Maccabi Haifa Returns Pedrao and Glazer in Toto Cup Match Against Hapoel Jerusalem

Maccabi Haifa concluded their Toto Cup campaign on Sunday evening by hosting Hapoel Jerusalem in a match determining 9th and 10th place. This game served as a final test for both teams before the start of the league season. Coach Barak Bachar reinstated Pedrao in central defense for the first time in a while, alongside Tsunami in the back line. The attacking lineup featured Bruninho, Kenji Gorré, and Silva Cani. New signing Andrija Novaković was again not registered due to the foreign player limit.

Haifa's starting eleven included Omri Glazer in goal, defenders Tsunami, Nigel Lonwijk, Pedrao, and Yila Betay, midfielders Yarin Levi, Eitan Azulay, Don Cedric, and forwards Bruninho, Kenji Gorré, and Silva Cani. Hapoel Jerusalem fielded Nadav Zamir, Ofek Nadir, Yonatan Lish, Noal Malmud, Omer Avuhab, Tamir Haimovich, Eli Madmon, Ariel Distelfeld, Ohad Almogor, Israel Dafa, and Vitali Damshkan.

This match was a strategic opportunity for both sides to finalize their squads and tactics ahead of the league kickoff, with Haifa aiming to solidify their defensive setup by bringing back experienced players Pedrao and Glazer.