Maccabi Haifa Prepares for Season Opener with Key Players Confirmed and Forward Line Competition

Maccabi Haifa is set to begin the 2026/27 Israeli Premier League season tomorrow, Saturday, with a home match against Hapoel Ramat Gan at Sammy Ofer Stadium. Coach Barak Bachar aims to improve on the team’s recent Toto Cup performance as he finalizes the starting lineup. Currently, eight players have secured their spots in the starting eleven: Omri Glazer, Yila Bataiy, Nigel Lonwijk, Tsunami, Yarin Levi, Eitan Azulay, and Bronninio. Azulay and Bronninio have been trained both as midfielders and in attacking roles, with Bronninio sometimes deployed as a winger. When Bronninio plays on the wing, Navot Ratner and Ali Mohammed alternate in the lineup.

The forward line remains competitive, with five players vying for three starting positions: Andrea Novakovic, Silva Cani, Iyad Khalaily, Kenji Hora, and Cedric Don. Novakovic has been trained intermittently and could start the match. Additionally, Guy Melamed has completed full training and is expected to return to the squad, likely replacing Adam Grimberg, who will join the youth team training and participate in their Saturday match against Ra'anana.

This preparation reflects Bachar’s efforts to balance a stable core with tactical flexibility in attack as Maccabi Haifa looks to start the season strongly at home.