Macccabi Haifa are just 90 minutes away from reaching Europe's secondary competition's group stage for just the 3rd time in the club's history. The only obstacle that stands in their way is Romanian side Astra Giurgiu who will host Haifa tonight (at 19:00) in the 2nd leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie. But Haifa won't worry too much as they go into the game with a two goal cushion, having won the 1st leg 2-0 in Kiryat Eliezer Stadium.
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Benado and Katan at the press-conerence last night (m haifa) |
Also present at the press conference was Haifa's legendary captain Yaniv Katan who expressed how he felt ahead of the game. "The way we have played since the beginning of the season is the way Arik believes in", said Katan, "The players are mentally prepared, it is not easy to win away, but we will try our best to advance to the next round". Around 300 Haifa fans are expected to turn up at the Ceahlaul Stadium in Piatra Neamt to cheer their team into the group-stage. The game isn't being played in Astra's usual home stadium due to it being "ineligible" according to UEFA regulations.
Despite what Benado and Katan said, their is a slight chance that Haifa will go easy in attack and rest their usual front-man, Shimon Abuhatzira, and put South African striker, Dino Ndlovu - who played very impressively in the 1st leg after coming off the bench in the second half - upfront instead.
Haifa's expected lineup:
GK: Bojan Saronov, DF: Eyal Meshumar, Dekel Keinan, Taleb Twatiha, Edin Cocalic, MF: Gustavo Boccoli, Yaniv Katan (captain), Ruben Rayos, Hen Ezra, Alon Turgeman, FW: Shimon Abuhatzira (or Dino Ndlovu).
(The game will be broadcast live on the ONE sports channel from 19:00)
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