First game of the season: Beitar Jerusalem's madness and fear before Hapoel - voila! sport

Summary: Maccabi Bnei Reina vs Beitar Jerusalem 1:2/Sport 1

Yossi Abukasis' headache regarding Beitar Jerusalem's lineup for tonight's game against Hapoel Tel Aviv (Monday, 20:30) will only be decided before the start of the game, when it will be finally decided which of the defenders, Ben Bitton and Grigory Morozov, is fit for the game. The two are making efforts to play, ready to get a shot and unwilling to miss the game, but in terms of fitness they are still in doubt, with the medical staff not convinced that it is right for them to play.

As a result of the defenders' competence, the formation, the liaison and the attack will be decided. Throughout the week, Mozi and Dor Micha were trained as defenders in a formation of 5 defenders, in a formation of 4 players such as Ashkenazi and Adi Yona were also included in the midfield, Omer Korsia was also an option, and in fact throughout the week 16 players were trained on 10 field positions, and this says everything about Yossi Abukasis' dilemmas ahead of the game.

Lots of food for thought. Avoxis/Maor Elkeslassy

In Beitar as in Beitar, manic depression is celebrating. After the victory over Hadera, everyone was high and talking about a very strong team for the top playoffs, while the loss to Reina took all the energy back. The crowd still believes, supports, will fill Teddy for the second time this season when all 24,<> tickets for yellow and black fans are expected to run out (only a few hundred remain) when the Northeast Stand will be closed to separate the crowds.

While Hapoel Tel Aviv is supposed to come in injury after the five in the derby, Beitar sees it differently and Abukasis told his players: "It will not be like the derby, they will come to play differently, controlled, will be responsible and try to make it difficult for us and take advantage of Teddy's pressure, we have to be smart and not fall into it, play football, dominate, but be smart."

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A lot of talent in attack, but lacking speed. Shua/Bernie Ardov

This game is a road game for Beitar. Too many times when Hapoel Tel Aviv comes to Teddy, the crowd stresses out the players who can't cope and fail. With 2 points after 4 rounds, Beitar cannot afford not to win, especially since games against Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem in two rounds are the most prestigious games for the crowd and are the symbol of the season.

"The crowd is in a psychic frenzy," one player said yesterday, "it's something that started at the end of last season and turned crazy, all of a sudden every game is interesting, Teddy is full, a lot of messages from fans, 'Just bring it on!' It's not easy because we're only 2 points away because of minus 4 and there's pressure that if we don't win things won't be good, but everyone believes. We feel we are better than Hapoel Tel Aviv and we need to win."

Ismaila Soro is, as far as Yossi Abukasis is concerned, the main player for this game. It is still unclear who will play alongside him in midfield, but for Abukasis, Soro is the big advantage in the middle of the field. Still, Soro did not prepare for the season, Hotchko who may play alongside him did not either, Yuval Ashkenazi only recently returned from injury, the defenders with a fitness test, this team will have to go through a few more processes until it is ready as the coach wants.

Still question marks. Soro/Maor Elkeslassy

And that's also true for the front. One of the conclusions from recent games is that the offensive trio cannot play in a similar structure to last season. Trying to move Friday slightly sideways makes the front heavy and Abuxis looks for solutions, which is harder when both Friday and George have trouble pressing, along with a fox who isn't particularly mobile.

In such a situation, and without fast wings, Avoxys will have to try to improvise by January in almost every game. He will hope that his midfield will be the strongest and dominant part, and in attack he will someday strive to find a formation in which one of the two, Friday or George, will start from the bench, both to space the game and to have an attacking player on the bench who can come in and make a difference.

Another change Abukasis will want to make going forward, if everything is signed, is to get Teresia Thomas back on track. Without speed on the wings, knots with light, fast legs coming from the second line can help quite a bit. Beitar has no replacement for Toma in this position, but the player must sign for two years first, get back to business and stabilize his head before getting the jersey back.

Can he get back to business? Toma/Danny Maron

As for the opponent, Beitar mainly marks the Reds' fast attacking players - Laius, Ojebolt and Chibota. Although the latter did not practice in training with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Beitar takes into account that he may start or even when he comes off the bench, his speed in transitions along with Lajos is dangerous. "Last year at Teddy he came in for half an hour and dismantled us," we remember in the capital, and of course Alain Ojebolt, who almost always scores against Beitar. The Beitar defense has hardly changed this year, so according to past events, it has something to fear from this trio, and Omri Altman if he gets credit.

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