Barak Bakhar has named his Maccabi Haifa starting eleven for Saturday evening's Haifa derby against Hapoel Haifa, and the headline is not just who is playing but who is wearing the armband: goalkeeper Omri Glazer starts as captain in the Toto Cup opener at Sammy Ofer Stadium, kick-off 20:30.
Glazer's captaincy is a late change forced by injury rather than a settled plan. According to Sport5, defender Pedrão had been pencilled in to lead the side, but a scan on the morning of the match revealed a small tear in his groin muscle, ruling him out and sending him straight into rehabilitation. Glazer, who returned to Maccabi Haifa this summer for a second spell at the club and signed a three-year deal, takes the armband in his stead.
The goalkeeper's recall between the posts was already effectively confirmed before Pedrão's issue emerged. Reserve keeper Sheriff Kayouf was injured in a warm-up friendly against Hapoel Kfar Sava and requires surgery that is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season, leaving Glazer as the clear senior option heading into the new campaign.
Further forward, two of the summer's new faces get their first taste of the fixture. Yair Mordechai, a 22-year-old who arrived on a free transfer from Ironi Kiryat Shmona for a modest development fee after a breakout Ligat Ha'al season, makes his official Maccabi Haifa debut having caught the eye in pre-season friendlies. Yarin Levi also starts, back in green after a two-year loan spell at Beitar Jerusalem.
ONE reports the confirmed Maccabi Haifa XI as: Omri Glazer; Zohar Zasno, Guni Naor, Noam Steifman, Shon Goldberg; Yarin Levi, Eitan Azulai, Yair Mordechai; Iyad Khalaili, Cédric Don and Adam Grimberg, with Don and Grimberg leading the attacking line and Azulai deployed in a linking role between midfield and attack.
There is a human-interest wrinkle in defence. Guni Naor had reportedly been told by the club that he is not part of the plans for next season, according to Maariv's Sport1, yet he was registered for the derby and starts after Pedrão's late withdrawal opened up a spot.
The fixture is the first round of the 2026/27 Toto Cup and doubles as Maccabi Haifa's opening competitive test of the season after a summer of upheaval that included training camps in Hungary and six significant signings to the squad.
History favours the Greens. In their most recent meeting, Maccabi Haifa beat Hapoel Haifa 2-0, and they have won five of the last ten derbies between the two Haifa clubs — a record Bakhar's side will look to extend as they open their season in front of their own supporters.
