The Greens opened the new campaign when they visited Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. at the “Moshava” Stadium. Guy Luzon’s side came into this match after finishing first in the group stage of the League Cup after taking eight points from two wins and two draws. Yossi Abakassi’s side came into this match after playing three matches in the League Cup and only coming away with three points.
 
Maccabi Haifa looked to begin Matchday 1 by taking full points back to Sammy Ofer on their way to facing Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the first home match of the season next weekend.
 
The match began with the Greens finding possession and enforcing their style of play on the Tel Aviv side. The first twenty minutes of the half were defined by high pressure and searching balls over the top of the back line and intricate passing created from the midfield. Although the Greens were vulnerable at the back, they were able to snuff out any dangerous chances that Bnei Yehuda tried to create.
 
In the 24^th minute, the pressure created a strong shot from Alberman, but it was put out for a corner by the Bnei Yehuda goalkeeper, Emilijus Zubas. After constant possession and the chances in the half going to Maccabi Haifa, the home side had two consecutive counter attacks, showing the threat Bnei Yehuda possesses. Even with a majority of possession, the Greens could not break through in the first half and the two sides went into the break scoreless.
 
It only took Haifa two minutes to find their first chance of the second half when a cross was whipped in to the box, only for Caio to put the ball just over the goal. Guy Luzon made his first change when Gili Vermouth came on the pitch in place of Nikita Rukvytsya. Vermouth had his first chance in the 53^rd minute from 30 yards from goal, but it was straight at Zubas.
 
In the 65^th minute, Roei Kehat came on the pitch for Caio, for Guy Luzon’s second change of the match. Seconds after entering the match, Kehat threatened the Bnei Yehuda defense when he put a header just over the goal on his first touch of the ball.
 
Kostadinov had an opportunity in the 71^st minute, when he had a ball played over the top after losing his defender, but he couldn’t redirect the ball onto the goal. Only minutes later, Bnei Yehuda broke through the Haifa defense with Matan Hozez putting a ball low and past Omri Glazer. Luzon used his last change of the match in the 76^th minute with Muhammad Awad coming on for Kostadinov.
 
In the 87^th minute, Awad won a penalty kick for the Greens, but Vermouth could not convert from the spot and Bnei Yehuda then secured the victory as Hozez found the back of the net in extra time to make the score 2-0. The Greens take on Hapoel Be’er Sheva next weekend for Matchday 2 of the Israeli Premier League.