Back in July, Maccabi Haifa hosted city rivals Hapoel Haifa in a Toto Cup derby that exposed the Greens’ shortcomings in almost every facet of the game. Whether in attack, defense or transition, Barak Bachar’s side appeared a step behind its opponents tactically and technically. The two teams looked worlds apart.

Bachar took plenty of heat from fans and the media during preseason, with many wondering whether this version of Maccabi Haifa would resemble last season’s disappointing side. The 3-2 derby defeat was followed by an even more damaging result, a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Ironi Kiryat Shmona that sent alarm bells ringing throughout the club.

Haifa then suffered a 1-0 defeat to Hapoel Jerusalem in a Toto Cup placement match, bringing its preseason campaign to a close. First impressions matter and the Greens had done little to inspire confidence.

Once the season got underway, Haifa scraped past newly promoted Hapoel Ramat Gan before suffering a heavy defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Since then, however, the Greens have turned things around, stringing together four consecutive victories. Their latest result was an impressive 4-2 win over Hapoel Jerusalem, and they will now look to make it five in a row when they visit newly promoted Maccabi Petach Tikva at the Moshava Stadium on Saturday night.

The preseason doom and gloom has given way to renewed optimism. Haifa sits second in the table, just one point behind Maccabi Tel Aviv, and is firmly in the conversation for the championship. Hapoel Beer Sheva awaits in a couple of weeks in what promises to be Haifa’s toughest test since facing the league leaders, but one thing is already clear: Bachar’s team looks nothing like the side that struggled just a few months ago. The Greens have emerged as genuine title contenders.

So, what changed?

What suddenly clicked? What began working that had been missing earlier in the campaign?

The answer, at least in part, comes down to patience and time on the training ground. With numerous new arrivals, including several foreign players, Haifa needed time to develop chemistry, establish its identity and become a well-oiled machine.

Gradually, the pieces have fallen into place and Bachar’s puzzle is beginning to take shape.

“Winning is always enjoyable,” Bachar said. “When the performance is good, it’s even better. We brought some of the pressure on ourselves with our poor results. We knew things could change if we worked quietly and ignored the pressure around us. We did that gradually, and now we’re looking better. We’re still not drawing conclusions, just as we didn’t after the Toto Cup, because we’ve played only six matches.”

Bruninho, Brazao and Novakovich Lead the Way

Several players have been instrumental in Haifa’s resurgence, but three attacking talents, in particular, have stood out above the rest.

Bruninho’s quality was evident from the outset. The Brazilian attacking midfielder immediately brought creativity, technical ability and an eye for goal, becoming involved in the majority of Haifa’s goals, either by scoring himself or setting up his teammates. His tally of three goals and four assists is already impressive, especially considering he has played a part in several other scoring moves that do not show up on the stat sheet.

Bruninho has shouldered much of the creative burden, but the arrival of Portuguese winger Pedro Brazao in September has given the Greens another dangerous attacking weapon.

Brazao has recorded two goals and two assists in just three appearances, including a spectacular solo effort in Haifa’s most recent victory over Hapoel Jerusalem that could contend for goal of the season.

The winger weaved his way past defenders before rounding the goalkeeper, all while keeping the ball under control, then calmly finished with the outside of his foot. It was a moment of individual brilliance that highlighted exactly what he can bring to the side.

Then there is Andrija Novakovich, the American international of Serbian descent, who has scored four goals and provided an assist over the last four matches, all of which he has started.

Standing 1.92 meters tall, the Wisconsin native gives Bachar’s attack another dimension. Novakovich can dominate in the air, as he demonstrated against Hapoel Jerusalem, finish chances with his feet and bring teammates into play. His contribution extends well beyond simply putting the ball in the net.

The 30-year-old is on course to surpass several of his personal bests this season and has established himself as a genuine focal point in the final third. He offers Haifa the kind of target man it has lacked in recent seasons, while also contributing to the team’s overall attacking play.

“The first thing we saw when we brought him in was that he’s a team player who connects the play,” Bachar explained. “Beyond his goal, he set up the move for Bruninho, who assisted on Brazao’s marker, and he was also involved in the third goal. Beyond the goals, he brings a great deal of presence and contributes to the team’s collective play.”

There were plenty of doubters who looked at Novakovich’s numbers from his most recent spell in Italy and questioned whether he could make a meaningful impact in Haifa. His performances so far have provided a convincing answer.

He has become an important figure for the Greens, offering a combination of physical presence, finishing ability and link-up play that has added a new dimension to their attack.

Together, Bruninho, Brazao and Novakovich have helped elevate Haifa’s offense in a remarkably short period. Their complementary skill sets have given the Greens a more dynamic and unpredictable attack, making them increasingly difficult to contain.

Defensive Questions Remain as Dasa Arrives

While Haifa’s attack has made significant strides, the defense remains a work in progress.

Tsunami and Nigel Lonwijk still need time to settle into the team, with the former left out of the starting lineup against Hapoel Jerusalem. Jelle Bataille has also struggled to reach his best level, raising further questions about the back line.

That helps explain why Haifa moved aggressively to sign Eli Dasa. In a last-minute move, the Greens secured the Israel national team captain’s signature, beating out Hapoel Be’er Sheva, which had come close to completing a deal for the right-back.

Dasa brings much more than experience and quality on the pitch. He is also a leader who can help organize the dressing room and provide Bachar with a trusted lieutenant. With several new players still finding their feet, his presence could prove particularly valuable, both in stabilizing the defense and in setting standards throughout the squad.

Dasa’s leadership, professionalism and composure should provide a steadying influence as Haifa looks to sustain its recent momentum.

“He has the complete package in terms of leadership and an exceptional personality,” Bachar said. “We’ve seen that with the national team and abroad. He’s a professional at the highest level. From a physical standpoint, the national team saw that he was good enough even without being part of a club. For us, he’s a terrific addition.”

Haifa Back in the Championship Conversation

The bottom line is that anyone who wrote off Maccabi Haifa after its preseason struggles may have done so prematurely.

The Greens are firmly in the championship race, regardless of whether Bachar is ready to publicly embrace those ambitions. Four consecutive wins have transformed the mood around the club, and the team is beginning to show the quality and cohesion expected of a title contender.

“Ultimately, the results speak for themselves. When the team plays good, high-quality football, it means the recruitment has been good. Against Jerusalem, we looked better in terms of intensity, and that lifted the entire team. It’s a challenge on the one hand, but on the other, winning 4-1 at Teddy Stadium is no small achievement,” Bachar said.

“I feel we have a good team that is aiming high, and we’re in the middle of a process,” he continued. “Talking about the championship is still a long way off. We have a journey ahead of us, and we’re only at the beginning. As we strengthen the team and improve, we won’t be afraid to talk about the highest ambitions. We’re in second place, and we’ll aim to move into first on Saturday, even if only temporarily. That’s our goal.”

For now, Haifa’s focus is on extending its winning streak and continuing to build on the progress made over the past several weeks. The early-season concerns have not disappeared entirely, particularly at the back, but the Greens have demonstrated that they have the attacking firepower, depth and growing confidence to challenge at the top of the table.

After a preseason that left supporters questioning the direction of the club, Bachar’s side is beginning to look like a team capable of competing for the biggest prize in Israeli football.