{"id":176539,"date":"2026-04-17T12:51:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T12:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/?p=176539"},"modified":"2026-04-17T15:22:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T15:22:30","slug":"beitar-jerusalem-readies-for-maccabi-haifa-as-former-green-ziv-ben-shimol-continues-to-impress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/beitar-jerusalem-readies-for-maccabi-haifa-as-former-green-ziv-ben-shimol-continues-to-impress\/","title":{"rendered":"Beitar Jerusalem readies for Maccabi Haifa as former Green Ziv Ben Shimol continues to impress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beitar Jerusalem will look to get the Championship Playoffs off to a good start when they welcome Maccabi Haifa to the capital city on Sunday night (20:00) as the yellow-and-black find themselves just two points behind the table leaders Hapoel Beer Sheva. Barak Itzhaki\u2019s squad are coming off of a 2-0 Derby win over Hapoel while the Greens will enter the matchup after having been eliminated from the Israel State Cup competition when they fell to Maccabi Haifa 3-2 at the same Teddy Stadium just this past Wednesday.<\/p>\n

While Barak Bachar\u2019s team has had a tough go this season, they are always dangerous as they still have something to play for which is the opportunity to play in European competition qualifiers as they currently sit in 5th place an are 7-points out of 4th which would offer them the chance to be a part of UEFA\u2019s summer time qualification stage.
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Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nAfter defeating Hapoel Jerusalem, Itzhaki and his side understand there are no shortcuts when it comes to winning the Israeli league championship as each and every game coming up is for the title and it doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s Hapoel Petach Tikva, Maccabi Tel Aviv or Maccabi Haifa who they are facing. The games are going to be coming fast and furious for the yellow-and-black as the schedule is condensed due to the war with Iran and that means it\u2019s all hands on deck in order to come away with the big prize at the end of the season which will be in late May. <\/p>\n

The 3-points earned against the reds in the Derby were critical especially since it matches against the city rivals are never simple which is also the case in any country. They had been Itzhaki\u2019s black sheep so to speak and he finally was able to put that to bed with a victory, in fact fairly quickly with a goal just seconds into the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the win is obviously important,\u201d Itzhaki began. \u201cIt was three valuable points but also the way we played was right. We created the spaces we wanted to create and we built our attacks the way we planned. The game also developed in our favor, especially since we scored an early goal. We managed to keep controlling possession for most phases of the match and created more chances. So overall, I\u2019m satisfied. I was satisfied with the performance, but that game is already behind us, it\u2019s history. Now we\u2019re looking ahead to Sunday\u2019s match against Maccabi Haifa.\u201d
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Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nHaifa will no doubt be a totally different game as Bachar has the horses to play an attacking style of game and the greens will be looking to cut the gap to fourth place which is the last European qualifying position as they find themselves seven points away from Hapoel Tel Aviv. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are expecting a fast-paced game with intensity,\u201d Itzhaki explained. \u201cThey\u2019re a good team, even if they\u2019re not playing with the best momentum right now, you can never underestimate Maccabi Haifa, no matter the situation they\u2019re in. They have excellent players. That said, we need to focus on ourselves on how we want to play and our game plan but also respect the opponent and understand we\u2019re facing a strong team that also needs points, just like we do. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s such a thing as Maccabi Haifa coming into a game with nothing to play for. That\u2019s my opinion. But we\u2019ll leave them to their thoughts, we\u2019ll focus on what we need to do. It definitely won\u2019t be an easy match.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beitar came into the derby last week without two of their regular starters in Adi Yona and Yarin Levy due to injuries with the former out for the season with a foot issue and the latter a groin strain but should be back in a few weeks. The captain Yarden Shua was also out of action due to yellow card accumulation which left a few spots open in the staring lineup and food for thought for Itzahaki.
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Ziv Ben Shimol – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nOne of the players that came off the bench to take over one of those positions was Ziv Ben Shimol who for the most part had played in most games but did not have a starting role. The 22-year old grew up in Maale Adumim and was a Beitar Jerusalem from a very young age. He played for the local Beitar Maale Adumim team as a youth and continuously filled the back of the goal which was something Maccabi Haifa noticed as they brought him to their youth department in time for the 2020\/21 season. <\/p>\n

Playing together with Anan Khalaily, who is now starring in Belgium for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Ben Shimol couldn\u2019t stop scoring while also becoming an integral part of the club that looked at the attacking midfielder as part of their future. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a player we\u2019ve been tracking for quite a few years,\u201d Haifa executives said at the time. \u201cHe is very talented, high-quality, and making great progress. There\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s a talent.\u201d
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Ziv Ben Shimol – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nBen Shimol was loaned out to Hapoel Afula in Israel\u2019s second division for the start of the 2023\/24 season, but returned to Maccabi Haifa\u2019s senior squad during the winter transfer window and made a stellar debut in February 2024 when he assisted on a Frantzdy Pierrot marker in Israel State Cup play against Hapoel Um Al Fahm in a 2-0 win. Under Head Coach Messay Dego, Ben Shimol made a few more appearances before the end of the season and then was loaned out to Leumit League side Bnei Yehuda for last year where he scored seven goals across all competitions. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a \u2018classic number 10,\u2019 like Lior Rafaelov from 20 years ago,\u201d Green management said after Ben Shimol had impressed. \u201cHe\u2019s someone with exceptional passing ability. Last year he recorded 33 assists as part of the club\u2019s academy in Kfar Galim.<\/p>\n

However, after the 2024\/25 season it seemed that Ben Shimol was no longer part of the Greens plans and after some back and forth haggling, he was sold to Beitar for 350,000 NIS, fulfilling a childhood dream.
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Photo credit: Beitar Jerusalem<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cI am very excited to join Beitar Jerusalem, a club I grew up supporting as a fan, and now I have the privilege of wearing its shirt as a player,\u201d Ziv said after inking a deal with the club. \u201cI come in hungry, committed and full of motivation to succeed, to contribute to the club and to experience Teddy Stadium in all its madness just as I always dreamed of as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now with a blank slate in front of him, Ben Shimol made his Beitar debut back in August 2025 when came off the bench in the 85th minute of UEFA Europa Conference League 3rd round play, second leg play against Riga which resulted in a 3-1 win. However, the yellow-and-black had lost the first leg 3-0 and were ousted from the qualifying campaign, but Ben Shimol was back in action just a few days later in Toto Cup play. The midfielder entered the fray as a soon half substitute against Hapoel Haifa and scored the fifth goal of a 5-0 win from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. <\/p>\n

From there, Itzhaki primarily used Ben Shimol as a joker off of the bench which paid dividends this past December when he came on in the 90th minute of a 1-1 game at Maccabi Haifa.
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Ziv Ben Shimol – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nWith a sold out Sammy Ofer Stadium on its feet and the decibel levels going through the roof, Ben Shimol came back to haunt his former club as he scored the winning goal to the delight of the traveling Beitar fans and to the great dismay of the Haifa faithful who left the facility with their heads hanging low. <\/p>\n

Ben Shimol leaped into Itzhaki\u2019s arms as every player jumped on top of the pile in celebration. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was just waiting to get into the game so I could win it,\u201d a smiling Ben Shimol said. This is one of the happiest moments of my life. I have great appreciation for Maccabi Haifa; I grew up supporting Beitar and it was my dream to play for them.\u201d
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\nHaifa all-time great Reuven Atar said the next day on Yaniv Katan\u2019s podcast that the greens let a good one get away in Ben Shimol, \u201cThere aren\u2019t enough football players. We need futsal players who know how to play football, like Ziv Ben Shimol. What a good kid he is, he met me one day and he was so shy. It\u2019s a shame; they should have loaned him out. We have to learn a lesson and take very good care of every youngster.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Ben Shimol has only made two starts in league play and another pair in State Cup action, Itzhaki decided that he was going to go with the 22-year old in the Derby and fill some significant cleats in Yarin Levy and Adi Yona and the results were sparkling. <\/p>\n

Ben Shimol played an incredible match and also ran 11.5km, the most of any other player on the pitch, was seemingly everywhere and proved to his head coach that he is there to do whatever is needed in order to help the team win.
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Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cI\u2019m flattered that Barak Itzhaki trusts me in multiple positions. I\u2019ll do whatever he tells me. I liked our ball movement. I do what\u2019s needed for the team to meet its goals. We hadn\u2019t won the derby for two years, but we felt the power of the fans. We\u2019re united and happy they\u2019re with us. It\u2019s great to score early, the crowd pushed us forward and once you\u2019re ahead, your football becomes a bit more relaxed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Itzhaki in turn spoke about what Ben Shimol brings to the table and where he sees the youngster\u2019s future, \u201cThis is his first season in the Premier League. He did play in the Leumit League beforehand and his progress has been good. It\u2019s true he hasn\u2019t started many games, but he\u2019s been used in most of them when needed and he managed to deliver even in limited minutes.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe reached a point where he truly earned his opportunity. Yes, you can talk about absences or injuries of other players, but that doesn\u2019t matter. I trust my players and I never use excuses about missing players. That\u2019s why we train hard, even the players who don\u2019t play push themselves so that when we need them, they\u2019re ready. I was very pleased with his last performance, both on and off the ball. I spoke with him about what he needs to improve, just like I did with other players. We\u2019ll need everyone until the end of the season.\u201d
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\nThere\u2019s no question Itzhaki is going to need everyone form top to bottom in order to come away with the championship and that will require rotating the squad, \u201cWe\u2019re entering a period with many games, three matches in one week, so we\u2019ll definitely need the whole squad ready. Regarding rotations, I focus on the upcoming match. I don\u2019t decide too far ahead who will play in future games. Things can change during the week: training, injuries, suspensions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to have players on the bench or even in the stands who can suddenly start the next game. That\u2019s the nature of a football team. We need to keep everyone focused, ready, and in good shape for when they\u2019re needed. There are many factors that go into my decisions, but we still have training sessions today and tomorrow and we\u2019ll decide on the lineup in the next day or two.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no question that Ben Shimol will once again be in the Starting XI and rightfully so as 30,000 fans will pack into Teddy Stadium on Sunday night after the Home Front Command lifted all of the attendance restrictions due to the various ceasefires in place.
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Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nThe midfielder also knows it will be a tough matchup against his former club, \u201cThey\u2019re a strong team and we respect them. They have very good players, but we\u2019re focused on ourselves and we\u2019re coming to win. Personally, I want to contribute as much as I can. I always dreamed of being here. I\u2019m happy I got here and I\u2019m giving it my all. I hope to keep improving from game to game.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Ben Shimol improves from game to game so is Beitar as it heads into the stretch run with a chance to take home the coveted championship for the first time in close to two decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout our expectations and goals, I\u2019m not too concerned with whether people talk about it or not,\u201d Itzhaki said. \u201cWhat matters is our belief. We need to believe in ourselves. And who says we don\u2019t? If we\u2019ve reached our current position, it means we\u2019re doing things right. We\u2019ll continue this way. My players know exactly what I want and what our goals are, there\u2019s no need to talk too much. I believe in talking less and doing more.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beitar Jerusalem will look to get the Championship Playoffs off to a good start when they welcome Maccabi Haifa to the capital city on Sunday night (20:00) as the yellow-and-black find themselves just two points behind the table leaders Hapoel Beer Sheva. Barak Itzhaki\u2019s squad are coming off of a 2-0 Derby win over Hapoel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":165475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[55,6942],"class_list":["post-176539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-israel-2","tag-beitar-jerusalem","tag-ziv-ben-shimol","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nBeitar Jerusalem readies for Maccabi Haifa as former Green Ziv Ben Shimol continues to impress - Sports Rabbi<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/beitar-jerusalem-readies-for-maccabi-haifa-as-former-green-ziv-ben-shimol-continues-to-impress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beitar Jerusalem readies for Maccabi Haifa as former Green Ziv Ben Shimol continues to impress - Sports Rabbi\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Beitar Jerusalem will look to get the Championship Playoffs off to a good start when they welcome Maccabi Haifa to the capital city on Sunday night (20:00) as the yellow-and-black find themselves just two points behind the table leaders Hapoel Beer Sheva. 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