In Maccabi Petah Tikva they clarify: "There is no pressure. Our focus is on the first league round"
The newly promoted team will look for its first points in the Toto Cup against Hapoel Ramat Gan after three consecutive losses. Ziv Arie will continue the rotation, Marko Rakonjac is expected to get his first minutes (20:00, Sport3).
Maccabi Petah Tikva will meet this evening (Sunday, 20:00, Sport3) Hapoel Ramat Gan for its fourth match in the Toto Cup, aiming to put an end to three previous losses. The newly promoted team lost to Hapoel Petah Tikva in the derby, to Maccabi Netanya, and to Hapoel Jerusalem, while coach Ziv Arie continues to make significant changes in every match, allowing youth team players to gain minutes and conducting various experiments.
Within the club, they state that Arie treats the Toto Cup matches strictly as preparation games—training sessions where he has tested numerous parameters. Therefore, they insist that "there is no pressure. What is important is the first round." Nevertheless, they are eager to secure their first victory in the competition this evening to offset the previous losses.
Arie is expected to field an almost full-strength lineup this time. Striker Marko Rakonjac, who has signed with the team, is expected to see his first minutes, though it is not yet certain whether he will start. Arie is familiar with him from their shared tenure at Hapoel Jerusalem.
Later in the week, the team expects to receive winger Yoav Koren on loan from Hapoel Be'er Sheva, who was loaned last season to Hapoel Kfar Saba. Koren is part of Ran Kozuch's squad, but in Petah Tikva, they claim to have a promise to receive him immediately after Hapoel Be'er Sheva's match against Red Star Belgrade.
