The Red Wall: Hapoel Tel Aviv aims for the Conference League
Assembled from players across the globe, Hapoel Tel Aviv's defensive line has become the league's best. Now, the team hopes this reliability will help them overcome Atalanta in the Conference League following a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Stardust in football usually falls on the attacking players. At Hapoel Tel Aviv, the spotlight is often on finisher Stav Turiel, expensive signings Douglas Owusu and Daniel Dapa, or rising star Roi Alkokin. However, the most significant force built at the Huldah complex in just one year, thanks to precise scouting, is the defensive line.
Players arriving from Brazzaville, Recife, Guadeloupe, Petah Tikva, and Rishon LeZion have formed a formidable defensive unit. Last season, the team conceded only 38 goals, sharing the title of the league's best defense with Hapoel Be'er Sheva. This summer, the fruits of that work are even more evident.
The peak came against Italian side Atalanta, a club with a market value of 418 million euros compared to the Reds' 17 million. In the first leg of the Conference League playoffs in Bergamo, Hapoel snatched a prestigious 0-0 draw, even showing superiority. Tonight in Miskolc, they will attempt to pull off a major European sensation in the second leg.
Elyaniv Barda's defensive system is the result of a broad professional staff: CEO Guy Primor, Technical Director Omer Buxenbaum, and Head of Scouting Ivan Slavov. The club relies on deep data analysis, employing eight analysts to dissect the game. The decision to maintain squad continuity, apart from the 2.5 million euro signing of Owusu, is paying off.
The Reds' foreign defenders bring immense experience: hundreds of appearances in the top leagues of France and Brazil, and international caps. Leadership is provided by Adrian Kraev, former captain of Levski Sofia, Fernand Mayembo of Hapoel Haifa, and Omri Altman.
Against Atalanta, the defensive system worked perfectly. The Italians, who average 15 shots per game, were limited to just 9 (4 on target). Marcos Coco won 12 duels, while goalkeeper Asaf Tzur, last season's best keeper, made a series of crucial saves late in the game. "We looked them in the whites of their eyes," summarized Barda, who instructed his team to play proactively rather than just sitting back.
Building this "wall" began immediately after promotion from the National League. Asaf Tzur was the first piece, followed by Mayembo, for whom the club beat out Beitar Jerusalem. Brazilian defender Chico, who has faced stars like Neymar, added technique and became a symbol of the club after scoring the winning goal in the derby.
One of the most underrated players is Frenchman Marcos Coco, born in Guadeloupe. With 260 appearances in Ligue 1 and experience in the French youth national team alongside Kylian Mbappe, he has become a key defensive pillar. The defensive quintet is completed by Doron Leidner, who has regained excellent form.
The defensive system is anchored by midfielders: Falcao, the top tackler in the Brazilian second division, and Kraev, who delivered one of his best performances in Bergamo.
