Maccabi Netanya Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Samu (#2) · Konaté (#6) · Feldman (#44) · Cohen (#24) · Jaber (#26) · Aziz (#32) · Zaarura (#16) · Levi (#15) · Davó (#83) · Haziza (#8) · Bilu (#10)

Maccabi Netanya focuses on being defensively solid and relies on a compact 5-4-1. This formation is built to deny space in the middle and force the opposition to play wide. The team stays organized to absorb pressure and look to hit opponents on the break. This lineup works best when the team sits deep and waits for the right moment to transition.

Samu guards the goal as the last line of defense. The defensive unit operates with a back five that provides great cover across the width of the pitch. Aziz sits at the heart of the defense to win headers and clear the lines. Konaté and Feldman act as the wide center backs in this system, with Konaté protecting the right side and Feldman covering the left. Jaber and Cohen act as attacking wing backs, pushing high to provide width when the team has the ball but tracking back quickly to maintain the back five. This group aims to hold a compact shape and prevent any runs in behind.

In front of the defense, Maccabi Netanya employs a flat four in midfield to squeeze the space between the lines. Levi and Zaarura occupy the central roles, where they work to protect the center and win the second ball. Levi acts as a carrier to move the ball forward, while Zaarura helps to shield the defense. On the flanks, Haziza and Bilu provide width and track back to help the wing backs. This midfield unit is designed to intercept passes and immediately look to progress through the thirds once they win possession.

The attacking movement revolves around a lone striker, Davó, who acts as a target man. Davó is tasked to hold up the ball and wait for support to arrive. The team builds attacks by using the width provided by Cohen and Jaber to stretch the defense. When the ball is won high up the pitch, Haziza and Bilu look to cut inside or deliver crosses to the box. The movement focuses on quick combinations to isolate defenders in one on one situations or finding Davó with direct balls to knock it in behind.

One major advantage for Maccabi Netanya is the compactness when defending, which makes it very hard for opponents to play through the middle. The formation also offers great flexibility to shift into a mid-block or a low block depending on the game state. By using the wing backs to overlap, they can create wide overloads during transitions. This setup ensures that the team is rarely caught out of position during sustained periods of opposition pressure.

This 5-4-1 lineup provides a sturdy platform for teams that want to control the game through defensive discipline. It is best suited for facing high possession teams that struggle to break down a deep defensive block.