Maccabi Petach-Tikva Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Hazan (53) · Owusu (9) · Soumah (21) · Deznet (26) · Cohen (20) · Korrea (44) · Dadia / Tibi (30 / 18) · Salem (17) · Rakonjac / Cortés (97 / 77) · Erlich (97) · Spence / Lugassy / Koren (7 / 10 / 27)

Maccabi Petach-Tikva plays with a direct and vertical identity using a 4-2-4. This formation is built to hit the opposition quickly and stretch the pitch with four dedicated attackers. The goal is to bypass the midfield and force the opponent to defend deep in their own half.

Erlich stays between the posts to anchor the defense. The back line operates as a flat back four, with Deznet acting as the right back to provide width and Salem as the left back. In the center, Korrea and Tibi form the defensive core, where Tibi provides aerial strength while Korrea works to cover the space behind. This defensive unit must stay compact to prevent being caught out during transitions, as the team pushes high up the pitch.

The midfield relies on a double pivot to manage the center of the park. Cohen and Soumah act as the two central midfielders, tasked with winning the second ball and recycling possession. Cohen looks to carry the ball forward, while Soumah works to shield the back four and protect the space in front of the defenders. They serve as the vital connection point, moving the ball quickly to the front four to launch attacks.

The attacking unit uses four players to pin the last defender. Owusu operates as a wide winger on the right, while Spence provides presence on the left wing. Hazan and Rakonjac lead the line as a two forwards partnership, working together to find space in the box. This attacking group is designed to create runs in behind and isolate wide players in one on one situations. When the ball moves wide, the wingers look to get to the byline and deliver crosses for the strikers.

Maccabi Petach-Tikva gains a tactical advantage through their ability to press high in coordinated waves. By having four players close to the opposition defense, they can trigger a press from the front to win the ball high up the pitch. The formation also creates wide overloads, as the wingers pull the defenders out of position to allow the full backs to overlap.

This 4-2-4 formation is designed for high intensity and quick transitions. It is best suited for matches against teams that sit deep and struggle to track runners in the channels.