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 looks to play a high intensity game built on directness and heavy pressure. This team operates in a 4-2-4 formation that aims to overwhelm the opponent in the final third. By utilizing a front four, the lineup seeks to pin the opposition defense back and create constant chaos through quick transitions.

Erlich stays between the posts to manage the defensive line. The back four consists of Deznet at right back and Salem at left back, both tasked with tracking runners and managing the width of the pitch. Korrea plays as the right centre back, while Dadia or Tibi occupies the left centre back position to provide cover. This defensive unit works to hold a high line to squeeze the space, forcing the opponent to play long.

The midfield relies on a double pivot to control the center of the pitch. Soumah and Cohen operate as the two central midfielders, tasked with shielding the defense and recycling possession. They must work hard to win the second ball and then look to break the line with vertical passes. Cohen and Soumah act as the engine, connecting the back four to the heavy attacking force ahead of them by driving the ball forward through the middle.

Maccabi Petach-Tikva uses a potent front line that focuses on punishing the opposition. Owusu stays wide on the right as a winger, while Spence, Lugassy, or Koren operates on the left to stretch the defense. In the central areas, Hazan leads the attack alongside Rakonjac or Cortés. The two strikers often work in combinations to find space in the box, using runs in behind to exploit high defensive lines. The wingers often cut inside to create overloads in the half spaces, allowing the strikers to find the feet of the striker or receive the ball in dangerous areas.

A primary strength of this lineup is the ability to press high in coordinated waves to win the ball back up the pitch. This aggressive movement creates many opportunities to attack the goal before the opposition can reset. The formation also offers speed of transition, as the presence of four attackers allows the team to spread wide and strike quickly when they win possession in the middle third.

This 4-2-4 formation is designed for teams that want to dominate through aggressive pressing and direct attacking. It is best suited for matches where the opponent struggles to play out from the back or lacks the numbers to defend against wide overloads.