Maccabi Tel Aviv will play their first play-off match against Hapoel Ramat Hasharon and finish their season with a home tie against Bnei Yehuda. Maccabi Haifa will arrive at Bloomfield Stadium for the second round
With the last round of regulation season matches yet to be played, the final picture of the top six places in the table is already coming into focus. Hapoel Ramat Hasharon's victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva secured them the sixth spot in the table, preventing a top six finish for both FC Ashdod and Beitar Jerusalem, who will arrive at Bloomfield tonight for the season's last regulation match. Ironi Kiryat Shmona's victory over Bnei Sakhnin pushed head coach Izi Shiratski's side up to the third spot at the expense of Hapoel Tel Aviv, whose draw at Hapoel Akko dropped them to fourth. Bnei Yehuda will play on Monday night safe in the knowledge that their fifth position in the table is secure.
Maccabi Tel Aviv's first play-off match will be this Saturday against Ramat Hasharon at Bloomfield. After a two week international break, they will return to Bloomfield for what could well be the match of the season against Maccabi Haifa. The play-off's third round will be played mid-week, with Maccabi Tel Aviv heading north to play reigning champions Kiryat Shmona. Four days later Maccabi will host Hapoel Tel Aviv for the first of the two Derby play-off matches. The Yellows will finish the first round of play-off matches away at Bnei Yehuda.
The second round of the play-offs, round 32 of the season, will kick off with a Maccabi Tel Aviv visit to Grundman Stadium to face the surprise package of this year's play-off, Hapoel Ramat Hasharon. A week later Maccabi will play their third consecutive play-off match on the road at Eliezer Stadium against Maccabi Haifa. In May Maccabi will play three play-off ties at Bloomfield: Round 34 against Kiryat Shmona, round 35 "away" to Hapoel Tel Aviv (with whom they share Bloomfield Stadium) for the fourth Derby of the season, and the final round of the season at home against Bnei Yehuda.
