Monday night’s clash at Sammy Ofer Stadium between Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv (kickoff 20:15) brings together second against first in the TASE Premier League, a fixture that has often been dubbed as a “Match of the Season” or the “Israeli Classico.” The statistics over many years certainly back this up.
The two outfits are Israel’s most successful clubs and have won most championships (Maccabi Tel Aviv with 23 and Maccabi Haifa on 12). The meeting between them is also the most played among Israeli teams (160 matches).
The record between the clubs stands at 65 wins for Tel Aviv, 47 draws and 48 wins for Haifa and the goal difference favours Tel Aviv at 228-198.
The two have also played in European club competitions more than any other Israeli teams (Tel Aviv 20 times and Haifa 18) and each has participated in the Champions’ League group stage twice.
Over the years, the two clubs have sent the most representatives to the national team: 18 percent of national team players from Tel Aviv and 15 percent from Haifa.
Since the 2013-14 season, the scales have tipped markedly in favour of Tel Aviv, who have had 16 wins, six draws and only one defeat, but will that momentum be maintained?
Since the 1-1 draw between the two clubs in the 35th and penultimate round of action last season, Maccabi Tel Aviv have notched nine consecutive away wins in the league. It is the second-longest run for Maccabi, but is still well behind their own best run of 19 consecutive away wins, registered in 1952.
Maccabi’s last away defeat was the 3-2 loss to Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium in April 2018 and if they don’t lose on Monday, they will equal the all-time record of 30 consecutive away matches without defeat which was set by Maccabi Haifa in 1995.
Proportionately, Maccabi’s record at Sammy Ofer Stadium against all clubs is the best of any Israeli outfit. There have been a total of 188 league matches played at the stadium since it opened in 2014 and of the 18 clubs who have played there, Maccabi’s record stands at 61 percent (eight wins, seven draws and two defeats). Maccabi Haifa, who have played 100 matches at their home ground, are only sixth in the success rate rankings, at 53 percent.
Maccabi’s success rate against Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer is even better, and stands at 70 percent (five wins, four draws and no defeats).
Over the years, the fixture between the two clubs has accrued the highest aggregate attendance for any Israeli match. It currently stands at 1,993,000 spectators, and the two-million mark is certain to be broken on Monday.
Indeed, the two Israeli league matches with the highest attendance ever recorded were between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in 1993. Both were played at Ramat Gan Stadium and both ended in 1-1 draws.
The two clubs also lead all others in attendances this season, Tel Aviv with an average of 22,620 and Haifa on 21,140 spectators per game.
Regardless of the result on Monday, both clubs will retain the top two places in the league in the 17th round and this last happened between the two clubs in 1993-94. Both have also shared the two top spots in the 17th round two other times, in 1966-68 (double season) and in 1969-70. In all three cases, the team in first place always went on to win the league. The first two times it was Tel Aviv’s crown, and in 1993-94, Haifa won the league.
Both clubs are looking strong and for the first time since 2009-10, they have amassed at least a 77 percent success rate as the leading clubs. Maccabi are currently on 83 percent, Haifa are on 77 percent.
