Maccabi Tel Aviv will end the regular season on February 29 in an away fixture against Maccabi Netanya and moments before leap day descends upon us we have found some interesting statistics and have uncovered part of the rich rivalry between the two clubs.
Maccabi have played a total of 2,091 league matches over the years but only three have ever been played on leap day. These have been against Maccabi Petah Tikva, who won 2-1 in 1964, a goalless draw with Hapoel Beersheba in 1992 and a 3-0 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva in 2004.
In contrast to February 29, December 17 and April 13 are dates on which Maccabi have played the most league fixtures but a date on which Maccabi have never played a league game is September 7.
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Netanya have played a total of 140 times in the league over the years and only two sides have been more common opponents, Maccabi Haifa at 161, and Hapoel Tel Aviv with 155. Despite this, Netanya are the opponents that Maccabi have beaten the most, with 69 victories.
Netanya and Maccabi have a rich history and a healthy rivalry and in the 1970s the two clubs shared seven out of the ten championships in that decade.
Last season, Maccabi beat Netanya — and Hapoel Hadera — four times in league action but this season, Netanya are the only team who have still not lost to Maccabi.
Last season, Maccabi faced Netanya in the 17th round, when Omer Atzili scored the fastest league goal of the season and the one that preceded it. It was Maccabi’s third fastest-ever goal.
The first meeting between the two sides this season ended in a goalless draw and it ended a run of 25 matches between the two sides (since 2008-09) in which goals were scored.
The upcoming game will end the regular season prior to the start of the playoff phase that was introduced in the 2012-13 season. Maccabi are the only team ever to have won all seven games leading up to that phase.
