Monday’s league encounter at Sammy Ofer will be the 177^th league match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in what has become the most played league fixture in the Israeli top-flight.

Maccabi won 72 of these matches, Haifa won 52, while 52 other matches ended in a draw while the total goal tally currently stands on 255-220.

Since Haifa switched from Kiryat Eliezer to Sammy Ofer both sides met each other in the league on 17 occasions. Maccabi won 8, lost 3 and 6 other matches were drawn with a goal tally of 29-21.

Maccabi won 8 of the last 10 league matches which were played in the second league round while the other two ended in a draw and a defeat.

Amongst those second-round matches, are the memorable:

Last season’s 3-0 win at Bloomfield: Eran Zahavi (2), Parfait Guiagon.

The dramatic 4-3 victory in the 2019/20 season at Sammy Ofer.

The 3-1 victory in the 2017/18 season when Vidar Kjaratansson scoring after 13 seconds.

The first encounter between the sides at Sammy Ofer in 2014/15 with Eran Zahavi scoring the only goal of the game.

Monday’s match will be the first time in history Maccabi faces Haifa three times in less than a month (26 days). In the 2015/16 season Maccabi played Haifa three times in the space of 37 days – a 0-0 draw at Haifa in the Playoff, a 6-0 win in the corresponding fixture at Bloomfield which was followed by a 0-1 defeat in the Stated Cup Final at Teddy stadium.

Maccabi played the same opponent three times in less than a month on 16 occasions. In 2015 Maccabi played Ironi Kiryat Shmona three times in the space 16 days. A 0-0 draw in the league was followed by the 1^st leg of the State Cup Quarter Final (1-1) while seven days later Maccabi won the return leg 3-0 on the way to winning the Cup in the historic treble season.

After a busy month that began with a goal and an assist in the 4-1 victory away to Ashdod, ended with a winning goal against Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield, you voted for Gabi Kanichowsky as the KOPELL Group sponsored Maccabi Player of the Month of January.

The diminutive midfielder received most of your votes but was facing tough competition from Dor Turgeman who impressed with five goals to his name including a Tel Aviv derby brace.

Voted for Kanichowsky? Now comes the part you have been waiting for!

At 17:00 on Sunday (Today) whoever voted for Kanichowsky should receive a text message containing the prize question. The first person to send a correct answer will receive a signed shirt by Maccabi’s Player of the Month, Gabi Kanichowsky, as well as an official Maccabi scarf.

Ofir Davidzada set up the first goal for Dor Turgeman as Maccabi came back from a goal behind to beat Hapoel Jersualem 2-1 at Bloomfield. At the end of the match the experienced left-back summed up the match: “It wasn’t easy tonight as we played against a very good Hapoel Jerusalem team that has a very good coach in Ziv Ariye. They are causing t5he entire league problems and are always tough to play against.”

Davidzada, who recently made his 200^th appearance in all competitions for Maccabi since joining in 2017, added: “I am 32 this season which isn’t old in terms of age, but I have matured in terms of character. Several key players left us, and I felt it was my time to grab their place and assume leadership. We have many young talented players as my role is to help them by giving them tools which would serve them in the future. This is something which would benefit Maccabi as a club but also very important for us ion order to achieve our targets as we are all in this together.”

Davidzada, who was used by Robbie Keane as a makeshift central defender, said of his versatility: “Regardless of where you place me, I will give everything for the team. I strongly believe in my ability which is something I have been working on mentally. I am just glad the coach has faith in me and I could repay him on the pitch.”

On the hectic fixture list which saw Maccabi play a match every three weeks over a period of 45 days, Davidzada summed up: “It was a very challenging spell, but one has to give credit to our coach and coaching staff, as well as our fitness coach (Yossi Zigdon) for preparing us to play every game. I think we looked like we were in good shape, and we were not so tired. This was a challenging period but as players we want to play as many games as possible. The circumstance which led to that are extremely sad, and from here we would like to say that we wish all the hostages return home as we are waiting for them. We also wish all the soldiers return home safe and sound, for all this to be over soon. I am just happy we managed to survive this period and we are looking at our future targets.”

Dor Turgeman who cancelled Hapoel Jerusalem’s early lead by scoring his 7th league goal and ninth in all competitions this season, said at the end of the 2-1 victory at Bloomfield: “We did our job by collecting the three points and we now move on to focus on the next game. Turgeman, who started the match upfront, added: “It is always fun to score, especially when it helps the team as now we can move on. I am here to help the and take my chance when I receive it. I am just happy to have done it.”

The 20-year-old forward who faces tough competition from Eran Zahavi which was made even tougher by the new addition of Yonas Malede, said on the challenges he has: “Competition for places is a healthy thing as it takes the best out of you and makes you work even harder. We are working very hard and one has to know how to win matches like that. I am just delighted we did it.”