Dec 13th features a match where Maccabi Tel Aviv plays host to Hapoel Hadera in a meeting of these two Ligat ha’Al teams in the ever popular Petah Tikva derby. The game day is forecasted to be a cloudy and cool day, with daytime temperatures of only 19 degrees, a perfect day for football. In their last match, Maccabi Tel Aviv recorded a 2-1 win against Beitar Jerusalem. Brandley Kuwas scored the first goal for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 29th minute, then Yarden Shua tied it up for Beitar Jerusalem in the 38th minute on a feed from Roei Herman. With 17 points in their last 10 matches Maccabi Tel Aviv should be reasonably happy with their performance, while in their last match, 5th placed Hapoel Hadera, recorded a 2-1 win against Bnei Sakhnin. Shoval Gozlan scored the first goal for Hapoel Hadera in the 45th minute, then Shoval Gozlan added another in the 60th minute. Hapoel Hadera is looking for direction having earned 16 points in their last 10 matches.
These two teams have not yet played each other this season, so it will be interesting how the match turns out. Last season Maccabi Tel Aviv won the head to head battle with 2 wins.
Shoval Gozlan has been the most effective weapon for Hapoel Hadera lately. The Israeli attacker has netted two goals in his last five matches. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s most prolific scorer has been Brandley Kuwas. He has netted 3 goals over the last five matches.