Last Monday's 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa extended to twenty the number of home games played by Maccabi Tel Aviv without loss. And that's not all . . .
Two's company, three's a joy
In the first decade of the new millennium, Maccabi Tel Aviv managed only three times to score three goals in a match against Maccabi Haifa. With Monday night's 3-1 win they've now done it three times in the last year.
No stopping on green
In fact Maccabi Tel Aviv have now gone an impressive seven league games without loss to their northern namesakes in green, Maccabi Haifa. The last time that occurred was 20 years ago, and the run ended one infamous, rainy winter's night in February 1995 with a 0-3 defeat at home. The less said about that the better.
He's unstoppable, full stop
Midfielder Eran Zahavi has record-breaker written all over him. His goal against Maccabi Haifa on Monday night means he's scored in his last nine league games, equalling an Israeli Premier League record established 17 years ago. And by scoring 13 times in those nine matches he's gone one better.
And he's using his head, too
Eran Zahavi's goal on Monday night was only his second headed winner in his last 49 scores for Maccabi Tel Aviv in all competitions.
At your service
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Serbian midfielder crowned an excellent performance on Monday night when he turned provider for Eran Zahavi's second-half winner. Were it not for the red-carded intervention of Haifa defender Eyal Meshumar, he might have recorded an assist before the break as well after sending a superb long ball to Tal Ben Chaim for what looked like a certain goal.
Seeing red
Meshumar's dismissal, and that of his team-mate, Bosnian defender Edin Cocalic in the second half, brings to four the number of red cards shown to Maccabi Haifa in their last three encounters with the reigning champions.
Close encounters
In the last four seasons, Maccabi Haifa striker Weaam Amasha scored at least once in his club's encounters with Maccabi Tel Aviv. On Monday he just managed to hit the crossbar. It was the first time this season that Maccabi Tel Aviv keeper Juan Pablo saw his woodwork rattled, while his team-mates have already done it four times at the other end.
You decide
Who should get credit for the first goal on Monday night, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Tal Ben Chaim or Haifa defender Taleb Tawatha? If you vote for the Tel Aviv winger, it's his third league goal in as many matches.
Home sweet home
The challenge of beating Maccabi Tel Aviv at home seems to be growing. Two seasons ago only Bnei Yehuda (twice in the league), Hapoel Haifa (League Cup) and Beitar Jerusalem (State Cup) managed the feat. Last year not even European giants Basel and Frankfurt pulled off a win at Bloomfield and this season, well, so far so good.
A home away from home?
If Maccabi Tel Aviv manage to avoid defeat at Netanya's new municipal stadium in matchweek 5 this Sunday against Hapoel Acre, it will be their seventh outing there without loss since the stadium opened in November of 2012.
Low five
On the other hand, only once in the last eight seasons have Maccabi Tel Aviv won their matchweek 5 league encounters, and in the 2009/10 season it was Hapoel Acre who stopped them, earning a 1-1 draw. But as they say, records are there to be broken.
