After capturing the Toto Cup last Thursday, Maccabi Tel Aviv will visit the capital city for a date with Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium, 21:00. Jordi Cruyff’s Yellow & Blue will come into the match looking to pick up three points and move closer to the top of the table.

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The Camera’s Lens: Getting Ready for Beitar
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The current situation
Maccabi will enter the evening after Hapoel Beer Sheva fell 1:0 last night at Maccabi Netanya. The Yellow & Blue have 23 points and three points will cut the lead at the top of the table to just 4 points. Of course Maccabi will need to win the league match after three draws in a row.

On the other side of the pitch, Beitar will be super motivated as they can move into first place with a victory as they currently sit with 27 points after two league wins in a row against Acre and Raanana.

What are they saying?
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff spoke at the prematch press conference yesterday and said: “It’s always a special match as they are a team with passion and difficult to play against. Our recent history has been tough and we’ve had trouble with them. We have to put aside the Toto Cup and we have to bring aggressiveness and passion to the game just as Beitar always have. We have to win and take the points.”

Veteran defender Yuval Shpungin also addressed the media on Sunday: “There has been a number of good changes over the last few matches and the Toto Cup Final was a good match against a tough rival in Beer Sheva. We have to bring the same passion to the league.”

Maccabi in the second round of Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al matches
Tonight’s match will open up the second round of league matches. What do the stats says about the Yellow & Blue in this round?

Maccabi’s record in second round openers: 32 wins, 19 draws, 14 losses
The Yellow & Blue have played Beitar Jerusalem 3 times away to open the second round with a record of a win, draw and loss.

Over the past 6 seasons (other than 2014/15) Maccabi’s win percentage in the second round is higher than the first.

Of the 6 seasons, last campaign saw the highest increase, 21%.

In the 1949/50 season Maccabi went a perfect 12/12 in the second round.

The 2013/14 campaign was the second best with an 87% win rate – 11 wins, a draw and a loss.