So far, there have been 153 Tel Aviv Derby clashes. Maccabi have won 51 times, 46 have ended in draws, and Hapoel have won on 46 occasions. The goal difference is 175-150 in favour of Maccabi.
Hapoel were the only opponents that Maccabi failed to beat last season. Indeed, in the two seasons following Hapoel’s promotion — last season and in 1990-91 — each of the two clashes in each campaign ended in draws.
Maccabi have now played their last eight Derby matches without defeat but the record is 10 and it was achieved in April 1994.
Wednesday’s clash will be the 106th Derby to be played at Bloomfield. Hapoel have been the home team on 66 occasions and Maccabi 39 times. The Bloomfield record favours Hapoel, who have won 38 times. Maccabi have won 32 times and 35 clashes ended in a draw. Maccabi edge the goal count 110-109.
Other stadiums to have hosted the Derby are Basa (the ground that stood on the site before Bloomfield was built) 18 times, Ramat Gan 16 times, Maccabiah Stadium nine times and Netanya and Moshava Stadiums, twice each.
Nir Klinger, who coached Maccabi between 2002-03 and 2005-06, will face Maccabi as a coach for the 15th time. His record against the club is two wins, three draws and nine defeats. Maccabi have a 32-14 goal record against him.
Maccabi’s biggest margin of victory (5-0) has been achieved twice, in 1969-70 and 2016-17.
The most common result is 1-0 and has been achieved 34 times by each club. There have been 26 goalless draws, including the abandoned match in 2014-15.
Maccabi have overturned a deficit in the Derby seven times and Hapoel have done so four times.
The most close-run change in fortunes came in 2013-14 when Maccabi came back from a goal down as Eran Zahavi scored in the 89th and 93rd minutes.
Maccabi have fielded 354 players in league Derby matches, 76 of whom have scored. Miko Belo holds the record for most Derby appearances, at 33. Benny Tabak and Avi Nimni are equal second on 29.
The late Shiye Glazer holds the record for most goals scored for Maccabi, at 11. Avi Nimni is second with eight goals and Eli Driks and Eran Zahavi have each scored seven times.
