118 league meetings took place so far between the two sides of which Maccabi won 53, Hapoel Haifa won 30 and 35 matches ended in a draw. The goal tally in those matches clearly favors Maccabi and currently stands on 183-112.
Maccabi Tel Aviv – The most successful team at Sammy Ofer.
Ever since the Sammy Ofer stadium was opened at the start of the 2014/15 season, it hosted 203 league matches. Maccabi’s success rate against Hapoel Haifa at the Sammy Ofer stadium is 57.1% (3 wins, 3 draws and a defeat).
Maccabi’s success rate against Maccabi Haifa at the Haifa stadium is 73.3% (6 wins and 4 draws). If one adds the radius matches against Beitar Jerusalem hosted at Sammy Ofer – Maccabi’s success rate at the Haifa stadium in league matches stands on 60%.
This is the best success rate of all the 19 clubs who played league matches at the stadium – including the two Haifa clubs (Maccabi Haifa 53% and Hapoel Haifa 43%).
The balance in the Playoff against Hapoel Haifa
Tuesday’s match will be the 5th time both teams meet in the playoff.
Just like this time round, all the previous encounters took place in the top playoff: A 4-0 victory in the 2000/01 season. A 2-1 defeat and a 2-2 draw in the 2017/18 playoff and a 2-0 victory in the opening playoff match on May 30th.
Nes Zamir’s 93rd minute equalizer on MD23 when Hapoel Haifa hosted Maccabi in the regular season on February 8th (1-1 draw) – was the latest goal Maccabi conceded this season.
Will the league title be secured?
While Maccabi Tel Aviv face Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer, second place Maccabi Haifa which are 12 points adrift travel to Bloomfield stadium and face Hapoel Tel Aviv. With 18 league titles won after the State of Israel was founded, Maccabi Tel Aviv could celebrate their 24th league title in the event they collect more points than Maccabi Haifa on the night.
Together with Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Petah Tikva who took part in 3 crowning matches each – Hapoel Haifa is the team Maccabi won the most championships against.
Previous league titles secured against Hapoel Haifa: A 4-0 win at the Maccabiya stadium in the penultimate match of the 1949/50 season. A 3-1 victory at the Kiryat Haim stadium two matches before the end of the 1953/54 season and a 2-0 victory at Bloomfield on the final day of the 1978/79 season.
Maccabi never won a league title at Sammy Ofer stadium which has never hosted a crowning match in its’ short history.
