50 encounters against Kiryat Shmona
The forthcoming league match against Kiryat Shmona will be the 50 encounter between the two clubs in all competitions. The record so far shows that Maccabi won 29 matches, Kiryat Shmona won 9 and 11 matches ended in draws. The total goal tally is 93-47 in Maccabi’s favor.
Sunday’s match will be the first of two matches in the Play-off this season. Both sides met each other in the Play-Off’s 8 times as 6 matches were won by Maccabi, 2 matches ended in a draw with a success rate of 83%.
Maccabi won their last 11 league matches against Kiryat Shmona to equal a club’s all-time record against the same opponent achieved against Hapoel Acco 2017/18 and Zafririm Holon 2000/01. A victory over Kiryat Shmona on Sunday, will set a new club record.
A result that repeats itself on MD31
The match against Kiryat Shmona will conclude the first round of the Play-Off. Under the current structure (since the 2012/13 season) Maccabi’s record in the first round of the Play-Off’s is 24 victories, 14 draws, 6 defeats and a 65% success rate.
The record Maccabi has in the second round of the Play-Off’s is slightly less impressive: 22 victories, 9 draws and 9 defeats with a 63% success rate.
Over the past three seasons Maccabi ended the first round of the Play-Off (MD31) with an identical result 2-0. Maccabi beat Bnei Yehuda twice and Hapoel Tel Aviv once with the same 2-0 result.
Maccabi’s record against Kobi Refuah
The record of Kiryat Shmona’s coach, Kobi Refuah, against Maccabi Tel Aviv is so far – 1 victory, 3 draws and 11 defeats.
In 11 of the 15 times Refuah guided teams against Maccabi, his sides failed to score a goal. This includes four matches Maccabi beat Kiryat Shmona this season and in 2019/20 whilst keeping a clean sheet.
