The Israeli Premier League is starting to get its frame, as the two title contenders are running while other top teams are drowning.
Maccabi Tel Aviv didn't start the season well. In recent weeks, the reigning champions are getting better with 6 unbeaten league matches and a draw against Villareal in the Europa League. Their opponents this week, Hapoel Kfar Saba, came after an amazing win against Maccabi Haifa and wished to repeat it.
Aleksandar Pešić, the new Serbian player of Maccabi Tel Aviv, found the net first in the 38th minute. Another newly signed player, Dan Biton, scored the second in the 45th minute. It took time, but Giorgos Donis managed to find the right combination and balance between the players. Yonatan Cohen scored in the 53rd minute and completed a 3-0 win for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
With a third win in a row, Maccabi Tel Aviv is finally getting closer to the first place. This form will be in their mind, as they are heading to an away match against Qarabağ.
Stop The Defeats
Maccabi Haifa had two defeats in the last weeks, and the critics about their ability to win the title this year have begun. They hosted Beitar Jerusalem for a match that could have been tough for both sides.
In the 12th minute, Maccabi Haifa was awarded a penalty, and Nikita Rukavytsya took it. Like in the previous match, the Australian striker missed it, but Mohammad Abu Fani took the rebound and scored. A few moments later, the goal was disallowed by a VAR decision, as Abu Fani got into the box too early. Maccabi Haifa didn't give up, and in the 34th minute, Dolev Haziza scored. Just before half time, Rukavytsya scored the second. Rukavytsya now scored for 7 consecutive matches.
Maccabi Haifa won 2-0, and their coach Barak Bakhar could be proud. It was his 150th league win in the career, and he became the fastest ever to do so, after 268 league matches. It's another impressive achievement by the talented manager.
On the other hand, it was a disappointing night for Beitar Jerusalem. Their key player was the goalkeeper, Itamar Nitzan, who made 9 saves in the first half. Moshe Hogeg, the team's owner, need to figure out what he should do to lead the club to be in a better place. In the last days, he was focused on making a deal with an Emirati businessman, and maybe doing such kind of tour is not helping the club.
Beram Kayal Strikes
The debut of Beram Kayal in Bnei Sakhnin ended with a 4-0 defeat against Hapoel Hadera. Kayal took a few days, and Bnei Sakhnin got what they expected from him.
In his first home match in Doha Stadium, Kayal made an impressive performance against FC Ashdod. In the 62nd minute, he made the first assist since his return with a pass to Ihab Ghanayem. This goal was a crucial winning goal for Bnei Sakhnin that wish to begin their run away from the relegation zone.
Top Guns on Bottom
Meanwhile, there are big teams that fail to join the top places.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva keeps on failing to play in the league and the Europa League simultaneously. They made a 2-2 draw against Hapoel Haifa, and they are maintaining a streak of 6 winless league matches. Yossi Abukasis is looking helpless before the crucial game against Slavia Praha on Thursday.
Another team that is lying on the bottom is Hapoel Tel Aviv. The club is under crisis in the last seasons, including entering administration. This season, Hapoel Tel Aviv barely wins, and after a 1-0 defeat against Bnei Yehuda, they are in the relegation zone, two points away from the 12th place.
For both teams, who finished in the 4th and the 5th place, it will be a long season.
Thumbnail photo by Maccabi Tel Aviv Facebook page.