Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will visit Teddy Stadium tonight where it will meet Beitar Jerusalem as part of the 36th and final round of the Winner League. Ahead of the encounter, we have gathered all the statistical data, the history between the teams, and the interesting details you need to know before the opening whistle.
Hapoel's comeback season to the Premier League officially closes tonight, as the Reds will finish the current season in fourth place in the table, and after 12 years, mark a return to European cups as they will play in the Conference League qualifiers (second qualifying round) for the 2026/2027 season.
Hapoel arrives at the final round in fourth place with 59 points in its record (after the 2-point deduction by the court) and a positive goal balance of 54:37. On the other hand, the host from the capital will finish the season in second place, with 75 points and a goal balance of 77:39.
The two have already met 4 times this season – 3 times in the league and once more in the Toto Cup final. There isn't a Red fan who doesn't remember the encounter in the first round, which became one of the greatest classics of the season. Hapoel took an early lead from a penalty by Stav Toriel (26), but the Jerusalemites managed to overturn the score to 2-1 in the 78th minute. When it seemed like the match was slipping away, the 90th minute arrived: a wonderful cross from Toriel found the head of Andrian Kraev, who headed powerfully inside and established an equalizer. The drama reached its boiling point in the 98th minute, when a massive free kick by Omri Altman found the net and sealed a sweet, dramatic, and "Red" 2-3 victory.
In the second round, at Teddy Stadium, Hapoel conceded a 1-0 defeat. In the first round of the playoff, despite playing with ten men for over 70 minutes, Hapoel dominated the game without question but conceded one goal which sealed the final score, 1-0 at the finish. The teams met again to battle for the title in the Toto Cup final, where Hapoel lost 2-1, with the consolation goal by Stav Toriel scored deep inside stoppage time (90+10).
Match Information
Match Date: Saturday, 23/5/2026, 21:00
Competition: Premier League, Upper Playoff, Round 36
Location: Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem
Head Referee: Yoav Mizrahi
Assistant Referees: Idan Yarkoni, Lieoz Adi
VAR Referees: Eitan Shmuelevitz, Rafael Geva
Fourth Official: Vitali Bondarov
Broadcast: Sport 1 HD
History
The long-standing rivalry between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem is one of the most fascinating and charged in Israeli football. Since the first meeting until today, the two teams have met 132 times, and over the years, a rich story of great battles, dramatic moments, and unforgettable goals has been woven.
The Full Record: 132 matches 55 wins for Hapoel 35 draws 42 wins for Beitar Goal balance: 169:146 for Hapoel
And the record with Hapoel as the away team: 63 matches 24 wins for Hapoel 17 draws 22 wins for Beitar Goal balance: 68:69 for Beitar
The first match in the league framework between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem was held on March 5, 1955, at the YMCA ground, as part of the fifth round. Hapoel found itself trailing twice but managed to return thanks to goals by Asher Balout in the 23rd minute and Michael Michaelov in the 83rd minute. At the finish, a 2-2 draw was recorded.
The first league match in which Hapoel hosted Beitar in that same year also ended without a decision. Asher Balout put Hapoel ahead in the 24th minute from a penalty, but the rival equalized toward the finish, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Over the years, Hapoel experienced particularly memorable home games against Beitar, scoring four goals against them no less than seven times. The streak began on March 6, 1971, when Hapoel won 2-4 from goals by Yehoshua Feigenbaum (16), Yehezkel Hazum (57), and Shimon Ben Yehonatan (74, 76).
One of the greatest and most unforgettable games was held on March 16, 1996, within the 22nd round at Bloomfield. In the 36th minute, Avi Azoulai was sent off by referee Eyal Tzur, and Hapoel was left with ten men. Exactly from this point, the football show of Shalom Tikva began, conducting a red concert that included his own personal brace, alongside goals by Sagiv Eliyahu and Kazimierz Moskal, ending in an incredible 0-4 victory over the arch-rivals.
Another four-goal display was recorded on February 9, 2009, in the season preceding the last "Double". Goals by Mahran Lala (38, 66), Douglas da Silva (42), and Bibras Natkho (70) granted Hapoel a smooth 0-4 victory over Beitar.