Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will be hosted tonight at Shlomo Bituach Stadium, where they will face Hapoel Petah Tikva as part of Matchday 26 of the Winner League. Ahead of the clash, we’ve gathered all the essential statistics, head-to-head history, and interesting details you need to know before the opening whistle.
Hapoel will face the final 90 minutes of the regular season tonight, playing away in Petah Tikva against the local side in the match that will close out the league, just before the start of the Upper Playoff matches.
The Reds arrive at the game with defender Marcus Coco missing due to an accumulation of yellow cards. On the other hand, Lucas Falcao returns to the squad after serving his suspension and will be at the professional staff's disposal.
The team arrives riding a streak of nine league games without a loss, including seven victories. On the eve of the matchday, Hapoel is ranked fourth in the table with 48 points (following a two-point deduction by the disciplinary court) and a positive goal difference of 46:26 (+20). Hapoel Petah Tikva is ranked sixth with 36 points and a goal difference of 40:36.
The previous encounter between the teams, during Matchday 13 at Bloomfield, ended in a resounding 4-0 victory for Hapoel. The goals were scored by Loizos Loizou (13'), Andrian Kraev (28'), Stav Toriel (68'), and an own goal (77'). Additionally, the two teams met in the group stage of the Toto Cup, where Hapoel traveled to HaMoshava Stadium and returned with a 2-1 victory, thanks to a dramatic goal by Stav Toriel in the 87th minute.
Match Information
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Date & Time: Saturday, 11/4/2026, 20:00
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Competition: Premier League, Second Round, Matchday 26
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Location: Shlomo Bituach Stadium, Petah Tikva
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Main Referee: Snir Levi
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Assistant Referees: Oshri Cohen, Rifat Alhamula
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VAR Officials: Niv Steif, Omer Barbiro
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Fourth Official: Aviv Klein
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Broadcast: Sport 3 HD
The History Books
Tonight, Hapoel will face Hapoel Petah Tikva for the 145th time in league encounters. This is one of the oldest rivalries in Israeli football, with the sheer number of matches placing this rivalry seventh on Hapoel's list of most frequent league opponents. Let's dive into some fascinating moments from the shared past of these two clubs.
Overall League Record (144 Matches):
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Hapoel Wins: 65
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Draws: 42
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Hapoel Petah Tikva Wins: 37
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Goal Difference: 223:145 in favor of Hapoel
Away Record (Hapoel as the Visiting Team - 70 Matches):
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Hapoel Wins: 27
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Draws: 22
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Hapoel Petah Tikva Wins: 21
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Goal Difference: 93:76 in favor of Hapoel
Historical Highlights:
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The first official meeting between Hapoel and Hapoel Petah Tikva took place on February 23, 1935. The match was held in Petah Tikva as part of the third matchday of the National League, and it was the hosts who celebrated a 2-0 victory.
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On January 10, 1942, Hapoel recorded one of its most impressive wins over Hapoel Petah Tikva. During Matchday 12 of Liga Alef, they hammered their Petah Tikva rivals 6-0. The goals were scored by Meir Aharon Melika (18' pen.), Moshe Melamed (49'), Zvi "Doctor" Ehrlich (52', 79'), Yitzhak Isaac Czecik (62'), and Shmuel (88').
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The first match between the two following the establishment of the State of Israel took place in Matchday 2 of the 1949/1950 season. Hapoel put on a show in Petah Tikva, winning 5-1 with goals from Reuven Alalouf (4'), Shimon Benodis (29'), Naftali Schwalb (50'), and Chaim Glazer (87', 88').
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Throughout history, Hapoel has delivered quite a few offensive masterclasses against Petah Tikva. There were four-goal, five-goal, and six-goal hauls, as well as one unforgettable seven-goal thriller during the 2009/2010 double-winning season. In Matchday 10, Hapoel hosted the encounter at Ramat Gan Stadium and won 7-1. Joining the goal-fest were Itay Shechter with a hat-trick (3', 33', 42'), Dedi Ben Dayan (66'), Maharan Lala (70'), Eran Zahavi (83'), and Gil Vermouth (86').
Hapoel arrives at the upcoming clash with an active streak of eight league games without a loss against the Malabess. Furthermore, in the last 12 away league meetings between the clubs, Hapoel remains undefeated; the Reds' last away loss to Hapoel Petah Tikva occurred on December 6, 2004.