Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will host Beitar Jerusalem tonight at Bloomfield Stadium in the third round of the Israeli Premier League. Ahead of this highly anticipated clash, we’ve gathered all the key stats, the history between the two clubs, and the most interesting details to know before kickoff
Hapoel enters one of the biggest matches of the season already in round three, with Bloomfield expected to be packed with a sea of red supporters.
The Reds opened the season on the right foot, claiming a 2–1 home victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the first round, followed by a dramatic 2–2 draw away at Bnei Reineh. Now, backed by the passionate home crowd and a strong red army in the stands, Hapoel aims to continue its positive momentum and establish itself at the top of the table early in the season.
This upcoming game carries added significance, as the two rivals are also set to meet at the end of October in the Toto Cup final – another heated encounter that adds a layer of tension and prestige.
Beitar, on the other hand, arrives after a solid start of its own: a 2–1 away win over Bnei Sakhnin in the opening round, followed by a goalless home draw against Maccabi Haifa.
Match Information
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Date: Monday, September 15, 2025 – 20:30
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Competition: Israeli Premier League, First Round, Matchday 3
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Venue: Bloomfield Stadium
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Referee: Gal Leibovitz
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Assistant Referees: Omer Barbiro, Idan Bernstein
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VAR Officials: Niv Staif, Shalom Ben Avraham
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Fourth Official: Gal Levi
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Broadcast: Sport 5 HD
The History
The long-standing rivalry between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem is one of the most fascinating and heated in Israeli football. Since their first meeting, the two sides have faced each other 129 times, weaving a rich story of epic battles, dramatic moments, and unforgettable goals.
Overall Record:
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129 matches
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54 Hapoel wins
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35 draws
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40 Beitar wins
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Goal difference: 166–142 in Hapoel’s favor
At Hapoel’s home:
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67 matches
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30 Hapoel wins
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18 draws
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19 Beitar wins
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Goal difference: 98–74 in Hapoel’s favor
The first-ever league match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem was played on March 5, 1955 at YMCA Stadium in the fifth round. Hapoel twice found itself trailing but equalized through Asher Blot (23’) and Michael Michaelov (83’), with the game ending in a 2–2 draw.
Later that same year, the first home league match between the sides also ended level. Asher Blot put Hapoel ahead in the 24th minute from the penalty spot, but Beitar equalized late on for a 1–1 draw.
Over the years, Hapoel has had memorable home wins over Beitar, scoring four goals in a match on seven different occasions. The streak began on March 6, 1971, with a 4–2 victory thanks to goals from Yehoshua Feigenbaum (16’), Yehezkel Hazum (57’), and Shimon Ben-Yonatan (74’, 76’).
One of the most unforgettable encounters took place on March 16, 1996 at Bloomfield. After Avi Azulai was sent off in the 36th minute, Hapoel was reduced to ten men – but it sparked a red masterpiece led by Shalom Tikva. With a personal brace, plus goals from Sagiv Eliyahu and Kazimierz Moskál, Hapoel stunned Beitar with a 4–0 triumph.
Another emphatic 4–0 win came on February 9, 2009, in the season before Hapoel’s last double. Maharan Lala (38’, 66’), Douglas da Silva (42’), and Bibras Natcho (70’) sealed a dominant victory.
In the last five league meetings at Bloomfield, the record has been evenly balanced: two wins apiece and one goalless draw.
Tonight’s match will be officiated by international referee Gal Leibovitz. Throughout his career, he has refereed 20 Hapoel league matches, with the Reds winning eight, drawing two, and losing ten. He has awarded Hapoel just one penalty (which was missed) and one to their opponents (converted). In his two previous Hapoel–Beitar matches: Beitar won 1–0 at Bloomfield in December 2019, while Hapoel triumphed 1–0 at Teddy in January 2021 with Omri Altman scoring the winner in the 34th minute.