Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will visit Teddy Stadium tonight to face Beitar Jerusalem as part of the 16th 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.
After securing qualification for the State Cup round of 16 Hapoel Tel Aviv returns tonight to the battle for the top of the Premier League as they head to Teddy Stadium for the prestigious match against their arch rival Beitar Jerusalem. The Reds arrive at the match in positive momentum counting a streak of three league matches without a loss including two victories in which the team scored nine goals.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Falcao will return to the squad and will be available for the professional staff after completing his suspension.
On the eve of this round Hapoel is ranked fourth in the table with 25 points and a goal difference of 29 to 19 while the host from the capital stands in second place with 33 points and a goal difference of 37 to 18.
The previous meeting between the two teams in the league held at Bloomfield Stadium provided one of the greatest dramas seen in Israeli football in recent years. Stav Turiel gave Hapoel an early lead in the 26th minute but the opponent managed to complete a comeback in the 78th minute to lead 2 to 1. Just when it seemed the game was heading for a loss Andrian Krayev headed a massive equalizer in the 90th minute. In the 98th minute the big moment arrived as Omri Altman sent a perfect free kick into the net to secure a 3 to 2 victory and a sweet heroic comeback.
Both teams met once more this season in the Toto Cup final held at Sami Ofer Stadium where Hapoel was defeated 2 to 1 with Stav Turiel scoring for Hapoel in the 90th minute.
Match Information
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Match Date: Thursday, 1/1/2026, 20:30
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Competition: Premier League, Second Round, Matchday 16
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Location: Teddy Stadium
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Head Referee: Yigal Frid
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Assistant Referees: Roy Hassan, Rusty Talis
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VAR Referees: Niv Steif, Shalom Ben Avraham
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Fourth Official: Idan Leiba
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Broadcast: Sport 5 HD
History
The long-standing rivalry between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem is one of the most fascinating and charged in Israeli football. From the first meeting until today, the teams have met 130 times, weaving a rich story of great battles, dramatic moments, and unforgettable goals.
Full Record:
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Total Matches: 130
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Hapoel Victories: 55
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Draws: 35
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Beitar Victories: 40
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Goal Difference: 169:144 in favor of Hapoel
Record with Hapoel as the Away Team:
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Matches: 62
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Hapoel Victories: 24
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Draws: 17
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Beitar Victories: 21
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Goal Difference: 68:68
The first league match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem was held on March 5, 1955, at the YMCA field. Hapoel fell behind twice but managed to come back thanks to goals from Asher Balout (23') and Michael Michaelov (83'), ending in a 2-2 draw.
Over the years, Hapoel Tel Aviv has had particularly memorable away games against Beitar Jerusalem. The historical record shows impressive success in the capital, with 24 victories out of 62 away encounters.
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First Away Win: May 15, 1971. At the legendary YMCA Stadium, the team fell behind early, but a dramatic brace by Yaakov Rachminovich in the final minutes secured a 2-1 comeback victory.
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1984 Victory: May 19, 1984. Another memorable away win starring Moshe Sinai, who scored a magnificent brace in a 3-1 victory at the YMCA, significantly damaging the opponent's championship hopes that season.
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The "Double" Decider: May 15, 2010. The greatest and most dramatic away victory arrived on the final day of the season. Hapoel recorded a 2-1 win at Teddy thanks to a 92nd-minute winning goal, a moment that decided the champion and gave Hapoel an unforgettable historic Double.
Red dominance in the capital has continued in recent years: in the last five league matches hosted at Teddy Stadium, Hapoel has won four, with a total goal difference of 9:3 in its favor. In the most recent meeting at Teddy on October 2, 2023, the team recorded a 3-0 victory with a brace from Alen Ožbolt and a goal by Hisham Layous.
