Tomorrow (Saturday) the 26th round of the Premier League, the last of the second round, kicks off. At the end of the day, we will know who will play in the top playoff, when Maccabi Netanya, Bnei Sakhnin, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Hadera will fight for 3 tickets.
The table:
The table:
4. Maccabi Netanya, 39 points, goal difference 7+
5. Bnei Sakhnin, 39 points, goal difference 2-
6. Hapoel Tel Aviv, 37 points, 5+ goal difference
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7. Hapoel Hadera, 36 points, goal difference 4-
The games:
19:00 – Hapoel Hadera – Maccabi Tel Aviv
19:00 – Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi Netanya
19:00 – Maccabi Petah Tikva – Bnei Sakhnin
Maccabi Netanya: 39 points, goal difference of 7+
Netanya depends on itself. A win or a draw against Hapoel Tel Aviv, in a game that will take place at the Sami Ofer Stadium, will advance it to the top playoffs. Things will get complicated in a state of loss, as Netanya has not lost in its last 13 league games.
Netanya can still lose and advance to the top playoffs, depending on Hadera’s game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Bnei Lem’s team will remain out of the playoffs only if it loses, Hadera and Bnei Sakhnin will win, and Hadera’s goal difference will be higher than that of Netanya. Given that at the moment Netanya’s goal difference is 7+ and Hadera 4, it’s hard to see that happening.
Bnei Sakhnin: 39 points, goal difference of 2-
Like Netanya, Sakhnin is dependent on itself. A win or a draw will give her the 40 points needed for the top playoff, when she goes to an away game against Maccabi Petah Tikva, which is improving.
Sakhnin, however, did not secure a place in the playoffs. Her loss, Hadera’s victory and a non-draw result between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Netanya will lead to a situation where Sakhnin and Hadera with the same number of points, when Hadera may have a better goal difference.
Hapoel Tel Aviv: 37 points, goal difference of 5+
The Reds will host away from home following the radius penalty (with a crowd), and like the two teams above them in the table a win will lift them to the top playoffs.
If Kobi Refuah’s Reds do not win, then they will be dependent on city rival Maccabi Tel Aviv. A victory for the Yellows over Hadera will give Hapoel a place in the top playoff, while a Hadera victory and a loss for the Reds will keep them out of the picture.
Hapoel Hadera: 36 points, goal difference of 4-
The situation of Hadera and Menachem Koretzky is the most difficult of all. The team is in seventh place and hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv, perhaps the hottest team in the Premier League.
Hadera needs to beat Mladen Krestajic’s team, which has won its last five games and has not lost in the league since the same 3: 2 against Maccabi Haifa in early January, for the top playoffs. Even then she will not be dependent on herself, but in football anything can happen.
