The National League is gathering for the deciding stages. Tomorrow (Friday) the 26th and last round of the regular season will be held, when no quarter-final series has yet been determined and the number of scenarios is huge in light of the crowding in the table. The playoff quarter-final games will be held using the best-of-five method, and will open next weekend (7-9/4). The second game will be held on April 10/12 and game number three on April 14-15.
In focus: Ironi Ra’anana or Maccabi Ma’ale Adumim will get the last ticket to the playoffs, and Maccabi Rishon Lezion will go to Ein Sarah knowing that a loss could relegate them to sixth place. Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan will be hosted by Elitzur Netanya and a victory will guarantee Shmulik Brenner’s team second place, while also at the bottom is fascinating – Hapoel RG Givatayim will likely be relegated to the national league, and three teams with the same record – Maccabi Rehovot, Hapoel Habel Modi’in and Elitzur Shumron will fight for their place in the league
Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim – Maccabi City Ra’anana (Zissman, 1:30 p.m.)
Hapoel Ramat Gan knows that after the loss in Rehovot, it is closer than ever to the national league. Matan Harush’s team will need a miracle to stay in the league, and will hope to beat the team from Pinina Hasharon, who must win as well. Ironi Ra’anana will settle after a painful home loss to Ramash in Yehua Orland’s first game as the team’s coach. Ra’anana knows that they depend on themselves – a win will guarantee at least eighth place. On the other hand, a loss plus a win by Maccabi Ma’ale Adumim – may take the team out of the top eight.
Maccabi Ma’ale Adumim – Maccabi Rehovot (Piss Hall Ma’ale Adumim, 1:30 p.m.)
A streak of seven losses for Ma’ale Adumim ended last Tuesday with a huge victory in the capital of the valley. Yair Gvirtz’s team does not depend on itself and will first have to beat the opponent from the bottom, and then hope for a loss of Ironi Ra’anana to lock the table. On the other hand, Maccabi Rehovot also stopped its streak of losses last Tuesday with a home victory over Hapoel RG Givatayim. At the same time, Rehovot knows that the lower house games are the ones that will decide their fate and as a team they will want to enter them with a second win in a row.
Elizur Netanya – Maccabi City Ramat Gan (Yeshuron, 1:30 p.m.)
A direct battle for second place in the table. The Diamonds know that in the event of a loss, they may find themselves in fourth place. On the other hand, Ironi Ramat Gan has been looking great in recent weeks and comes after seven consecutive victories, the last of which was particularly dramatic over Elizur Ashkelon. Amit Aharoni will return to the Yeshuron Hall and meet the team he has played in the past two years.
Ironi Nahariya – Maccabi Rishon Lezion (Ein Sarah, 1:30 p.m.)
It is hard to believe that it is possible that the two teams that were relegated from the Premier League may appear without a home advantage throughout the playoffs. The purple from Ein Sara can finish between the 3rd and 6th places, depending on the other results, with Rishon Lezion also in the same position. Both teams are coming off convincing victories last Tuesday, and it is not impossible that both will meet in the quarterfinals of the playoffs next week.
Elizur Ashkelon – Hapoel Afula (Ashkelon City Hall, 1:30 p.m.)
Hapoel Afula has already secured first place, while the southerners hope to finish as high as possible. David Elharer suffered a debut loss in the middle of the week, precisely after his team led for 37 minutes. Ashkelon can finish in third place at most, while in the worst case scenario they can lose home advantage in the quarter finals.
Hapoel Habel Modi’in – Elizur Shomron (Nachshon, 1:30 p.m.)
The bottom is also happy and both teams come to the game with the same balance. Mickey Gorek’s team beat the Greens last Tuesday in Rumah, and have gone up to a positive balance (8 wins from 15 games) since the coach came to the team. On the other hand, Elitzur Shomron dreams of staying in her first season in the league. Dror Cohen’s team surrendered to Ironi Nahariya on Tuesday after a bad second half. Eyal Shulman and Amit Alon will return to the hall that was their home last season. A victory for Elizur Shomron will give her a seasonal double over her direct rival in the struggles of the bottom.
AS Ramat Hasharon – Maccabi Haifa (Kiryat Yaarim, 1:30 p.m.)
Ramesh secured its place in the upper playoffs, for the second year in a row – a considerable achievement for the club. On the other hand, Maccabi Haifa will play in the lower house after the home loss they experienced on Tuesday.
