Hapoel Tel Aviv Shows Promise While Maccabi Struggles Ahead of Israeli Football Season

On August 27, the fate of Israeli football clubs in European competitions was sealed, with only Hapoel Be'er Sheva advancing to the Europa League this season. Both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv were eliminated, each in distinct ways, highlighting divergent trajectories for the two clubs as they approach the domestic league season.

Hapoel Tel Aviv, returning to European competition after a 12-year absence and just two years after promotion from the second division, showed a commendable performance despite their elimination by Atalanta. Over two matches, Hapoel was arguably the better team, managing to stifle the Italian side and creating more scoring opportunities. Their exit was largely due to an unlucky deflection leading to Atalanta's winning goal. This campaign has strengthened Hapoel’s position as a stable and growing club under owner Edmond Safra, with a solid fan base and financial footing. The club is seen as ready to compete strongly in the Israeli Premier League and potentially challenge for the championship, especially if they add quality foreign players.

In contrast, Maccabi Tel Aviv failed to meet the high standards set during the 17-year ownership of Mitch Goldhar. Their recent elimination by CSKA Sofia and Lugano, clubs they were expected to surpass, marks a significant setback. Unlike previous seasons where Maccabi consistently reached European group stages, this year they exited early with little convincing performance. The failure is attributed to systemic issues within the club, including management and squad quality, rather than solely coaching or player shortcomings. Despite Goldhar’s positive impact over nearly two decades, the club currently lags behind rivals, including Hapoel Tel Aviv, in readiness for the upcoming season.

The contrasting fortunes of these two Tel Aviv clubs set the stage for an intriguing local derby and a potentially shifting balance of power in Israeli football. While Hapoel appears revitalized and ambitious, Maccabi faces the challenge of regaining its former dominance both domestically and in Europe.