Can Beitar Jerusalem Overcome Historic 0-6 Start to Win Championship?
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Beitar Jerusalem has started the 2026/27 season with two losses, a historically unprecedented deficit for a championship contender in Israel. However, examples from Manchester United, Juventus, and Celtic show that overcoming such a start is possible, though statistically improbable.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Beitar Jerusalem lost their first two games, a historically unprecedented start for a championship winner.
- No Israeli team has ever won a championship after losing their opening two matches.
- Manchester United, Juventus, and Celtic all won titles after losing their first two games.
- Paris Saint-Germain lost their opener in 2020/21 but missed the title by one point.
Beitar Jerusalem faces a daunting historical challenge as they aim to win their first championship in 19 years during the 2026/27 season, having lost their opening two matches. This 0-6 start puts them in a statistically improbable position, as no team in Israel has ever won the league title after losing their first two games. This trend also holds true in major European leagues like Spain and Germany.
While Paris Saint-Germain lost their opening match in the 2020/21 French season and were briefly behind in the standings, they ultimately fell short of the title by a single point. This serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting that even strong teams can falter after a poor start.
However, there are historical precedents for teams overcoming slow starts to achieve championship glory. Manchester United's 1992/93 Premier League winning season began with two losses, but the arrival of Eric Cantona and strong performances from players like Ryan Giggs and Mark Hughes turned their season around. Juventus also experienced a difficult start in the 2015/16 Serie A season, losing their first two games, but Massimiliano Allegri guided them to a remarkable comeback, winning 15 consecutive league matches and ultimately securing the title.
Another example is Celtic's 1997/98 Scottish Premier Division campaign. After losing their first two matches and falling six points behind rivals Rangers, Celtic managed to recover and clinch the title on the final day of the season. Rangers themselves have also won championships after losing their opening two league games in previous seasons, demonstrating that early setbacks do not always preclude ultimate success.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Coverage from Walla