Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain Dor Peretz Eyes Eran Zahavi's Derby Scoring Record

The 171st Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to take place today, with Maccabi leading the historical head-to-head with 63 wins to Hapoel's 47, and 60 draws. Maccabi captain Dor Peretz is preparing for his 21st derby appearance. Peretz has a strong derby record, winning 12 and drawing seven of his previous 20 matches, boasting a 71.6% success rate. He has scored seven goals in these encounters and, at 31, has the opportunity to challenge the all-time derby scoring record held by Eran Zahavi, who has netted 14 goals. However, Zahavi's record was set in a different era.

With the recent acquisition of Hapoel Tel Aviv by the Safra family and Maccabi Tel Aviv's management under Goldhar, the two clubs are expected to face each other at least four times per season in the league and playoffs. This increased frequency of matches, combined with Peretz's long-term contract with Maccabi until 2028/29, provides him with ample opportunity to surpass Zahavi's tally. Peretz has scored in his last three derbies and is currently in excellent form, having scored ten goals in ten games this season and finishing as last season's top scorer with 19. He is also Maccabi's regular penalty taker this season.

While Peretz has more potential derby appearances ahead of him than Zahavi did, breaking the record will be challenging. Zahavi scored 12 derby goals for Maccabi and two for Hapoel, making him the all-time top scorer, surpassing Shiye Glazer's 11 goals. Peretz's current scoring rate and role in the team, alongside players like Gabi Kanyuksky and James Tavernier, make him a significant threat. Despite Hapoel Tel Aviv's undefeated defensive record in the league so far, they have yet to face a team of Maccabi's caliber. The upcoming derby is anticipated to be one of the most compelling in recent Israeli football history, with Peretz's pursuit of the scoring record adding another layer of intrigue.