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

Maccabi Tel Aviv captain Dor Peretz is on track to potentially break the club's all-time derby goalscoring record, currently held by Eran Zahavi. Peretz has scored seven goals in Tel Aviv derbies and, at 31, has a significant opportunity to surpass Zahavi's record of 14 goals, especially with the league's new format potentially leading to more frequent encounters between the two rivals.

Peretz boasts an impressive derby record, having won 12 of his 21 derby appearances and drawing seven, a 71.6% success rate. He has also scored in his last three derby matches. His contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv extends through the 2028-2029 season, suggesting he could play in an additional 10-12 derbies, increasing his chances of breaking the record.

Eran Zahavi previously broke the record held by Shaye Glazer, scoring 11 goals. Zahavi scored 12 for Maccabi Tel Aviv and two for Hapoel Tel Aviv, making him the overall record holder. The article notes that the league's structural changes, which could lead to at least four league matches between the two clubs per season, combined with Peretz's long-term commitment, make this record seem almost unbreakable.

Peretz is in excellent form this season, having scored ten goals in ten games across all competitions and was the league's top scorer last season with 19 goals. He is also the team's designated penalty taker this season. The article acknowledges that while Peretz has more opportunities, scoring against the current Hapoel Tel Aviv team, which has yet to concede in the league, will be challenging.

Both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv are considered the strongest teams in the league this season. The upcoming derby, the 171st between the clubs, is anticipated to be a highly competitive match, with the potential for Peretz to make history adding another layer of intrigue.