Maccabi Tel Aviv Dominates Rival Hapoel Tel Aviv in Derby Victory

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a commanding 4-1 victory over city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in their first derby clash in 24 years where both teams occupied the top two spots in the league standings. The win maintains Maccabi's perfect record after four games and hands Hapoel their first league loss of the season.

The match, held on September 26, 2026, was initially delayed for six minutes due to fireworks and flares set off by fans from both sides. Once play resumed, Maccabi took an early lead in the 19th minute with a header from league top scorer Dor Peretz. Hapoel equalized against the run of play in the 33rd minute through a long-range strike by Stav Touriiel. However, Hapoel's momentum was short-lived as former player Oscar Davida restored Maccabi's lead just three minutes later, capitalizing on a defensive error.

Adding to Hapoel's woes, Touriiel received a second yellow card in stoppage time for a foul on Jallowe Arla, reducing Hapoel to ten men for the entire second half. The second half saw Maccabi controlling possession, but they struggled to extend their lead until the 89th minute when Jallowe Arla set up Jasham Ayos for a close-range finish, sealing the 3-1 victory for Maccabi.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's dominant performance sends a strong message to the rest of the league, solidifying their position at the top of the table.