Hapoel Tel Aviv Suffers Humiliating 4-1 Derby Defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv

Hapoel Tel Aviv experienced a devastating evening in the Tel Aviv derby, conceding four goals in a single match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, a stark contrast to their previous defensive record. Prior to Monday's game, the team had only allowed two goals across the entire 2026/27 season over 810 minutes, having kept clean sheets in their last three league encounters. The 4-1 loss to their rivals was particularly painful, marking the first time this season they have conceded four goals. The last time Hapoel Tel Aviv conceded four goals in a single match was against Maccabi Haifa in their 35th game of the previous season. For coach Eliniv Barda, this was the second time his team has conceded four goals, the previous instance being a 5-1 defeat to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the State Cup semi-finals. Goalkeeper Assaf Tzur conceded four goals for the sixth time in his career, and the first time while playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv in the league. The defensive lapse was significant, with the team conceding four goals in 90 minutes after conceding only two in the preceding 810 minutes, an eighteen-fold increase in the rate of goals conceded. Maccabi Tel Aviv's last four-goal performance against Hapoel Tel Aviv was over two and a half years ago, in January 2024. Eran Zahavi and Dor Turgeman each scored twice in that previous victory, also a home game for Maccabi Tel Aviv.