Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv Face Off in Crucial Derby
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday in the second of three upcoming derby games between the rivals this season. Both teams hold a 2-1 record in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Maccabi is in a slump, having lost four straight games, while Hapoel, despite recent losses, maintains higher morale due to their strong EuroLeague position. Tamir Blatt may debut for Maccabi.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday in the second of three derby games this season.
- Both teams enter the Israeli Basketball Premier League match with identical 2-1 records.
- Maccabi Tel Aviv is on a four-game losing streak and facing internal issues.
- Hapoel Tel Aviv, despite recent losses, has higher morale and a strong EuroLeague standing.
- Tamir Blatt may make his season debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the derby.
The second Tel Aviv derby of the 2026/27 season is set to take place tomorrow, Sunday, at Menora Mivtachim Arena, with Maccabi Tel Aviv hosting Hapoel Tel Aviv in the fourth round of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Both teams enter the game with identical records of two wins and one loss. This marks the first of three encounters between the rivals within the next 11 days, with further matchups scheduled in the Winner Cup final and the EuroLeague.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is currently experiencing a difficult period, having lost four consecutive games in nine days, which has seen them drop to the bottom of the EuroLeague standings. Internal club issues have resurfaced following the publication of emails exchanged between Richard Ditz and Claudio Coldebella. The team is further hampered by a shortage of available foreign players, with only six healthy players currently at coach Oded Katash's disposal due to Ife Lundberg's injury and Daniel Theis not yet registered for league games, though a surprise registration for Theis for the derby is possible.
Despite their recent struggles, Maccabi hopes the spirit and fight shown in their loss to Paris will be enough to secure a victory in the derby, potentially providing a much-needed boost for the remainder of the season. Player Roman Sorkin was pictured facing Hapoel's Dan Oturu.
Hapoel Tel Aviv has also lost recent EuroLeague and league games, but their morale is significantly higher as they are positioned in the upper half of the European standings. While acknowledging that their league performance hasn't been overly impressive, with Israeli players other than Tomer Ginat not standing out, Hapoel feels confident heading into the derby. The team returned from Dubai overnight after a EuroLeague loss, without Tomas Satoransky, who remained to recover from a concussion sustained during the game. Hapoel will hold their final practice this evening, where coach Dimitris Itoudis will face a difficult decision regarding which foreign players to dress, given the heavy workload.
Tamir Blatt, who has received clearance to play, may make his season debut in tomorrow's game.
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