Hapoel Tel Aviv Targets Championship Ahead of Derby Against Maccabi
Hapoel Tel Aviv prepares for a high-stakes Tel Aviv derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv, aiming for the championship title this season with strong defensive form and a reinforced squad.
After finishing fourth last season, Hapoel Tel Aviv has set its sights higher this summer, targeting a top-three finish and a run at the championship. Bolstered by 19,000 season ticket holders, the club believes it can contend for the title.
With seven points from three matches and zero goals conceded, the Reds travel on Monday at 20:30 for the Tel Aviv derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv. This marquee matchup highlights one of the most intense rivalries in Israeli football, a fixture that was reignited last season after a 12-year hiatus.
In terms of squad composition, Hapoel Tel Aviv has kept changes to a minimum: Douglas Owusu replaces Loizos Loizou, Yonatan Farber has joined, and Yannick Lindahl—who is yet to be registered—arrives in place of Xande Silva, who is expected to depart soon. The club may still surprise with the late addition of another Israeli player.
Nevertheless, this summer's Hapoel Tel Aviv is significantly stronger than last season's iteration. The team is more pressing, dominant, defensively sound, and aims to maximize possession, recognizing that last year's performance will not be enough to secure the title.
Marcus Coco returns to the squad, and coach Barda is otherwise not expected to make changes barring any surprises in the final training session. Regarding Lindahl, Hapoel Tel Aviv is not dependent on Xande Silva and can deregister the Portuguese forward to register Lindahl at any moment, even without the player's consent.
