This is it.

We’ve had a number of so called “Matches of the Season” this campaign, but the real “Match of the Season” is right here and right now when Beitar Jerusalem hosts Hapoel Beer Sheva Tuesday night (20:30) for what could be the contest that will decide the Israel league championship.

As Matchday 33 is upon us, a yellow-and-black win will send Barak Itzhaki’s squad back into first place while a victory by Ron Kozuk’s southern reds will pretty much wrap up the title, creating a 5-point gap between the two teams with just three games to go; that would be just too much ground to make up.

As usual, as it always seems to be a draw will keep the championship still open with a few matches to go for both sides with Beer Sheva controlling its own destiny due to having a 2-point advantage on Beitar.

While the game will take place at a jam packed Teddy Stadium, where 30,000 fans will fill the facility, a win by the hosts isn’t something that can be taken for granted. That’s because Beer Sheva always seems to play Jerusalem brutally tough no matter where the game takes place, Teddy or Turner or even the old Wassermill Stadium down in the southern capital.

History says that Kozuk’s team will record yet another win or at least they won’t lose. In the past 39 encounters between the two clubs, Beitar has won a grand total of just… once. Yes, you read that right, one time, back in 2019 when Shlomi Azoulay scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win on the road at Turner Stadium. Since then Beer Sheva has won 11 times and drawn 6 matches. Beitar hasn’t been able to sniff a 3-points, let alone one.

When was the last time Beitar actually won at home? Well you’ll have to go back more than a decade, all the way to 2013 when Avi Rikan slotted home the only goal of a 1-0 victory.

The bottom is clear as day, Beer Sheva has Beitar’s number and it’s not even close.

If we look at Barak Itzhaki’s record, well it’s not stellar to say the least with three draws and 6 defeats against Hapoel Beer Sheva. But, while the statistics all say one thing, when it’s a single game, for what is most probably all of the marbles, you just never know.

The pressure will be enormous for both sides no matter what the coaches and players will say publicly and what their front face may show. It doesn’t matter if it’s Beitar or Beer Sheva, the two will be under the microscope and they both know it and know it well. Don’t let either side deceive you.

What is true are the historical facts and that Beer Sheva just went through a tight championship race last season in which they just came up short, losing the title to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Yes, there are players on Beitar who have been through the same, specifically Omer Atzily and Dor Micha who were at Maccabi Tel Aviv. But the truth of the matter is that the odds are leaning all one direction.

But does that make the result preordained?

Certainly not!

As Itzhaki preached at the pre-match press conference, this is a good as time as any to break through and finally pick up that win over Hapoel Beer Sheva. Truthfully could there not be any better time to do so?

“There’s no better moment than the opportunity we have on Tuesday, where we can finally put to bed this very long period of time where Beitar hasn’t beaten Beer Sheva,” Itzhaki said.

There’s no question that the moment will be right there in front of them, ready to be grasped by both hands to pull them closer to the championship. It’s no doubt been a wild ride for Beitar, version 2025/26 from starting the season in Europe, to a devastating loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield Stadium and from incredible wins, dramatic comebacks and absolutely fabulous individual achievements, it’s given hope to the yellow-and-black faithful that they can finally do it once again. Win the championship since the 2007/08 season, almost two decades ago.

The players have given it their all and they can taste the title on their lips. So much so has this campaign been so enticing, that Itzhaki broke his long standing tradition of not going into the dressing room after a match following the 3-0 loss at Maccabi Haifa to give support to his troops and to ensure that their hard work and effort the entire season won’t go to waste due to one difficult moment.

“I don’t usually talk to the players after games and I knew that this was the right time to do so as I don’t want that one game to influence what we have worked for the entire season. I hope we will be in first place after this game,” the bench boss commented.

Itzhaki no doubt has drawn deep and will draw even deeper into the vast experience he has had as player. He has won numerous titles, cups and championships in his career while having been coached by some of the games best of the best. There’s no question that plenty has rubbed off on him over the years.

“Fortunately, I’ve had so many coaches and learned so much from them all,” Itzhaki explained. “I can’t remember any specific moments right now, but there were coaches who knew how to direct and give the right push.”

As much as Beitar has a chance to make their mark in the history books, Itzhaki has that same opportunity as well. He’s got a chance of a lifetime in front of him, but the question remains, can he pull the right strings to come away with the desired result?