There’s no question that Monday night’s Match of the Week clash between Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv is a big game. There’s simply no getting around it. Sure, it’s early in the season. Teams are still trying to maximize their squads, and championships aren’t won in October. Every match is worth three points, just like any other. But let’s be honest: Anyone making those arguments is kidding themselves.

This is a big game.

Beitar Jerusalem will finally return to Teddy Stadium after opening the season at Bloomfield Stadium while its home ground underwent the installation of a hybrid pitch. Some 30,000 fans are expected to pack the stands, creating the kind of atmosphere where drama unfolds and heroes are made.

Two of Israeli football’s biggest clubs will go head-to-head, each boasting plenty of talent, ambition and desire. On the sidelines, rookie head coaches Almog Cohen and Kenny Miller will look to outmaneuver one another in what promises to be a tactical chess match, with both sets of supporters urging their teams on.

Among those expected to attend is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with other politicians seeking the comfort of one of their familiar strongholds less than 10 days before Israel’s national election. With so much attention on and off the pitch, the stakes will be high for the thousands inside Teddy and the many more watching on television.

Beitar enters the showdown riding a four-game winning streak after a difficult start that saw the yellow-and-black lose their opening two matches to Maccabi Netanya and Hapoel Tel Aviv. Cohen’s side has climbed to 12 points, but he knows a victory over Maccabi would be crucial to keeping pace with the league leaders.

Until Saturday night, Maccabi Tel Aviv sat atop the table with 16 points from five wins and a draw, which came last week against Bnei Sakhnin. However, Maccabi Haifa moved past the yellow-and-blue after coming from behind to beat Maccabi Petah Tikva 2-1, taking over first place with 18 points from six matches.

Hapoel Tel Aviv is also firmly in the mix, level with Maccabi Tel Aviv on 16 points after collecting five wins, a draw and a single defeat, which came against the defending champions.

And we can’t forget Hapoel Beer Sheva. The southern reds have 13 points and will look to add three more when they host Hapoel Jerusalem. A victory would pull them level with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, although they would still have ground to make up on Maccabi Haifa.

There is another common thread among these contenders: Maccabi Tel Aviv has already beaten each of the top three teams that they have faced to date, Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Beer Sheva.

For Maccabi, Monday’s clash will be the final meeting with one of the league’s top contenders during this stretch of the opening round. Afterward, the schedule includes Hapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Haifa and both Petach Tikva clubs among the remaining fixtures.

Miller will know that collecting maximum points from those matches could be essential in a season where the top of the table is already tightly packed. Maccabi Haifa, for example, has won all five of its matches since losing to Maccabi Tel Aviv, a run that has propelled the Greens to the summit.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Miller acknowledged the challenge awaiting his side.

“It’s a big game,” the Maccabi tactician said. “Looking at the matches we’ve played, we’ve faced the big teams, and Beitar is the last one. On paper, we had a difficult fixture list, and it’s been a big challenge. We’re really looking forward to the game and know what the atmosphere will be like. It will be a tough match against a good team that’s in good form, and it will be a matchup between two good teams that like to play football.”

Cohen, meanwhile, was quick to emphasize that the three points on offer are no different from those available in any other match.

“For me, every win is worth three points. We won’t get any more points for beating Maccabi Tel Aviv at home or away. We saw Bnei Sakhnin hold them to a draw at Bloomfield, so every game in this league is extremely difficult. We’re ready and 100% focused on playing our game.”

Still, the Beitar coach understands what a defeat could mean in the standings. Despite winning four straight, his team would find itself seven points behind the leaders if it loses Monday night.

“We want to win every game, wherever it is,” Cohen said. “We’ve had to come back from seven points in the past, and we’re only thinking about winning. We need to come focused and ready.”
Cohen also made clear that he expects the home crowd to play a major role in the occasion.

“We’re facing a very high-quality, intense team, perhaps the best team in the league in terms of quality. There’s a lot to think about ahead of tomorrow’s game, and you’ll see what we have planned. But with our fans behind us, at our stadium, we want to win. We know the power of this stadium, we know our fans will come out in full force, and we’re confident they’ll get behind us.”

Of course, the result will be worth only three points in the standings. But in reality, there is much more at stake. A Beitar victory would keep the club firmly in the title race and give its supporters bragging rights for the week. A Maccabi win, meanwhile, could send the yellow-and-blue back to the top of the table and reinforce its early-season credentials.

The game will dominate the Israeli football conversation regardless of the result. But if you’re already playing in a match of this magnitude, you might as well win it and few things would delight Beitar’s supporters more than walking out of Teddy with all three points.

Miller is equally eager to claim the victory and return his team to first place.

“We’ve had a good start to the season,” he said. “We want to keep it going. It’s always nice to see your team at the top of the table, even this early in the season. That gives us extra motivation to get back there.”

Whatever the outcome, Monday’s showdown promises plenty of intensity, intrigue and quality. More broadly, the growing competitiveness at the top of the table has made Israeli football compelling viewing, with several clubs demonstrating that they have the talent and ambition to challenge for the title.

“I think this is the most competitive season in Israeli football,” Cohen declared. “I’m happy that the big clubs are bringing in crowds, that there’s so much interest and that the league is so exciting.”

And to that, we say amen.