Israeli EuroLeague derby with different objectives. Prediction for Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv will meet on Thursday, November 12, in Round 11 of the EuroLeague regular season. The game will be played at the Aleksandar Nikolić Hall in Belgrade, with tip-off at 20:05 Central European Time. I’m backing a winner in this matchup.
Head-to-head and statistical facts
- Hapoel have lost their last two games.
- Maccabi are on a four-game losing streak in the EuroLeague.
- The teams have each won five of their last ten head-to-head meetings.
Maccabi Tel Aviv: the derby offers a chance to halt the slide
Maccabi have made a difficult start to the EuroLeague season. After ten rounds, they sit 18th with two wins and eight losses. The points scored and conceded also highlight the Israelis’ struggles: 847 for and 940 against. Their defense is a particular concern, as opponents are allowed to score too freely. Maccabi concede around 94 points per game on average.
Their recent EuroLeague results offer little cause for optimism. In the previous round, the team fell to Partizan 67–88 in Belgrade. Before that, Maccabi lost to Paris 94–99, Crvena Zvezda 78–100 and Real Madrid 99–113. Their only win in the last five games in the competition came against Milan, 97–79. Maccabi therefore head into the derby on a four-game EuroLeague losing streak.
In domestic competitions, however, Maccabi have shown they can play a very different brand of basketball. The team recently won the Israeli Winner Cup, beating Hapoel themselves, 86–75. Maccabi came back from a substantial deficit and showed that they can stay resilient in head-to-head contests, even when the going gets tough.
That result could give them a significant psychological edge ahead of this EuroLeague derby. However, Maccabi will need to tighten up as a team on defense and cut down on turnovers if they are to stop a more consistent opponent.
Hapoel Tel Aviv: a confident start and a push for the top half
Hapoel are enjoying a far more successful EuroLeague campaign. After ten rounds, they sit ninth with six wins and four losses. They are also among the competition’s most prolific teams, averaging around 90 points per game. Their point differential stands at +42, underscoring how much more balanced they have been than their upcoming opponents.
Hapoel have alternated strong performances with setbacks in their recent EuroLeague games. They beat Crvena Zvezda 81–80 on the road, Real Madrid 102–98 and Beşiktaş 100–82. However, the Israelis have lost their last two games, falling to Bayern Munich 84–86 and Barcelona 90–93. Despite those defeats, Hapoel still have a winning record and remain in the hunt for a higher place in the standings.
Hapoel have also shown plenty of firepower in other competitions. They can build an advantage with quick transitions from defense to offense and by making effective use of space. However, their recent loss to Maccabi in the Winner Cup showed that they can struggle in a derby if their opponents make it physical and limit their chances to launch fast breaks.
The visitors will need to avoid a repeat of a game in which the momentum gradually swings in their opponents’ favor. Hapoel look more consistent overall, and their offensive potential points to a high-scoring performance. Still, to beat Maccabi, they will need to control the tempo and prevent their opponents from scoring easy points off rebounds and fast breaks.
What’s the best bet?
Hapoel are favorites thanks to their higher place in the standings, better record and consistent offense. Maccabi, however, can draw on the emotional intensity of the derby and their recent Winner Cup victory to make this a real contest. Expect a tense, high-tempo game with plenty of possessions. Hapoel have more going for them, but Maccabi could keep the outcome in doubt with home-court advantage and the motivation to snap their EuroLeague losing streak. My pick is under 185 total points.
