Hapoel Beer Sheva welcome league-leading Maccabi Tel Aviv on September 7 in a fixture carrying the tension of a title fight and the volatility of a classic Israeli rivalry. Maccabi arrive with the sharper edge, greater attacking depth and a four-match winning surge from their last five outings, while Beer Sheva must overcome a mounting injury list and defensive uncertainty if they are to turn home advantage into a statement victory.

The hosts have been competitive without being entirely convincing. Their recent run of three wins, one draw and one defeat includes a 2-2 draw with Hapoel Haifa and a 2-1 away win over Hapoel Ramat Gan, but the 5-2 Champions League qualifying defeat by Sabah FK exposed the fragility that has shadowed their campaign. Across their last 10 matches, Beer Sheva have averaged 1.5 goals per game while conceding 1.8, a ratio that promises attacking moments but leaves little margin for error against Maccabi’s forward line.

Maccabi, by contrast, have the momentum of a side beginning to impose its authority. Their 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa followed wins against Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi Netanya and CSKA Sofia, with only a 2-1 loss to Lugano interrupting the sequence. Their last-10 average of 2.3 goals scored per match underlines the threat. They are not flawless defensively, conceding 1.1 per game over that stretch, but their ability to sustain pressure and create chances gives them the clearest route to control.

The tactical contrast should define the evening. Maccabi are expected to operate from an aggressive 4-3-3, monopolising possession, pressing high and looking to break Beer Sheva’s lines with quick vertical passes. Sissokho and Belic should provide the engine room, while Dor Peretz or Kervin Andrade can supply the creativity between midfield and attack. Out wide, Hélio Varela and Sahiti will look to isolate Beer Sheva’s wing-backs, cut inside and create the overloads that have become a hallmark of Maccabi’s attacking approach.

Beer Sheva’s likely answer is a compact 5-2-3, designed to close the centre and turn defensive resistance into counter-attacking opportunities. Their wing-backs will be forced into a difficult balancing act: drop too deep and Maccabi will suffocate them, but advance too eagerly and space will open behind them. The hosts’ best moments are likely to come when they win the ball and release their wide attackers quickly, with the central forward asked to hold up play and attack the channels behind Maccabi’s high defensive line.

That plan has been complicated by injuries. Miguel Vítor, Djibril Diop and Pedro Amador are unavailable, leaving Beer Sheva short of defensive experience and depth. Their attacking options are also weakened by the absences of Igor Zlatanovic and João Victor, with Zlatanovic’s potential unavailability particularly significant given the demands of the lone-striker role. Maccabi are without Ion Nicolaescu, but their broader attacking resources, including Peretz and their dynamic wingers, make that loss easier to absorb.

The midfield battle could therefore decide whether this becomes a controlled Maccabi performance or a frantic contest. Beer Sheva’s double pivot must screen the exposed centre-backs, resist Maccabi’s counter-press and launch transitions with precision. If they lose possession centrally, Maccabi’s first wave of pressure could turn turnovers into immediate chances. If they can escape that press, the visitors’ high line may offer the hosts a path to goal.

History adds further fuel. Maccabi hold the advantage across 60 meetings, winning 27 to Beer Sheva’s 20, with 13 draws. Yet the rivalry has been evenly balanced over the past year, with three wins apiece in six encounters. The recent scorelines have been particularly revealing: Maccabi won 3-1 in July and 2-1 in May, but Beer Sheva also produced a thrilling 4-2 victory in May and a 3-1 triumph earlier in the spring. Across the rivalry, the average is three goals per game, while recent trends point strongly toward another open encounter.

The expected pattern is a cagey opening under Maccabi pressure before the game expands. An early Maccabi goal would force Beer Sheva to abandon their compact shape and could leave the hosts vulnerable to further waves of attack. A counter or set-piece goal for Beer Sheva would change the emotional temperature immediately, lift the home crowd and make Maccabi think twice before committing numbers forward. With fatigue and tactical adjustments likely to play a major role after the interval, the second half may be where the match truly catches fire.

Maccabi Tel Aviv deserve favouritism, but Beer Sheva’s home threat should not be dismissed. The visitors’ superior form, pressing structure and attacking depth point toward at least avoiding defeat, while the defensive weaknesses on both sides make goals the most compelling angle. The prediction is a 3-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv victory, with the decisive factor likely to be whether Beer Sheva can survive the first wave of the high press without exposing an already depleted defence.