Maccabi Herzliya VS Hapoel Afula Prediction: 2/9/2024

On September 2nd, 2024, Maccabi Herzliya will take on Hapoel Afula at the Yankele Grundman Stadium in what promises to be a closely contested Liga Leumit encounter. With temperatures expected to hover around a warm 28°C at kickoff, both teams will be looking to gain an edge in this early-season clash. Maccabi Herzliya will be hoping to capitalize on their recent successes against Hapoel Afula, having secured back-to-back victories in their last two meetings.

 

Head-to-Head

Maccabi Herzliya has won the last two encounters against Hapoel Afula, both by narrow margins (2-1 and 1-0), showing they have had the upper hand in recent meetings.

Hapoel Afula had a stronger record against Maccabi Herzliya in the past, with two wins back in 2017. However, they have struggled to secure a win in the last three meetings, with one draw and two losses. The most recent matches indicate a shift in momentum toward Maccabi Herzliya, who have managed to secure back-to-back victories over Hapoel Afula.

On the other hand, Hapoel Afula’s inability to win against Maccabi Herzliya in the last three games could be indicative of their current form against this particular opponent.

 

Recent form

Analyzing the recent form of Maccabi Herzliya and Hapoel Afula reveals contrasting trajectories for these two teams as they approach their upcoming encounter.

 

Maccabi Herzliya

Maccabi Herzliya’s recent form has been quite inconsistent. In their last six matches, they managed only one win, a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Hapoel Umm Al Fahm. However, their overall performance has been disappointing, with two heavy defeats — a 4-1 loss to Ironi Tiberias and a 5-0 thrashing by Ironi Kiryat Shmona.

They have also struggled to hold onto leads, as seen in their 2-2 draw against Bnei Yehuda, where they conceded a late goal. Additionally, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ramat HaSharon and most recently by Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa. Their defense has been particularly concerning, conceding 15 goals in their last six matches.

 

Hapoel Afula

In stark contrast, Hapoel Afula has been in excellent form. They are unbeaten in their last six matches, securing five wins and a draw. Notably, they have kept clean sheets in four of those games, highlighting their defensive solidity.

Their recent victories include a 2-0 win over Sektzia Nes Tziona and a 1-0 win against Hapoel Kfar Saba, both achieved away from home. They also registered a convincing 3-0 victory over Ihud Bnei Shfaram and a 2-0 triumph against Hapoel Rishon Lezion. Even in their draw against Hapoel Acre, they managed to secure a point with a 1-1 scoreline, demonstrating resilience.

Given the current form of both teams, Hapoel Afula appears to be in a stronger position heading into the match. They have been consistent, defensively sound, and effective in front of goal. On the other hand, Maccabi Herzliya’s form has been erratic, with a leaky defense that could struggle against Hapoel Afula’s disciplined and efficient attack. Based on recent performances, Hapoel Afula seems more likely to come out on top in this matchup.

 

Prediction

Given the recent trend in head-to-head matchups, Maccabi Herzliya seems to have the momentum on their side, with two consecutive wins. Hapoel Afula, despite their earlier successes, has not been able to overcome Maccabi Herzliya in the most recent games.

Prediction: Draw