Ligat Ha'al kicks off its 2026/27 season on Saturday evening, and Maccabi Petah Tikva open their campaign at home to Ironi Kiryat Shmona knowing they have gone winless against the northern club since a solitary 2-1 victory back in May 2021.
ONE reports the confirmed lineups ahead of the 20:00 kickoff at HaMoshava Stadium, with Liran Hazan named in Maccabi Petah Tikva's midfield under head coach Ziv Aryeh as the hosts look to open the new season with a positive result.
At the other end, ONE's report has Alex Sola and Talles Costa both included in Kiryat Shmona's starting eleven, giving Shay Barda's side an experienced attacking presence to call on from the first whistle.
The fixture carries some historical weight. According to Walla Sport, this is only the second time the two clubs have met on the opening day of a Ligat Ha'al season — the first also saw Maccabi Petah Tikva host, five years ago.
Recent history favours the visitors. Kiryat Shmona have won each of the last three league meetings between the sides and have not lost to Maccabi Petah Tikva in over five years, a run stretching back to that 2-1 defeat in the 2020/21 season.
Squad turnover has been so heavy since that last head-to-head that Mohammed Hindi, Maccabi Petah Tikva's captain, is the only player from either side still involved who featured when the teams previously met.
Kiryat Shmona arrive off a promising preseason, having advanced to the semi-final of the Toto Cup, and Barda will hope that cup form translates into a strong start to the league campaign under the lights in Petah Tikva.
For Aryeh and his players, breaking a run that has now stretched across three straight league defeats to this opponent would be the ideal way to open the new season in front of their own supporters.
