Israeli football is back this weekend, and Maccabi Tel Aviv go into their trip to Hapoel Jerusalem as clear favourites to open the new Ligat Ha'al season with three points. According to odds published by the betting site ONE, the yellow-and-blue are priced at 1.4 for victory, with the draw quoted at 4.5 and a Hapoel win worth 5.8.
Kick-off at Teddy Stadium is set for 20:15 on Sunday, and the match doubles as an early marker for Kenny Miller, who took interim charge of Maccabi through last season's play-offs before being confirmed as permanent head coach in June.
Hapoel Jerusalem, for their part, go into the game under Lior Zada, who was promoted from assistant to head coach in April after Ziv Arie's departure, guided the club to safety in the top flight, and was rewarded with a full-time contract heading into the new campaign.
The odds reflect how much is expected of Maccabi this season, and Sunday's fixture arrives with a far bigger date already on the club's mind. Having played the first leg of their Europa League play-off away to Greek side OFI Crete last Thursday, Maccabi return to continental action four days after facing Hapoel, when they host the second leg on Thursday with a place in the group stage at stake.
Elsewhere on Sunday, ONE also priced two of the continent's marquee kick-offs. Barcelona finally begin the defence of their La Liga title away to Elche, more than a week after most of the rest of Spanish football got under way — a delayed start LaLiga granted the champions and other clubs whose players went deep into this summer's World Cup. Barcelona, who had ten players reach the semi-finals, are priced by ONE at 1.3 to win, with the draw at 4.9 and Elche's odds standing at 6.6.
Liverpool also open their season on Sunday, away to Newcastle at St James' Park. It is a first competitive outing for new head coach Andoni Iraola, appointed in June after Arne Slot was dismissed following a fifth-place finish that came just a year after he had led Liverpool to the Premier League title.
Newcastle have changed manager too, with Matthias Jaissle taking over from Eddie Howe, and the fixture will bring Alexander Isak back to his old ground for the first time since his move to Anfield. ONE make Liverpool 1.85 to win, with the draw at 3.6 and a home win for Newcastle priced at 3.4.
None of it is a guarantee, of course — odds move with team news before kick-off, and bookmakers have been caught out before. But taken together, Sunday's card gives Israeli football fans a busy afternoon and evening to follow, with Maccabi Tel Aviv's derby-adjacent trip to Jerusalem sandwiched between two of European football's biggest kick-offs of the new season.
