Beitar march towards Israeli double

With two-thirds of the Ligat Ha'al gone, Beitar Jerusalem FC appear to be cruising towards a second successive title having opened up an eleven-point lead at the top of the table, but the Israeli Cup seems wide open.

Beitar flow
Beitar may have dominated the league for much of the past two campaigns but they have to go back to 1989 for their last cup success, only the fifth in their history. They required a penalty shootout to overcome high-flying Bnei Sakhnin FC in the last 32, the defeated side one of five top-flight teams eliminated so far. Two lower-league clubs are guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals and fourth division side Hapoel Um El Fahem FC almost achieved another Ligat Ha'al scalp, second-placed Maccabi Netanya FC needing penalties to progress. Netanya will now meet Maccabi Haifa FC at home in the last 16.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv blow
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC are the most successful side in the Israeli Cup's history by some distance, claiming 22 title, yet a dismal season that began with a UEFA Cup defeat by Andorra's FC Santa Coloma continues to falter. Eighth in the Ligat Ha'al, aspirations of a decent cup run to relieve the misery caused by two derby defeats against bitter rivals Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC were dashed by an ignominious cup exit by third division semi-professionals Beitar/Shimshon Tel-Aviv FC. It was a new low, and to make matters worse, the steadying influence of captain Avi Nimni appears set to disappear as he starts to focus on his role as general manager.

Levy low
Maccabi Haifa FC are having a difficult time of it too, and it is a measure of their recent successes that disappointment for Roni Levy's team amounts to fifth place in the league. They have suffered seven defeats, including two against Netanya, whose coach Reueven Atar is being touted as a possible replacement for Levy. Ran Ben Shimon is also receiving much acclaim and is on course to guide Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC to a European berth on their debut season in the top flight. The northern Israel outfit are third in the table and only third division Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata FC stand between them and the Israeli Cup quarter-finals – though if this season has confirmed anything, it is that nothing can be taken for granted in football.