2019–20 Israeli Premier League

The season was originally scheduled to begin on August 24, 2019, and conclude on May 25, 2020, across 36 rounds of competition.[1] Fourteen clubs participated, playing a 26-game regular season that concluded on March 1, 2020.[2]

Following the regular season, the league adopted a split format. The top six clubs advanced to a championship playoff group — Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Beersheba, Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Haifa — while the remaining eight teams entered a relegation playoff group: Hapoel Hadera, Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Kfar Saba, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi Netanya, Hapoel Ra'anana, Ness Ziona, and Ashdod SC.[3] In the championship group, each club was set to play the other five sides twice, totalling 10 additional matches apiece, with the bottom two clubs to be relegated to the Leumit League and the second division's top two teams promoted.[3]

Maccabi Tel Aviv dominated the regular season, finishing the 26-round campaign with 64 points — six clear of second-placed Maccabi Haifa, who had 58.[4] Their record at that stage was a remarkable 19 wins, seven draws, and no defeats.[4]

A pivotal moment in the title race came in round 17, when Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 4–3. With the score level at 3–3, Yonatan Cohen struck in the 93rd minute after a cross from Omer Atzili, delivering what amounted to a decisive blow to Maccabi Haifa's championship ambitions.[5]

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a championship playoff berth for the first time since 2014 on the final day of the regular season, defeating Hapoel Hadera 2–1. Omri Altman opened the scoring in the 30th minute and netted the winner in the 94th minute, with Eliel Peretz having equalized just before halftime. Hapoel Haifa also confirmed their playoff place on that final day, while Hapoel Ra'anana finished the regular season in last place.[3]

Attendance figures were tracking at record levels before the campaign was interrupted. Crowds were up 25% compared to the previous season and were on course to reach a league attendance record of two million fans.[2] Maccabi Tel Aviv contributed significantly to that surge, attracting more than 20,000 spectators per match at the renovated Bloomfield Stadium.[2]

The coronavirus pandemic brought the season to an abrupt halt. No matches were played after March 1, and the Israeli government shut down all sports on March 13, 2020, preventing the championship playoff from getting underway.[2] The disruption was already evident before the formal shutdown: a State Cup quarterfinal between Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Beersheba, scheduled for March 9 at an empty stadium, was canceled only hours before kickoff, with league vice president Motty Bronshtein reporting that 30,000 ticket-holders received notice of the cancellation at extremely short notice.[2]

Before the suspension, Maccabi Tel Aviv had won their previous three consecutive league matches and remained unbeaten throughout league play.[6] The club entered the break well-positioned to secure a second consecutive title.

The restart included several adjustments. Clubs returned to training in stages, matchday squads were expanded from 18 to 20 players, and teams were permitted five substitutions per match rather than the previous limit of three.[6] Players were required to remain in home quarantine with their families during the break, and teammates who had been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case within the preceding 14 days were required to isolate.[2] All remaining matches were to be played without supporters, a significant change for a competition that had been enjoying record attendance.[2]

The championship playoff resumed on May 30, 2020, after nearly three months away.[2] Maccabi Tel Aviv opened proceedings by hosting Hapoel Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium, while Beitar Jerusalem faced Hapoel Beersheba and Maccabi Haifa met Hapoel Tel Aviv that same evening. The relegation playoffs began two days later, on June 1.[7]

Maccabi Tel Aviv quickly reasserted their dominance. In an early playoff fixture against Maccabi Haifa, Eyal Golasa scored in the 18th minute and Matan Hozez added a second in the 86th minute, giving the champions a 2–0 victory and opening a 12-point lead with eight games remaining — all in front of empty stands due to the ongoing pandemic.[8]

Maccabi Tel Aviv sealed the championship on June 27, 2020, with a 3–0 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Tel Aviv derby at Bloomfield Stadium.[9] The match remained goalless at halftime before a decisive second half unfolded. Nick Blackman converted from the penalty spot, Eitan Tibi scored with a bicycle kick, and Itay Shechter added the third in the 90th minute.[9] All four league derbies against Hapoel Tel Aviv that season ended in Maccabi victories, by an aggregate score of 11–0.[9]

Tibi's goal carried a deeply personal dimension. The defender broke down in tears after scoring, and the moment was linked to the recent death of his father.[9] Coach Vladimir Ivic reflected on the achievement after the final whistle: "I believe that we were the best team throughout the year and we played up until now 33 games and what we have done is amazing."[10] Maccabi had not lost to Hapoel in league play since 2014.[10]

The title was Maccabi Tel Aviv's second in succession and their fifth in eight years under owner Mitch Goldhar.[9] The club's final league fixture ended in a 2–0 defeat to Hapoel Beersheba — their only loss of the entire campaign, coming after they had already secured the championship and had been aiming to finish the season unbeaten.[11] Hapoel Ra'anana and Sektzia Ness Ziona were relegated, with Ra'anana finishing on just 17 points and recording only two wins across the season.[12][13]

The season produced a number of notable statistical achievements. A total of 240 matches were completed across the campaign.[12] Maccabi Tel Aviv's defensive record was exceptional: the club conceded only 10 goals all season, setting a league record for the lowest goals-against average of 0.27 per match.[12] Maccabi Haifa, by contrast, were the season's most prolific attacking side, scoring 73 league goals — 10 more than the champions.[12]

Goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum was central to Maccabi Tel Aviv's defensive excellence. He went 1,272 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, breaking the Israeli Premier League record. Sport5 also reported that his run of 13 matches without conceding was a world record as of 2020.[12]

Maccabi Haifa forward Nikita Rukavytsya finished as the league's top scorer with 22 goals.[12] He had already reached 20 goals before the season's conclusion, a tally noted at the time of the title-clinching derby.[10] The leading assist providers were Charon Sherry of Maccabi Haifa and Yonatan Cohen of Maccabi Tel Aviv, each registering 11 assists.[12]

Contemporary reports differed on Maccabi Tel Aviv's cumulative championship total. ONE described the 2019–20 title as the club's 24th.[9] Ynet's headline called it the 23rd, while the body of the same article referred to both the 23rd and 24th totals, leaving an internal inconsistency in that report.[5]