Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Petah Tikva prediction

So far in the Ligat Ha'al, Maccabi Tel Aviv have won seven, drawn two and lost none of nine, with 29 goals scored and 8 conceded, good for 1st place and 23 points.

Over the last six matches it has been three wins, two draws and one defeat, averaging 2.5 goals for and 1.0 against. Last time out they beat Hapoel Ramat Gan 5-0 away; before that came a 3-2 defeat at home to Hapoel Tel Aviv and a 6-2 win at home to Hapoel Haifa.

Three clean sheets in that spell, but they also drew a blank twice. At home they've won one of three recently (8 scored, 5 conceded).

Maccabi Petah Tikva have won three, drawn none and lost six of their nine Ligat Ha'al games so far, scoring 14 and letting in 21. That has them 10th on 9 points.

Their last six in all competitions read one win, no draws and five defeats, at 1.5 goals scored and 2.8 conceded per game. Last time out they lost 5-2 to Hapoel Beer Sheva at home; before that came a 2-1 win away at Hapoel Ramat Gan and a 2-1 defeat at home to Maccabi Haifa.

The defence is a worry: they have conceded in each of their last six. On the road they've won one of three recently (4 scored, 6 conceded).

There isn't much between Maccabi Tel Aviv's home form and Maccabi Petah Tikva's away form. 14 points separate the two sides in the table. Maccabi Tel Aviv also have the better goal difference over recent weeks.

We make Maccabi Tel Aviv clear favourites at 76%, with Maccabi Petah Tikva on 9% and the draw at 14%.

On goals, it expects around 4.0 in the game: 3.3 for Maccabi Tel Aviv and 0.8 for Maccabi Petah Tikva. Over 2.5 goals is 77% and both teams scoring 52%.