Exciting Matchup Awaits as Hapoel Haifa Faces Bnei Sakhnin in Liga Leumit
League Standings and Context
The 16th round of Liga Leumit is set to showcase a captivating encounter between Hapoel Haifa and Bnei Sakhnin this evening. Both teams are on the cusp of the playoff spots, aiming to secure positions among the top six and finish the regular season strongly. Hapoel Haifa, managed by Sharon Mimer, currently sits in seventh place, while Bnei Sakhnin trails closely in eighth, just two points behind.
Team Lineups
The starting lineup for Hapoel Haifa includes:
- Benjamin Mancini
- Tamir Arbel
- Bruno Ramirez
- Dor Malul
- Sene Gomes
- Ofek Bitton
- Naor Sabag
- Yonatan Frieber
- Regis Endo
- Roy Nawawi
- Givon East
Bnei Sakhnin will field the following players:
- Mohammed Abu Neil
- Marwan Ghentus
- Hassan Hilo
- Iyad Abu Abid
- Alon Azugi
- Ahmad Salman
- Omar Abuhab
- Eden Shamiro
- Jabeer Bushnaq
- Matthew Kojo
- Arthur Miranda
Recent Form and Challenges
Hapoel Haifa comes into this match with momentum, having won their last two league games, positioning them close to the playoff zstart. However, their recent performance in the cup saw them suffer a significant defeat at the hands of Maccabi Tel Aviv, losing 5-0 at Bloomfield Stadium last Saturday. The team is eager to put that loss behind them and refocus on their league ambitions.
On the other side, Bnei Sakhnin was eliminated from the cup in the previous round as well, unfortunately falling to Maccabi Yaffo, a team at the bottom of the National League, in a 2-0 home defeat. Despite this, Coach Sharon Mimer’s squad has garnered seven points from their last four league matches, reducing the gap to just two points behind sixth-placed Maccabi Haifa.
Previous Encounters
This season, Hapoel Haifa has had the upper hand in their meetings with Bnei Sakhnin, having won both previous encounters. The teams first clashed in the Toto Cup, where Hapoel Haifa claimed a 1-0 victory. In their subsequent league match held in September, Hapoel Haifa triumphed again, this time with a score of 2-0, thanks to goals from Givon East and Ofek Bitton.
With both teams eager to improve their standings, this match promises to deliver thrilling football as they vie for crucial points on the road to the playoffs.