The right-wing team from Jerusalem steps into Sunday with a familiar tension that has defined much of its modern history. More than 30,000 supporters are expected at Teddy Stadium, carrying the belief that Beitar Jerusalem can still shape this season’s title race. Yet their first test after the long break is a demanding one: Maccabi Netanya, a structured and disciplined opponent that often exposes the volatility of more emotional sides like Beitar.
Why is Maccabi Netanya such a threat to Beitar Jerusalem?
For many in Jerusalem, the emotional pulse of this match comes from the return of Yossi Abuksis and Lion Mizrahi, two figures whose stories are woven deeply into the club’s recent past. Abuksis, who arrived in early 2022 to rescue Beitar Jerusalem from relegation during the final stretch of the Moshe Hogeg era, went on to deliver the club’s stunning State Cup triumph. But the fallout with current owner Barak Abramov sent him out the door in early 2024 and toward fierce rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Mizrahi’s journey is similarly charged. A homegrown midfielder and full-back beloved by Beitar fans for his aggression and loyalty, he once looked destined to anchor Beitar Jerusalem for years. Under coach Barak Yitzhaki, however, he slipped to the margins. Now both men return with intent: unsettle Beitar, disrupt its rhythm, and plant their own narrative in one of the season’s biggest fixtures.
Is Beitar Jerusalem stable enough for a real title challenge?
The central question remains the same: can Beitar Jerusalem find stability long enough to sustain a title challenge? One week the club stumbles 1–0 at home against Hapoel Be’er Sheva; the next, it produces a breathtaking 6–2 demolition of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Teddy Stadium, once considered untouchable, has been anything but. M.S. Ashdod left with a draw, and tactical managers like Chaim Silvas, and now Abuksis again, know how to frustrate Yitzhaki’s preferred game.
As Sunday approaches, anticipation rises across the capital. If Beitar Jerusalem can overcome Netanya’s discipline and withstand the emotional charge coming from familiar faces on the opposite bench, the club may finally speak loudly in the title conversation. Whether it can do so with consistency remains the question hanging over Jerusalem.
