Match preview — two hungry mid-table rivals meet in Accre
Acre Municipal Stadium is set to host a clash that promises tension, scrappy midfield battles and a genuine edge — Hapoel Acre welcome Hapoel Afula in round 23 of the Liga Leumit. Both sides arrive underwhelming in the table but far from bereft of personality: Acre sit 11th with 26 points, Afula are 13th on 25. Recent results reveal a pair of teams that trade momentum quickly; Acre have alternated wins, draws and losses through the tail end of their campaign, while Afula have shown a little more teeth on the road, coming off mixed form but with signs of attacking intent.
Form and underlying numbers that shape the match
Looking at the underlying metrics, Acre edge the initiative in ball progression and danger creation — their attacks average 72.55 compared to Afula’s 64.45, and they post a higher dangerous-attacks figure. That suggests Acre will push forward at home and try to control territory. Yet Afula’s shot quality tells its own story: despite fewer overall shots, they have racked up 66 efforts on target versus Acre’s 63, hinting that when Afula do threaten they create real chances. Defensively both teams have wobbles — Acre conceded 28 so far, Afula a heavier 37 — and those numbers have translated into competitive, often open encounters.
The season’s head-to-head adds colour: their earlier meeting finished 2-2, and recent match lists show both clubs habitually sharing the spoils or splitting narrow results. Drawn outcomes have been common for Acre (11 draws this season) and Afula aren’t strangers to stalemates either. Clean-sheet counts are low on both sides, which increases the probability that both defensive units will be breached during 90 minutes.
What to expect tactically and emotionally
Expect Acre to press from the front at Acre Municipal Stadium and try to exploit the greater workrate and attacking averages. Afula, with a tendency to get shots on target and to find the net away from home, will look to absorb and hit on the break. Recent defeats for both teams mean there’s urgency — but not reckless abandon. The result is likely to be competitive with goals at both ends rather than a disciplined shutout.
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Betting suggestion Based on defensive records, the H2H 2-2 earlier in the season, and both teams’ tendency to concede and create clear chances, the best single-market pick here is a goals market: back Both Teams To Score — Yes. This play captures the likely pattern: competitive, open and with goals at both ends.
