Cup drama in the quarter-finals: the scene is set
The State Cup quarter-final on 05/02/2026 pits a spirited Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa against a historically stronger Maccabi Tel Aviv, and the narrative is already buzzing. Jaffa arrive having mixed results in recent weeks but with moments of grit — three wins in their last five outings and a narrow 1-0 victory over Ironi Modi'in in their most recent Liga Leumit clash. Tel Aviv, meanwhile, come in off an emphatic 4-1 success at Ironi Kiryat Shmona that will have lifted the mood after a rollercoaster run of late defeats in both domestic and European assignments. The quarter-final stakes add an extra edge: past cup history between these sides includes a 3-1 victory for Tel Aviv in the 2024 State Cup round of 16, a result that hangs over this tie.
Form, momentum and numbers that matter
The underlying numbers favor the visitors when you read between the lines. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s attacking output in the data supplied shows a team that can create chances in volume — 32 total shots with 15 on target and an attacks average of 134 and dangerous attacks average of 78. Those are stark figures compared to Jaffa’s totals, where 17 total shots and an attacks average of 88.5 suggest Jaffa will need to be efficient and compact to stand any chance. Cup ties can throw up surprises, and Jaffa have recorded wins against good opposition recently, but Tel Aviv’s forward thrust and their ability to convert big-match moments — as evidenced by their recent 4-1 league win and the presence of standout performers such as Sayed Abu Farkhi in the last match — points toward them having the decisive edge.
How the tie is likely to unfold and betting insight
Expect Tel Aviv to take the initiative. Their higher volume of shots and sustained attacking intensity makes them the side more likely to engineer the openings, while Jaffa will aim to exploit transitions and set-piece moments. Cup football can be frenetic; the head-to-head and recent scorelines suggest goals are possible here. If you want to refine market choices and timing, consider reading specialist material on when to attack goal markets — for example, resources like The right time to place bets on goal markets — and pair that with broader strategy around bankroll size and risk, such as The difficulties of having a small bankroll in betting.
Suggested bet: 1X2 — back Maccabi Tel Aviv to win. The combination of superior attacking volume, recent cup pedigree in the fixture and a convincing 4-1 league victory last time out makes Tel Aviv the most solid single-market choice from the available data.
