Ironi Modi'in vs Ashdod - Liga Leumit

When Ironi Modi'in and Ashdod clash at the home ground on September 24, 2026, the stakes extend well beyond a single result — this is a Liga Leumit fixture that carries real weight for both clubs. The spectacle was once again on show ahead of Nice’s Europa League clash with AS Roma on Thursday, but what was supposed to be a display of power and pride quickly turned into a far more comical scene.

Both camps will view the Liga Leumit meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. It has been a torrid run for the hosts, L in their last five and a season win rate of just 16.67% that has the alarm bells ringing. Ashdod have made a habit of winning on the road, their W run backing up a remarkable season win rate of 83.33%. The contrast in attacking output — 1.5 versus 2.33 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. Larson has not visited Victory Lane since May last year but remains firmly in championship contention, sitting eighth in the standings as the NASCAR Chase approaches in September.

Set-piece efficiency and transition play often decide fixtures of this nature, and both managers will have been drilling those phases on the training ground. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images) According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United 'are not proceeding' with a move for the Brighton midfielder.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. The future of Enzo Fernandez, who has flirted with a Chelsea exit for some time now, could be decisive if they are to bring in a midfielder for big money.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. With the sides so closely matched, a 2-2 stalemate looks the most likely way this one ends. More than just three points is on the line at the home ground — this is a fixture that could shape the narrative of both clubs' seasons. A more central role appears likely given the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.