# 2019–20 Liga Leumit

The 2019–20 Liga Leumit was the 21st season as second tier since its re-alignment in 1999 and the 78th season of second-tier football in Israel.
A total of sixteen teams contested in the league, including twelve sides from the 2018–19 season, the two promoted teams from 2018–19 Liga Alef and the two relegated teams from 2018–19 Israeli Premier League.

## Changes from 2018–19 season
### Team changes

Hapoel Kfar Saba and Sektzia Nes Tziona were promoted to the 2019–20 Israeli Premier League.
Maccabi Petah Tikva and Bnei Sakhnin were relegated after finishing as the two bottom-placed clubs in the 2018–19 Israeli Premier League.
Hapoel Marmorek, and Hapoel Iksal were directly relegated to Liga Alef after finishing in the previous season in last two league places. They were replaced by the top placed teams from each division of 2018–19 Liga Alef, F.C. Kafr Qasim (from South Division) and Hapoel Umm al-Fahm (from North Division).

## Overview
### Stadia and locations

| Club | Home City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam | Tel Aviv and Bat Yam | Ness Ziona Stadium | 3,500 |
| Bnei Sakhnin | Sakhnin | Doha Stadium | 8,500 |
| F.C. Kafr Qasim | Kafr Qasim | Lod Municipal Stadium | 3,000 |
| Hapoel Acre | Acre | Acre Municipal Stadium | 5,000 |
| Hapoel Afula | Afula | Afula Illit Stadium | 3,000 |
| Hapoel Ashkelon | Ashkelon | Sala Stadium | 5,250 |
| Hapoel Bnei Lod | Lod | Lod Municipal Stadium | 3,000 |
| Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem | Jerusalem | Teddy Stadium | 31,733 |
| Hapoel Nof HaGalil | Nof HaGalil | Ilut Stadium | 4,932 |
| Hapoel Petah Tikva | Petah Tikva | HaMoshava Stadium | 11,500 |
| Hapoel Ramat Gan | Ramat Gan | Ramat Gan Stadium | 13,370 |
| Hapoel Ramat HaSharon | Ramat HaSharon | Grundman Stadium | 4,300 |
| Hapoel Rishon LeZion | Rishon LeZion | Haberfeld Stadium | 6,000 |
| Hapoel Umm al-Fahm | Umm al-Fahm | Afula Illit Stadium | 3,000 |
| Maccabi Ahi Nazareth | Nazareth | Ilut Stadium | 4,932 |
| Maccabi Petah Tikva | Petah Tikva | HaMoshava Stadium | 11,500 |
^A The club is playing their home games at a neutral venue because their own ground does not meet league requirements.

## Regular season

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Maccabi Petah Tikva | 30 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 62 | 28 | +34 | 64 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 2 | Hapoel Rishon LeZion | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 43 | 29 | +14 | 54 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 3 | Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 37 | 30 | +7 | 49 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 4 | Bnei Sakhnin | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 46 | 30 | +16 | 48 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 5 | Hapoel Ramat HaSharon | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 46 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 6 | Hapoel Ramat Gan | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 37 | 29 | +8 | 44 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 7 | F.C. Kafr Qasim | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 41 | 40 | +1 | 44 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 8 | Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 43 | Qualification for the Promotion playoffs |
| 9 | Hapoel Umm al-Fahm | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 38 | −3 | 39 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
| 10 | Hapoel Petah Tikva | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 38 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
| 11 | Hapoel Nof HaGalil | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 37 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
| 12 | Hapoel Acre | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 34 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
| 13 | Maccabi Ahi Nazareth | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 31 | 42 | −11 | 31 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
| 14 | Hapoel Bnei Lod | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 26 | 59 | −33 | 26 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
| 15 | Hapoel Ashkelon | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 31 | 38 | −7 | 24 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
| 16 | Hapoel Afula | 30 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 21 | 41 | −20 | 23 | Qualification for the Relegation playoffs |
* ↑ Teams play each other two times (30 rounds) before the league is split into two groups (the top eight and the bottom eight).
* ↑ Hapoel Ashkelon were deducted nine points for entering administration.

## Promotion playoffs

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Maccabi Petah Tikva (C) | 37 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 66 | 37 | +29 | 71 | Promoted to Israeli Premier League |
| 2 | Bnei Sakhnin | 37 | 19 | 10 | 8 | 60 | 32 | +28 | 67 | Promoted to Israeli Premier League |
| 3 | Hapoel Ramat Gan | 37 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 51 | 36 | +15 | 60 | |
| 4 | Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem | 37 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 33 | +9 | 59 | |
| 5 | Hapoel Rishon LeZion | 37 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 55 | 42 | +13 | 58 | |
| 6 | F.C. Kafr Qasim | 37 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 53 | 48 | +5 | 56 | |
| 7 | Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam | 37 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 52 | |
| 8 | Hapoel Ramat HaSharon | 37 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 50 | 60 | −10 | 49 | |
* ↑ Teams play each other two times (30 rounds) before the league is split into two groups (the top eight and the bottom eight).

## Relegation playoffs

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 9 | Hapoel Umm al-Fahm | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 49 | |
| 10 | Hapoel Petah Tikva | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 52 | 54 | −2 | 47 | |
| 11 | Hapoel Nof HaGalil | 37 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 45 | |
| 12 | Hapoel Acre | 37 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 30 | 32 | −2 | 43 | |
| 13 | Maccabi Ahi Nazareth | 37 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 43 | |
| 14 | Hapoel Afula (O) | 37 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 36 | Qualification for the Relegation decider |
| 15 | Hapoel Bnei Lod (R) | 35 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 34 | 69 | −35 | 33 | Qualification for the Relegation decider |
| 16 | Hapoel Ashkelon (R) | 37 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 27 | Relegated to Liga Alef |
* ↑ Hapoel Ashkelon were deducted nine points for entering administration.

## Promotion/relegation playoff

The winner of the Relegation decider game , Hapoel Afula, faced Liga Alef promotion play-offs winner Hapoel Marmorek . The match took place on 2 August 2020.