Hapoel Be'er Sheva Strategizes to Avoid League Fines, Faces Maccabi Tel Aviv

Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the reigning Israeli Premier League champions, are preparing to host Maccabi Tel Aviv in a highly anticipated match at Turner Stadium on Monday evening. The team aims to secure a victory at home, with one player stating, "It's time we started beating them again." Despite losing two titles to Maccabi Tel Aviv last season, the player emphasized that Be'er Sheva is a "different team now" and expects their home advantage to be decisive.

In terms of team lineup, Adrian Olenik is expected to start as the central striker. Coach Ranan Koczuch is deliberating between Amir Ganah and Zahy Ahmed for the wing position, with Ahmed returning from suspension. Igor Zlatanovic, who completed a full training session, remains a doubt for the match, and a decision on his inclusion in the squad will be made later today. Forson Amankwah is set to make his debut, likely from the bench.

The club has made a strategic decision to register only seven foreign players for league matches, rather than the maximum of eight allowed, to avoid potential fines from the league administration. This means one foreign player will be left out of the squad for each league game. Be'er Sheva is also considering signing an additional Israeli player before the transfer window closes.

A projected starting lineup includes Ofir Marciano in goal, a defense of Guy Mizerachi, Itay Rotman, Miguel Vítor, and Pedro Amador. The midfield is expected to feature Lucas Ventura, Niv Yehoshua, and Eliel Peretz, with Javan East, Adrian Olenik, and either Zahy Ahmed or Amir Ganah in attack.