Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Past European Success Recalled Ahead of AZ Alkmaar Clash

Dutch football fans are recalling Hapoel Be'er Sheva's impressive past European campaigns, particularly their victories over Inter Milan, as the Israeli club prepares to face AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. Ahead of the match, AZ fan forums have been discussing the Israeli champions, with one site, AZ Fanpage, highlighting Be'er Sheva's "one of the most impressive campaigns in European arenas to date" from a decade ago. They specifically mentioned the team's double victory against Inter Milan, both at home and at the San Siro, noting that for a club from a small Israeli desert city, this was a remarkable achievement.

Despite acknowledging Be'er Sheva's status as the reigning Israeli champion and their recent elimination in the Champions League playoffs, the fan forums suggest that AZ must win the upcoming match. However, they also cautioned that Be'er Sheva has a history of defying expectations, implying that the team's performance on paper might not reflect their true capabilities. "If there is one club that proves that 'on paper' is worthless, it is Be'er Sheva," one post stated.

Meanwhile, betting odds indicate a low probability for a Hapoel Be'er Sheva victory. Odds for a win range from 9.00 to 10.00, with a draw between 5.50 and 6.00. In contrast, AZ Alkmaar's odds for a win are around 1.3. Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to restart its European campaign after an initial 0-0 draw against Dinamo Zagreb.