Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Alkmaar in Europa League Amidst Squad Rotation
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Hapoel Be'er Sheva will play AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League tonight, aiming for at least a point after a previous draw. Coach Ran Kochav is expected to rotate the squad significantly due to a busy schedule and injuries. The team is also disappointed that their fans will not be allowed to attend the match in the Netherlands. This game is a crucial test for the team's depth and ability to compete on multiple fronts.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva faces AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League tonight after a draw in their last match.
- Coach Ran Kochav plans significant squad rotation due to a packed schedule and player injuries.
- The team is concerned about a lack of depth at right-back, risking overuse of Guy Mizrahi.
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans are reportedly still planning to travel to the Netherlands despite being banned from the stadium.
- The club fought unsuccessfully to allow fan attendance, fearing a precedent for future European games.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to play its second Europa League match tonight (Thursday, 19:45) against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, following a draw against Dinamo Zagreb in the previous round. Coach Ran Kochav plans to implement significant squad rotation, with four players who did not start in the last league game potentially featuring in the starting lineup. These include Eliel Peretz, Niv Yehoshua, Amir Ganah, and Zaahi Ahmed. Left-back Pedro Amador is still experiencing hamstring discomfort, making Matan Baltaxa the likely replacement.
This match presents another test for Kochav, who aims to prove the depth and quality of his squad in balancing European competition with their domestic league title aspirations. The team has seen positive contributions from players like Joao Victor and Amanquah Forson, who have been performing well and scoring goals. The right-back position remains the only area without a natural backup, with concerns about overusing Guy Mizrahi to prevent injury.
A player from the team commented on the competitive atmosphere, stating, "What keeps the players tense is that one game you might not dress, and another game you can be in the lineup. Everyone must be ready and alert before every game. We've entered a crazy and busy period, but this is what we fought for all summer. No one is complaining, and we want to meet all our goals."
Hapoel Be'er Sheva is also disappointed by the decision to bar their fans from attending the match. Despite the prohibition by local security forces, dozens of fans are expected to travel to the Netherlands, having already booked accommodations, and will attempt to enter the stadium. The club, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the league management, and the Football Association, fought the decision unsuccessfully and is concerned about a dangerous precedent for future European games.
The anticipated starting lineup includes Ofir Marciano; Guy Mizrahi, Itay Rotman, Djibril Diop, Matan Baltaxa; Lucas Ventura, Niv Yehoshua, Eliel Peretz; Amir Ganah, Zaahi Ahmed, and Igor Zlatanovic (or Adrian Ugrysa).
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