Hapoel Be'er Sheva Prepares for Champions League Playoff Clash Against Sabah Baku

Following Hapoel Be'er Sheva's qualification for the UEFA Champions League playoff round, excitement among fans has surged, with expectations of over 1,000 supporters attending the first leg against Azerbaijani champions Sabah in Bucharest on Wednesday. The club is seeking to strengthen its squad with two additional foreign players, though they will not be eligible to play in this upcoming match. Despite requesting a postponement for their Toto Cup ranking match against Hapoel Haifa, the Israeli Football Association denied the request, forcing Be'er Sheva to compete with a depleted lineup on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in Serbia, Red Star Belgrade's coach Dusan Stankovic resigned after consecutive defeats to Be'er Sheva, following his controversial conduct towards fans. To better understand Sabah, Be'er Sheva turned to former Israeli player Roi Kehat, who played in Azerbaijan and is familiar with the team. Kehat described Sabah as very similar to Be'er Sheva in style, both employing high pressing and controlled ball possession, making the upcoming matches expected to be balanced. He slightly favors Be'er Sheva due to their greater European experience and squad depth, highlighting key players like Miguel Vitor, Ofir Marciano, and Ofir Davidzada.

Kehat identified Sabah's top threats as defenders who support attacks and forwards Velko Simic and Joy-Lance Mickels. Sabah won their first-ever Azerbaijani league title last season, also securing the cup for a double. Kehat noted that while the lower-tier teams in Israel might be stronger, the top clubs in Azerbaijan are comparable or even superior to Israeli teams, with competitive salaries attracting quality players. Sabah will host the match at Qarabağ's larger stadium, where attendance is typically low but could increase due to patriotic support from Azerbaijani fans.

On a personal note, Kehat is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury and expects to return to play in about two months. His current team is scheduled to face Sabah in the Azerbaijani league soon, but that match will be postponed to allow Sabah to prepare for their Champions League fixtures against Be'er Sheva.