Azerbaijani Media Warns Against Underestimating Hapoel Be'er Sheva Ahead of Champions League Playoff

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is on the brink of a historic achievement, needing just 180 minutes to secure their first-ever qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage. The Israeli club, led by coach Ran Kojuch, has already overcome significant challenges this summer and now faces Sabah FC from Azerbaijan in a decisive playoff tie starting Wednesday.

Azerbaijani media and experts have praised Hapoel Be'er Sheva's strength and resilience, noting their impressive victory over Red Star Belgrade in the third qualifying round without conceding a goal. Shahin Diniyev, former coach of the Azerbaijani national team and ex-player in Israeli clubs Beitar Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tayibe, told AZƏRTAC that the Israeli Premier League is competitive and that Hapoel Be'er Sheva is a formidable opponent despite not playing home matches in Israel due to security concerns.

Azerisport highlighted Hapoel Be'er Sheva's solid performances both home and away in earlier rounds and emphasized their greater European experience compared to Sabah. The article also noted that the security situation in Israel forces the team to play all European matches away, but this has not hindered their progress. Both sides are considered to be in good form, making the upcoming matches highly competitive and unpredictable.

The playoff matches will be crucial for Hapoel Be'er Sheva as they seek to cement their place among Europe’s elite clubs for the first time, while Sabah aims to halt their historic run.