Hapoel Be'er Sheva Fans Receive 1,900 Tickets for Champions League Return Match in Baku

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a 2-1 victory over Sabah in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff, putting them one step away from a historic qualification to Europe's premier club competition. Despite the advantage, the Israeli team, led by coach Ran Kozuch, remains cautious as they prepare for the challenging second leg in Baku, Azerbaijan. The team will travel to Baku on Saturday night, where approximately 1,900 tickets have been allocated for Be'er Sheva supporters. The club acknowledges the slim margin and the need for heightened focus from all players to complete the task.

The return match will take place at the Topik Bahramov Stadium in Baku, the home ground of Qarabağ FK, which has a seating capacity of over 31,000. The stadium has a unique history; originally constructed in the shape of the Cyrillic letter 'C' as a tribute to Joseph Stalin, its construction was halted by World War II and later completed by German prisoners of war. Following a de-Stalinization process, the stadium was renamed in 1993 after Topik Bahramov, a famous Azerbaijani football referee known for validating the controversial 'ghost goal' in the 1966 World Cup final.

Besides being Azerbaijan's second-largest stadium and a key venue for local teams in European competitions, the Topik Bahramov Stadium has also hosted major international music stars such as Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, and Shakira. Hapoel Be'er Sheva remains focused on making history as they approach the decisive match in this prestigious tournament.