Sabah's Grass Condition Could Impact Play Against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Champions League Playoff

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to face Sabah on Tuesday at 19:45 local time in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff round. After securing a 2-1 home victory in the first leg, Be'er Sheva aims to advance to the group stage of the competition for the first time in club history. The match will take place at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku, where Sabah will benefit from home support with around 15,000 fans expected.

Karim Diniyev, former Sabah captain, commented on the first leg, noting that Sabah failed to display their usual fast and dominant style, especially struggling with ball possession and decision-making in the final attacking phases. He praised Be'er Sheva's disciplined and physical approach, which pressured Sabah's players responsible for initiating attacks and disrupted their rhythm.

Despite the first leg result, Diniyev believes the tie remains open and that playing in Baku could offer Sabah an advantage. He also highlighted the importance of the pitch quality at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, stating that Sabah's technical and quick style requires a good playing surface. Unpredictable ball movement and slips could affect their passing game. However, he emphasized that Sabah must not use the pitch condition as an excuse and should adapt professionally. The stadium atmosphere could also provide additional motivation for the home team.

The match will be broadcast on 5SPORT, with kickoff at 19:45 on Tuesday, August 26, 2026.