Hapoel Be'er Sheva Poised for Historic Champions League Qualification Against Sabah

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is on the brink of making history as they prepare for their crucial Champions League playoff second leg against Sabah in Baku, Azerbaijan. Holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, the Israeli champions arrived in Baku last Saturday and have already conducted one training session, with another scheduled ahead of Tuesday's decisive match. The team remains focused and cautious, aware that Sabah previously overturned a deficit in the playoffs against Aarhus, emphasizing the need to maintain concentration throughout the game.

Coach Ran Kozuch is expected to field the same starting eleven that secured victories against Red Star Belgrade and Sabah in the first leg. Approximately 1,000 Hapoel Be'er Sheva supporters are anticipated to attend the match, which will feature a total crowd of around 20,000, creating a strongly home-like atmosphere for Sabah. The projected lineup includes goalkeeper Ofir Marciano; defenders Pedro Amador, Itay Rotman, Miguel Vitor, and Guy Mizrahi; midfielders Eliel Peretz, Lucas Ventura, and Niv Yehoshua; and forwards Zahi Ahmed, Igor Zlatanovic, and Javon East.

A victory would mark a historic milestone for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, advancing them to the Champions League group stage for the first time in the club's history. The team and fans alike are hopeful but remain vigilant as they face this pivotal challenge in Azerbaijani territory.