- Hapoel Be'er-Sheva have won their last 3 matches, beating Vikingur Reykjavik 2-0 and Red Star in back-to-back UCLQ games.
- Sabah FK have won 4 of their last 5, including a 4-0 victory over AGF Aarhus, who had beaten them 1-0 in the first leg of their UCLQ tie.
Azerbaijani players carry a real threat
Hapoel Be'er-Sheva are the favourites, but a big shout is coming in for Sabah FK when Sabah FK travel to take on the Israeli side in a real live European tie.
Hapoel are 23/20 favourites to win this Wednesday's clash, while Sabah FK are 51/20 and the draw is 23/10. The odds are certainly pointing towards a win, but we have seen enough of Sabah to suggest that an upset might be on the cards.
Be'er-Sheva have won 3 games in a row, but across all competitions, their record is 5 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats in the last 10, which suggests there are still issues that need ironing out for Ran Kozuch and his staff.
Sabah FK's form is much stronger with 7 wins and 3 defeats in their last 10, so it's no surprise that Sabah FK look ready to play a big part in this tie.
Be'er-Sheva have an effective finisher
Both clubs are really after a spot in Europe's top competition and a step-up in the club's European reputation, so neither will be sitting back and expecting an easy passage to the next round. That should make for a tasty clash with Be'er-Sheva wanting to break forward in transition while Sabah will sit deep, nick the ball and counter punch.
Zahi Ahmed has been Be'er-Sheva's top scorer in UCLQ, netting twice in 4 games, while Veljko Simic is Sabah's leading marksman in the competition with 5 goals in 6 appearances. The Serbian has scored 4 of Sabah's last 10 in the game's last 5, so he looks a good bet to score anytime on Wednesday.
Sabah can snatch a result
Kozuch has fashioned a side that can play either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system, switching with the ball and looking to hit the half-spaces with pace. Valdas Dambrauskas has Sabah set up in a disciplined 4-2-3-1 that plays on compact lines, controlled tempo and fast vertical runs, so it could be an intriguing tactical battle.
The edge must still go to Hapoel Be'er-Sheva, but Sabah's 4-0 win over AGF makes this game unlikely to be a walkover. We'll go for a 1-1 draw at 23/10 and the odds look very tempting for goals with Over 2.5 at 17/20 and BTTS: Yes at 13/20, which is our main bet for this Champions League qualifying tie.
