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The Champions League will get a new participant this season as Hapoel Beer-Sheva and Sabah battle it out in the first leg of their qualifier at the Superbet Arena in Bucharest on Wednesday night.
It would be especially impressive for the hosts to progress given they have had to play their home games away from Israel due to the ongoing conflict in the country.
Meanwhile, Sabah are bidding to become just the second side from Azerbaijan to qualify for the Champions League proper, with fellow countrymen Qarabag competing in the competition last season.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs. Sabah key stats
- Hapoel have never lost a Champion League qualifier as the designated home team (W9, D1).
- Sabah have won five of their six Champions League qualifiers so far (L1).
- Hapoel have won their last three Champions League qualifiers to nil.
Hapoel vs Sabah — Tale of the Tape
| Hapoel | vs | Sabah |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Israeli Premier League) | Position | 4th (Premyer Liqasi) |
| 79 | Points | 3 |
| 79 | Goals For | 2 |
| 38 | Goals Against | 0 |
| 14 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 2nd | Home / Away Rank | 8th |
Hapoel would become just the fourth Israeli side to reach the Champions League proper should they qualify from this tie.
The Camels won the Israeli Premier League to enter the qualification stage, with the new domestic season yet to commence.
They were thrashed 4-0 by Hapoel Haifa in the Toto Cup though last time out, and Ran Kozuch will be urging his team for a response here.
Joao Victor is an injury doubt for the hosts, while Dan Biton is definitely ruled out.
Khayal Aliyev also continues to be sidelined for Sabah, but like their opponents, the visitors appear to have no fresh injury concerns, so Valdas Dambrauskas will likely field a strong XI despite their domestic season already starting.
After winning the league and cup double for the first time in their history in 2025/26, Sabah started the new Premyer Liqasi campaign with a 2-0 victory at home to Kapaz last time out.
However, their main focus has been on their Champions League qualifiers, having played six times aleady and won five of them.
With Hapoel's home tie being played away from Israel, Sabah will feel this is a chance to take a positive result into the second leg.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs. Sabah form guide & betting tips
| Hapoel | vs | Sabah |
|---|---|---|
LWWWL |
Form | WWLWW |
| 6 | Goals For | 10 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 2 |
WWW |
Champions League | WLW |
Whispers predicts: Hapoel Beer-Sheva 1-1 Sabah
Hapoel are 11/8 (2.38) favourites to win, but given Sabah's impressive Champions League form, we are backing them to get a result.
Thus, the Draw at 12/5 (3.40) appeals to us, while Under 2.5 goals at 5/6 (1.83) could also come through with Sabah only conceding twice and keeping four clean sheets in their previous five matches in all competitions.
In terms of player bets, Veljko Simic has netted in five of Sabah's six Champions League qualifiers, and so Simic to score anytime at 15/4 (4.75) could hold excellent value.
Overall, we are predicting a 1-1 draw, which is available at 11/2 (6.50).
> Under 2.5 goals at 5/6 (1.83) | Likelihood: Probable
> Draw at 12/5 (3.40) | Likelihood: Possible
> Simic to score anytime at 15/4 (4.75) | Likelihood: Possible