Thursday 24/07/2014, 16:30, Europa League Qualifiers, Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Split
Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Split Preview
Hapoel Beer Sheva was expected to earn at least one point in the first leg of the Europa League Qualifiers and for the first half, they were clearly on track. The problem is that the defenses suffered a late match meltdown and allowed two goals in just a bit over 8 min. What was supposed to be an easy victory on the road turned into a miserable defeat and they now have to win the second leg against Split on a neutral pitch.
Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Split Odds
At Bet-at-home
Hapoel Beer Sheva 2.20, Draw 3.25, Split 2.90
Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Split Tips
It is uncertain how many supporters will be traveling to Cyprus where Hapoel Beer Sheva will be playing the return leg, especially now that they need a straight victory over the Croats. The visitors were surprisingly aggressive in the first leg and since the domestic championship is on break, no players suffer from fatigue or injuries.
Manager Matic has no reason to make thorough changes in the starting formation, except maybe to strengthen their defenses, so instead of a 4-4-2 starting formation, he might be using a 5-4-1. Bilic is the obvious choice for strikers, because he managed to score 2 goals in a single match and was the dominant figure in the first leg played in Croatia.
Having the safety net of a narrow margin victory, Split can once again afford to take it easy and exploit any opportunities that might arise. Hapoel Beer Sheva is not the best traveling team in Israel and once again they will be playing on a neutral venue.
At least in theory, there should be Israeli football fans in Cyprus, given the fact that this is where both teams play for a spot in the Europa League groups. It is more likely that the stadium will be half-empty and despite the obvious stakes for the alleged home team, this will look more like a friendly game.
Key Facts
- Not having home pitch advantage has a detrimental effect on Hapoel Beer Sheva's chances to offset the first leg defeat.
- Split is undefeated in the last nine games and managed to win five games over the span.
Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Split Prediction
There is no obvious reason for why the Israelis are credited with the first chance to emerge victorious, especially after the disappointing first leg performance. Punters would be better off siding with the visiting team, and bet on Split to prevail, while opting for the 0:0 Asian handicap. If the match ends undecided, at least they recuperate the money lost.
Bet: Split Draw no Bet @ 2.10 with Bet-at-home
