Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Southampton Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview
Southampton travel to face Israeli champions Hapoel Beer Sheva on Thursday. Read the match predictions to find out why Saints are the betting tip to win the Europa League Group K match.
Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Southampton Preview
Hapoel Beer Sheva got something of a surprise result when goals from Miguel Vitor and Maor Buzaglo gave them a coupon-busting 0-2 win away to Inter on match day 1. Southampton went one better though and secured a 3-0 success over Sparta Prague thanks to a brace from Charlie Austin and a late strike by Jay Rodriguez.
The Israeli champions have been playing well recently and with no fresh injury concerns, Barak Bakhar has little reason to alter his starting XI. Miguel Vitor was an absolute rock at the back in the win over Inter and will once again be flanked by Taha and Tzedek in a 3 man defence. Maranhão provided an assist for Buzaglo in Italy and bagged a goal for himself at the weekend while Nwakaeme looks a certain starter having grabbed 2 goals also. That attacking trio will be supported by Bitton, Hoban and Ogu, with Turgeman and Korhut both vying for the left midfield role.
Southampton boss Claude Puel could rotate his squad once more but it’s unlikely that there will be wholesale changes. Virgil Van Dijk looks set to remain at the heart of defence but any of Targett, Yoshida and Martina could replace Bertrand, Fonte and Soares respectively. Romeu and Højbjerg will remain in the engine room with either Ward-Prowse or Davis and Dusan Tadic should retain his free role in behind the strikers. Charlie Austin’s form commands a start here and he will be joined by either Shane Long or Nathan Redmond, with Jay Rodriguez likely to start on the bench.
Team Predictions Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Southampton
Hapoel Beer Sheva 3-4-3 formation: Goresh; Tzedek, Vitor, Taha; Korhut, Ogu, Hoban, Bitton; Nwakaeme, Maranhão, Buzaglo
Southampton 4-3-1-2 formation: Forster; Targett, Van Dijk, Yoshida, Martina; Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Højbjerg; Tadic; Austin, Long
Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Southampton Betting Tips
- Hapoel Beer Sheva have won 5 drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 8 matches
- Southampton have won 4 drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last 8 matches
- Over the course of their previous 8 matches, Hapoel Beer Sheva have scored an average of 1.5 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 8 matches, Southampton have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 0.6 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Hapoel Beer Sheva’s previous 8 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Southampton’s previous 8 matches
(Photo Credit: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Southampton Prediction
Hapoel Beer Sheva are the current Israeli Premier League champions and are not taken lightly. However, as well as they played in Milan, their shock result against Inter was as much down to a lack of cohesion from their opponents as anything else. Still, since shipping 5 goals away to Celtic they have kept 5 clean sheets from a possible 7 and will try to make things difficult for the visitors.
The hosts come into this game having bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Maccabi Haifa in good style by recording a 3-0 success over Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv. Maranhão was on the scoresheet, with Nwakaeme at the double in that match but they may not have so much joy against Southampton’s sturdy defence.
Saints endured an indifferent start to the season with 2 draws and 2 defeats in their opening 4 fixtures. However, they are bang in form right now and will be looking to make it 5 wins on the bounce in Israel after crushing a hapless West Ham side 0-3 at the weekend.
Crucially, Southampton are getting things right at both ends of the pitch. They have scored 9 goals without reply on their current winning run and look a tough nut to crack. Charlie Austin is on fire with 5 goals in 7 games and the battle between him and Miguel Vitor is a mouthwatering prospect. This has the makings of an extremely tight match which Southampton should just about edge.
Free Betting Tips
Match Prediction
Southampton to win at 7/5 with William Hill
Over/Under Prediction
Under 2.5 goals at 7/10 with 888Sport
Correct Score Prediction
Southampton to win 1-0 at 13/2 with 888Sport
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