Sabah welcome Hapoel Beer-Sheva on Tuesday night with a place in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League at stake.
Sabah start with a one-goal deficit after losing 2-1 in the first leg in Romania, despite taking an early lead through Veljko Simic.
The Azerbaijani champions have already shown they are capable of overturning a deficit in this season's qualifying campaign, having followed a 2-1 away defeat to AGF with a thumping 4-0 home victory in the previous round.
Sabah have won six of their eight matches this season and have scored 15 goals across their seven UEFA Champions League qualifiers, while they should take confidence from having home advantage for this decisive second leg.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva are unlikely to simply sit back and protect their slender advantage, though, and an open contest could provide opportunities at both ends.
Sabah v Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC Tips Summary
Best Bet - Sabah to qualify @ 6/5
Alternative Bet - Igor Zlatanovic 2+ shots on target @ 11/4
Bet Builder - Over 2 goals, Both teams to score, Veljko Simic to score anytime & Veljko Simic 2+ shots on target @ 17/2
Sabah v Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC Prediction
Best Bet: Sabah to qualify @ 6/5
Sabah have made an impressive start to the season and look capable of mounting another European comeback in front of their own supporters.
The Azerbaijani champions are 2-1 down after the first leg, but they found themselves in exactly the same position against AGF in the previous round before producing a 4-0 home victory to progress to this stage.
That result should ensure belief remains high within the Sabah camp, particularly after the first leg against Hapoel Beer-Sheva showed they are capable of causing the Israeli champions problems.
Sabah took an early lead through Veljko Simic and know that one goal would level the tie and put them right back in with a chance.
Having won six of their eight matches this season and five of their seven UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Sabah can use home advantage to produce another turnaround and book their place in the league phase.
Alternative Bet - Igor Zlatanovic 2+ shots on target @ 11/4
Igor Zlatanovic looks Hapoel Beer-Sheva's most obvious attacking threat and can work the Sabah goalkeeper on at least two occasions.
The Serbian striker had three shots on target and scored in the first leg, making it goals in back-to-back games for the 28-year-old.
Zlatanovic is the focal point of the Israeli side's attack and looks their most likely route to goal, particularly with Sabah needing to chase the game from the start.
The visitors are unlikely to sit back and simply try to protect their narrow advantage, which should create opportunities for Zlatanovic to get into dangerous positions.
If they can replicate the attacking display they produced in Bucharest, their main striker should have several sights of goal and 2+ shots on target looks a strong pick.
Sabah v Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC Bet Builder Tip
- Over 2 goals
- Both teams to score
- Veljko Simic to score anytime
- Veljko Simic 2+ shots on target
Pays 17/2
The first leg finished 2-1 and another high-scoring encounter could be on the cards with Sabah needing to overturn a one-goal deficit.
Sabah took the lead in Bucharest and, with home advantage this time, know they must score at least once just to level the tie.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva created plenty of chances in the first leg and should continue to carry a threat, particularly with the hosts likely to commit players forward.
Sabah have scored 15 goals in their seven qualification matches so far and have already shown their ability to produce a major home performance, overturning a 2-1 deficit against AGF with a 4-0 win.
Hapoel have also scored in six of their seven matches this season, netting nine goals across that run.
Veljko Simic is the standout attacking option after scoring in each of his last five matches and in six of Sabah's seven qualifiers this season.
The Serbian attacker starts on the left but is encouraged to cut inside and get his shots away, while also making late runs into the penalty area.
With Sabah chasing the game, Simic should continue to get into dangerous positions and backing him to score while also registering at least two shots on target rounds off this 17/2 Bet Builder.
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Key Match Stats
- Sabah have won six of their eight matches this season
- The Azerbaijanis have scored 15 goals across their seven Champions League qualifiers
- Sabah overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against AGF with a 4-0 home win
- Veljko Simic has scored in his last five matches and six of Sabah's seven UEFA Champions League qualifiers this season
- The first leg between these sides ended in a 2-1 victory for Hapoel Beer-Sheva
- Igor Zlatanovic registered three shots on target and scored in the first leg
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
