Sabah's final battle
The final qualifying clash. It is precisely this that is the decisive obstacle standing before Baku's Sabah on the way into Europe's main club tournament — the Champions League.
The Azerbaijani club has already overcome three qualifying rounds, but now it faces its most serious test in the form of Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Unlike the "Owls," Hapoel has played two preliminary rounds. Quite unexpected was its victory over Serbia's Crvena Zvezda, which was the favorite of that clash. The Israeli club showed that it can also play as the second team, when the opponent has more possession and creates dangerous moments. Crvena did not score a single time; however, Hapoel still has weak spots in defense.
If Sabah manages to take advantage of the positional errors of the opponent's defense, it will be able to tip the scales in its favor. The teams will play the first match today in Bucharest, Romania. Although, initially, over the course of two stages, the opponent held its home matches in Szombathely, Hungary. The counter-pressing factor is important for Sabah. It must try not to make mistakes. It is also important to press high themselves when the opponent has the ball. The Baku side knows how to do this, and this was especially noticeable in the home games of Valdas Dambrauskas' charges.
VALDAS DAMBRAUSKAS
HEAD COACH OF FC SABAH
Two very similar teams will meet. Both sides like to press, want to control the game and dominate — both think first and foremost about attacking, and only then about defending. Let's see what awaits us. All our players are healthy, we are ready for the match.
At the pre-match press conference, the Lithuanian specialist noted that the qualifying playoff game evokes a special feeling of excitement, since the team will play at this stage for the first time in its history. He also noted that initially the club was not considered the favorite in its clashes, yet time after time it ultimately proved the opposite in practice. Sabah's opponent was not considered a favorite either, as we have already noted earlier. The Israeli club plays with a 4-3-3 formation. It has a decent attacking line in the persons of Zaha Ahmed, Igor Zlatanovic and Jaevon East. As for the representative of Azerbaijan, in attack the appearance of Xander Severina, Veljko Simic and Joy-Lance Mikkels is quite likely. Severina scored in the last two matches and is currently in the best physical form, as are Parris and Mbina.
In the position in the center behind the forward we will most likely see Alexey Isayev. There are unlikely to be changes in the holding midfield zone, as well as in defense and in the goalkeeper position (Stas Pokatilov). Ivan Lepinjica and Umarali Rahmonaliev will create in the center of the field, while the defense will be made up of Steve Solvet, Rahman Dashdamirov, Akim Zedadka and Tymoteusz Puchacz. The opponent has analyzed Sabah and will try to counter it with its own game.
RAN KOZHUCH
HEAD COACH OF FC HAPOEL BE'ER SHEVA
This is our new opponent, and we are preparing for them. Watching the opponents' games, I saw that they have a very high-quality and fast team that knows how to punish the opponent with its through passes and its play on set pieces. This is a well-prepared team.
Yes, there is still the return game, but much will also be decided today in the match at the Giulesti stadium. For Sabah this will be more than just another European match. After all, it is the chance to reach the Champions League for the first time, thereby turning its rapid European campaign into a historic achievement.
EMIN AKHMEDOV
