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Europa League: Analysing Southampton’s Group K Gauntlet

By Aaron Preston

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: General View of St Mary's stadium prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Southampton and Watford at St Mary's Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: General View of St Mary's stadium prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Southampton and Watford at St Mary's Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images) /
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Hapoel Beer Sheva fans wave Israeli flags before the UEFA Champions League group stages play-off football match between Celtic and Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Turner Stadium in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva on August 23, 2016.The game is being played in the most southerly stadium in European competition history, UEFA confirmed./ AFP / GIL COHEN-MAGEN (Photo credit should read GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Hapoel Beer Sheva fans wave Israeli flags before the UEFA Champions League group stages play-off football match between Celtic and Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Turner Stadium in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva on August 23, 2016.The game is being played in the most southerly stadium in European competition history, UEFA confirmed./ AFP / GIL COHEN-MAGEN (Photo credit should read GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images) /

Hapoel Be’er Sheva

Founded: 1949

Ground: Turner Stadium, Beersheba

Manager: Barak Bakhar

League Position: Champions, Israeli Premier League

Hapoel are titans of the Israeli league, being typically mentioned alongside Maccabi Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem as one of the top-4. They’ve had a dominant run since the 1970s but have only put 3 Israeli Premier League trophies in their silverware case. Prior to last year’s championship run, the most recent of these was 1975-76—coincidentally, the last year Southampton took major silverware.

Hapoel got here after a spectacular showing by Brendan Rogers’ Celtic put them in a 5-2 aggregate hole from which they could not emerge. A 2-0 victory against the Scottish side wasn’t enough to save the Israelis, and they now find themselves here, put out and looking to fight their way back.

While the squad lacks any notable players on the international circuit, its average age of 29.1 years means that they’ll have plenty of experience to bring to the table. And of course, you don’t become champions of any top league without a fair bit of skill as well. Hapoel are managed by Barak Bakhar, who at 36 has the unusual distinction of being the same age as one of his players. Bakhar enters his second season as Hapoel’s gaffer and typically favours a mix of 4-4-2 in the Sparta style and a balanced 3-4-3.

Domestically, the side are known for the spirit of their supporters, who make the otherwise-pedestrian Turner Stadium anything but on matchday. Overall though, spirit and experience don’t make up for the deficits here. Southampton have the better team, and should have no problem showing it.

Predictions: Hapoel Be’er Sheva 0-2 Southampton; Southampton 3-1 Hapoel Be’er Sheva