Feyenoord vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Predictions

Feyenoord eased through the last round 5-1 on aggregate against Dinamo Tbilisi but will be expecting a tougher test over the next seven days when they take on Israel’s Hapoel Be’er Sheva twice. The visitors were also comfortable winners in the previous round, beating Norrkoping 4-1 on aggregate, and will fancy their chances against a Feyenoord side that have drawn the majority of their matches over the last month.

The stats suggest we will be in for a close game on Thursday but if Feyenoord find their best form, then the hosts really should win. However, we’re backing both teams to score and believe that the visitors could escape with a draw on Thursday and here’s why. Both teams scored in five of Feyenoord’s last six matches, which includes their last three matches, all of which the Dutch club have failed to win. Both teams also scored in each of Be’er Sheva’s last four games and the Israeli side only managed to win one of those games, which was at home to Norrkoping in the last round of qualifiers.

Feyenoord have drawn four of their last five matches against Utrecht, Dinamo Tiblisi, Heerenveen, and Sparta Rotterdam, three of which have ended 1-1. Be’er Sheva have drawn two of their last three away games, both of which ended 1-1, against Norrkoping and Kairat, and with Feyenoord drawing two of their last three home games the visitors are in with an excellent chance of keeping this tie all square come the final whistle on Thursday night.

Both teams have only lost one of their last six matches in all competitions, Feyenoord’s came in a friendly against Premier League side Southampton and Be’er Sheva’s arrived at the weekend when they took on Beitar Jerusalem in the Toto Cup. We’re expecting a cagey affair but the results of both teams over the last six weeks suggest there will be goals in this game at both ends of the pitch as Feyenoord have managed one clean sheet in their last six matches and their guests have mustered just two.

We’re confident that both teams will score in Thursday’s 1st leg and have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1. Feyenoord have not looked at their best in the early stages of the new season and their guests are no strangers to European competitions, featuring in the Europa or Champions League every season since the 2014/15 campaign. The visitors would take a draw if you offered it to them now as they will fancy their chances in the reverse fixture next week and with both teams proving tricky to defeat over the last month, we’re expecting a stalemate in Rotterdam.