Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
The Israeli State Cup final will take place on Thursday at Bloomfield Stadium, where local side Beitar will host Hapoel Be'er Sheva. I'm offering a bet on the outcome of this showdown with promising odds.
Match preview
The mood in the “Lions from the capital” camp is far from upbeat: the team is falling apart before our eyes, having lost four of their last five matches. Their attack looks toothless, the defense is chaotic: 11 goals conceded in six rounds and not a single clean sheet.
The latest defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv, a crushing 0-5, was the final nail in a series of failures that have left their European dreams hanging on a cup win. In the domestic league, Beitar finished only fifth, trailing Maccabi Haifa by eight points.
In contrast, the “Southerners” look like a points machine: three wins in their last six games, 17 goals scored—the attack is firing on all cylinders. Last round, they emphatically demolished Hapoel Haifa (5-0).
Elian Hadar’s men shifted into turbo mode late in the season, though they still finished runners-up. Nevertheless, considering their form and attacking tempo, the visitors are coming to the final with victory in their sights and are more than capable of lifting the trophy.
Probable lineups
- Beitar Jerusalem: Miguel Silva (GK), G. Morozov, L. Deri, J. Marcelin, G. Cohen, L. Yarin, O. Atzili, D. Micha, A. Yona, T. Muzie, M. George.
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva: N. Eliasi (GK), Z. Ahmed, O. Blorian, Miguel Vitor (captain), M. Baltaxa, E. Lopes, E. Peretz, K. Kangwa, Lucas Ventura, D. Biton, A. Garita.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Hapoel have beaten Beitar in three of the last five meetings and haven't lost once in that span
- The “Total over 2.5 goals” bet has landed in two of the last five matches
- The “Both teams to score” bet has paid out in the last four encounters
Prediction
Beitar are unlikely to break their curse against Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The nominal visitors have the edge in every key area: form, mentality, and momentum. That said, Hapoel's defense isn't flawless, and Beitar could still find a way through at least once. Our pick: Hapoel Be'er Sheva to win at odds of 1.70.
