Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Sabah will lock horns in the UEFA Champions League play-off round, with the first leg of their high-stakes contest taking place on Wednesday night in Bucharest, Romania.Neither side has ever reached the main draw of Europe's premier club competition, meaning the winner of this two-legged tie will make history by securing a spot in the prestigious league stage for the very first time.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe Israeli champions reach the play-off stage after navigating past Vikingur Reykjavik and Red Star Belgrade, winning their last three Champions League qualifiers without conceding a goal.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901437##Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Sabah have already cleared three qualifying rounds, overcoming TNS, KuPS, and Aarhus—most recently overturning a first-leg deficit against Aarhus with an emphatic 4-0 second-leg victory to secure a 6-1 aggregate triumph.Kick-off: 10:00 PM (Kenyan Time), Wednesday 19 AugustVenue: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest, RomaniaGroup: UEFA Champions League Play-off Round, Knockout StageBETTING GUIDE: Celtic vs LASK Linz,match preview, team news and predictionQualification implications: The aggregate winner across two legs advances to the UEFA Champions League main draw (league phase), while the loser drops down into the UEFA Europa League.Form GuideHapoel Be'er Sheva❌ Loss vs Hapoel Haifa (0-4)✅ Win vs Crvena Zvezda (2-0)✅ Win vs Crvena Zvezda (1-0)✅ Win vs Vikingur Reykjavik (2-0)❌ Loss vs Vikingur Reykjavik (1-2)Sabah✅ Win vs Kapaz (2-0)✅ Win vs Aarhus (4-0)❌ Loss vs Aarhus (1-2)✅ Win vs KuPS (2-0)✅ Win vs KuPS (1-0)Head-to-Head ❌ No prior competitive meetings between the two sides.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901481##Team NewsHapoel Be'er Sheva❌ Joao Victor – Injured (out).❌ Dan Biton – Injured (out).Sabah❌ Khayal Aliyev – Injured (out).Galatasaray lure Bruno with bags of cash, as United prepare new contract for himPlayer to Watch: Veljko Simic (Sabah)Veljko Simic has been in exceptional form for Sabah at the start of the 2026-27 campaign, scoring five goals in six appearances across all competitions.The 31-year-old winger has found the net in five of Sabah's six Champions League matches this term, with four of those strikes serving as the match-opening goal.Operating dynamically down the left flank, Simic's clinical edge and ability to strike early make him Sabah's most potent attacking threat. If Hapoel Be'er Sheva fail to contain his movement in transition, Simic could once again prove to be the difference-maker on European football's biggest stage.🟢 Safe Bet (Low Risk)Sabah +1.5 Asian Handicap / Double Chance or Draw🟡 Smart Bet (Medium Risk)Both Teams to Score – Yes🔴 Long Shot (High Risk)Correct Score – 1-1 DrawDisclaimer: Whilst we do our utmost to offer good advice and information, we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.