Thursday evening sees a winner takes it all clash on the south coast.
It is crunch time for Southampton’s European campaign on Thursday evening. Both Saints and their Israeli opponents Hapoel Be’er Sheva are on seven points from five group games, with Claude Puel’s men currently ahead on goal difference going into the match.
This means Saints must simply avoid defeat at St Mary’s to seal their progress, but to do so they will have to vastly improve on their performance from Saturday; the 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace was littered with individual errors and wasteful finishing.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring against Inter
The Key Battle – Charlie Austin vs Miguel Vitor
Austin has been Southampton’s leading marksman this season, with nine goals to his name in all competitions, but he has not found the net on the European stage since the first group match against Sparta Prague.
Vitor has been an ever-present for the hosts and will be doing his utmost to keep the prolific 27-year-old quiet.
Southampton’s Charlie Austin scores their first goal against Sparta Prague
Last Meeting:
September’s goalless draw in Israel – a match which is likely to have been forgotten by most who watched it – is the only time these two teams have met before
Recent form (all competitions) – most recent last:
Southampton – LDLWWL
Hapoel Be’er Sheva – LWWWWW
Southampton’s Shane Long in action with Hapoel Be’er-Sheva’s Loai Taha
Who’s the ref?
Paolo Tagliavento will be in charge at St Mary’s.
The Itailan has shown 35 yellow cards and one red in his eight matches in all competitions this season.
What time is kick off?
The match starts at 8.05pm.
Where can I watch it?
Southampton v Hapoel Be’er Sheva is live on BT Sport 2, with build-up beginning at 7.45pm.
Odds
Southampton – 4/9
Draw – 100/30
Hapoel Be’er Sheva – 15/2
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
