AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Be'er Sheva Preview: Dutch Hosts Seek European Response at AFAS Stadion. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Backing Both Teams To Score (Yes) reflects AZ Alkmaar’s strong home resilience and Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s ability to score away. Defensive gaps on both sides and the return of Eliel Peretz enhance the likelihood of goals from both teams despite AZ's recent attacking struggles.
AZ Alkmaar’s strong home record and Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s defensive vulnerabilities support a narrow 2-1 home win. Despite recent attacking struggles, the visitors’ ability to score and concede in Europe makes this exact score credible.
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REGISTER FREE & UNLOCK TIP →Already registered? Log in18+ · Historical results only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Betting involves risk.AZ Alkmaar welcome Hapoel Be'er Sheva to AFAS Stadion on Thursday, 15 October, with both sides searching for their first victory of the Europa League league phase.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Be’er-Sheva — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
AZ Alkmaar's unbeaten home run and Hapoel Be'er Sheva's qualifier wins frame the result.
AZ Alkmaar's unbeaten home run and Hapoel Be'er Sheva's qualifier wins frame the result.
Both sides have shown scoring and conceding tendencies, supporting a goals market.
AZ Alkmaar's home form and Hapoel Be'er Sheva's defensive frailty support a 2-1 scoreline.
Three Punchy Stats
- 16 matches: AZ's current unbeaten home sequence across competitions.
- 19 matches: AZ's unbeaten run before Sunderland ended it.
- Four victories: Be'er Sheva's wins across six European qualification matches.
Corner Count Comparison
Recent attacking records for AZ Alkmaar and Hapoel Be'er-Sheva are shown below.
Clean Sheet Streaks
Recent defensive records for AZ Alkmaar and Hapoel Be'er-Sheva are shown below.
Leeroy Echteld's side suffered a narrow opening defeat against Sunderland, while Ran Kozuch's visitors held Dinamo Zagreb to a goalless draw. With AZ looking to protect an impressive home record and Be'er Sheva arriving in encouraging domestic form, this encounter presents an intriguing test of contrasting strengths.
AZ Alkmaar Looking to Rediscover Their Momentum
AZ entered their European opener against Sunderland unbeaten in 19 matches, but a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light brought that sequence to an abrupt end.
Their subsequent results have offered mixed encouragement. A narrow victory over Telstar briefly lifted the Cheese Farmers to the Eredivisie summit before a 2-0 defeat against Feyenoord saw them surrender top spot.
That Rotterdam setback exposed attacking shortcomings. Despite enjoying 57% possession, AZ registered just one shot on target, underlining their difficulty turning territorial control into meaningful opportunities.
Nevertheless, their performances in Alkmaar provide considerable reassurance.
AZ have gone 16 consecutive home matches without defeat since losing 3-1 against NEC in January. That resilience gives Echteld's players a strong platform as they attempt to recover from a run featuring just one victory in four outings.
The hosts must also improve their European attacking output after failing to score against Sunderland. With home advantage and greater pressure to dictate proceedings, their ability to create clear openings could determine Thursday's outcome.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Carry an Away-Day Threat
Hapoel Be'er Sheva approach this fixture with renewed confidence following consecutive domestic victories, including a 2-0 success away against Ironi Tiberias.
Their Europa League opener against Dinamo Zagreb ended goalless, leaving Kozuch's team ahead of AZ in the early standings.
The Israeli outfit have faced unusual circumstances during their continental campaign, with their European home fixtures taking place at neutral venues because of the Gaza war.
Despite that disruption, they recorded four victories across six qualification matches, demonstrating their capacity to compete beyond domestic football.
Their 5-2 defeat against Sabah highlighted defensive vulnerabilities, however, and AZ will hope to exploit similar weaknesses.
Be'er Sheva's recent away performances also suggest they should not be underestimated. Their competitive record indicates a side capable of remaining difficult to overcome even when facing stronger opposition.
That resilience could become particularly important if the visitors can frustrate AZ during the opening stages and prevent the Dutch side from establishing an early advantage.
Team News and Tactical Outlook
AZ remain without Jizz Hornkamp, Kees Smit and Stije Resink, with the latter recovering from an ACL injury.
Ro-Zangelo Daal has failed to register a goal or assist across three consecutive appearances, increasing the attacking responsibility on Mexx Meerdink and Valdemar Byskov.
Jordy Clasie and Peer Koopmeiners could provide the midfield foundation, allowing AZ's attacking players to operate in advanced positions.
For Be'er Sheva, Dan Biton remains unavailable because of a heart issue, although Djibril Diop and Eliel Peretz return to contention after suspension.
Peretz offers a particularly important attacking outlet, having contributed two league goals and an assist. His movement from midfield could trouble AZ whenever the visitors transition forward.
Match Prediction: AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
AZ's formidable home record makes them favourites to respond, but their recent attacking struggles suggest a comfortable victory is far from assured.
Be'er Sheva have demonstrated enough resilience and attacking quality to make this competitive, particularly with Peretz available again.
However, AZ's ability to control possession, combined with their unbeaten home sequence, could ultimately provide the decisive advantage in a closely contested European encounter.
How It Settles
For Both Teams To Score (Yes) to win, AZ Alkmaar and Hapoel Be’er Sheva must each score at least one goal during 90 minutes plus stoppage time. The final match result is irrelevant; a 1-1 draw, a 2-1 home win, or a 1-3 away victory would all secure a successful bet. If either team keeps a clean sheet, or if the match finishes 0-0, the selection loses.
Other opportunities in this market
Both Teams To Score (No): This requires at least one side to fail to score across 90 minutes plus stoppage time. It covers any clean sheet or a 0-0 draw, trading the requirement for two capable attacks for a reliance on defensive solidity or final-third struggles.
📊 Market Explainer
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
Selection: BTTS Yes. Both teams must score at least once during normal time. The match winner does not matter; the selection is settled only by whether each side finds the net.
Correct Score Market
Selection: AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva 2-1. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
🎯 Pick 1: BTTS Yes @ 20/23
Backing Both Teams To Score (Yes) relies on the intersection of AZ Alkmaar’s formidable home record and Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s established capacity to find the net on the road. The Israeli visitors arrive on the back of consecutive domestic victories, including a 2-0 success away at Ironi Tiberias, demonstrating their ability to score away from home. AZ Alkmaar boast an imposing 16-match unbeaten sequence at the AFAS Stadion across all competitions, giving them a reliable platform to dictate proceedings and test the opposition goalkeeper.
The tactical matchup highlights defensive gaps that both sides can exploit. AZ Alkmaar retain the ball comfortably, holding 57% possession in their recent defeat to Feyenoord, but they left spaces in transition and conceded twice. Hapoel Be’er Sheva can capitalise on those transitional moments, particularly with midfielder Eliel Peretz returning from suspension to add his two league goals and one assist to their attacking options. Conversely, the visitors displayed severe defensive frailty during qualification when Sabah scored five times against them. Operating from advanced positions ahead of Jordy Clasie and Peer Koopmeiners, the Dutch side’s forwards can uncover similar structural weaknesses.
The principal evidence working against this selection is AZ Alkmaar’s recent bluntness in the final third. They failed to score against Sunderland and registered just one shot on target against Feyenoord despite controlling the ball, while Ro-Zangelo Daal remains without a goal contribution in three appearances. However, their 16-match resilience at home suggests they can rediscover offensive traction in familiar surroundings. With Hapoel Be’er Sheva demonstrating both an ability to win European qualifiers and a tendency to concede heavily in them, both sides scoring offers a coherent reflection of the provided form.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva conceded five times against Sabah, highlighting continental defensive vulnerability.
- AZ Alkmaar allowed two goals against Feyenoord despite holding 57% of the possession.
- Eliel Peretz returns from suspension, having contributed two league goals and an assist for the visitors.
Risk Factor: The BTTS Yes selection will lose if AZ Alkmaar’s recent attacking difficulties persist and they fail to score, or if they secure a clean sheet against the visitors.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Unbeaten in 16 consecutive home matches since January, establishing the AFAS Stadion as a reliable platform.
Conceded five times in a heavy qualification defeat against Sabah, revealing gaps when facing continental opposition.
⚔️ Pick 2: AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva 2-1 @ 15/2
The Correct Score market requires the match to finish with the exact predicted scoreline at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. For a 2-1 selection to win, AZ Alkmaar must score exactly twice, and Hapoel Be’er Sheva must score exactly once. Any other final result—including 1-0, 1-1, or 3-1—causes the bet to lose entirely.
Match Result (AZ Alkmaar to win): This requires the Dutch side to hold the lead at full-time, regardless of the exact scoreline. It covers a 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 or 3-0 victory, sacrificing the longer odds of the Correct Score market to remove the vulnerability to a single unexpected goal.
Backing AZ Alkmaar to score exactly twice rests on their formidable history at the AFAS Stadion meeting Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s proven defensive fragility. The Israeli side conceded five times against Sabah during qualification, revealing acute structural weaknesses when tested in continental competition. While AZ Alkmaar only managed one shot on target in their defeat to Feyenoord, their 16-match unbeaten home run suggests they can re-establish their attacking rhythm in familiar surroundings. With Clasie and Koopmeiners anchoring the midfield, forwards Mexx Meerdink and Valdemar Byskov possess the platform to exploit the exact gaps Sabah uncovered and reach the necessary two goals.
For the visitors’ side of the scoreline, Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s recent away form supports their ability to secure a single goal. They recorded four victories across six qualification fixtures despite playing their designated home matches at neutral venues, and they recently secured a 2-0 domestic win at Ironi Tiberias. The return of Eliel Peretz from suspension gives them a productive outlet. His two league goals and one assist make him a direct threat, especially against an AZ side that surrendered two goals to Feyenoord despite dominating possession.
The correct-score market demands extreme precision, and the principal risk here is a broader lack of goals. AZ Alkmaar enter this fixture with just one victory in four outings, drawing blanks against Sunderland and Feyenoord. If those final-third struggles persist, the hosts may fail to score twice. Nevertheless, the combination of AZ Alkmaar’s formidable home invincibility and Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s demonstrated capacity to both score and concede in European football makes a narrow 2-1 home success a credible outcome.
Risk Factor: This exact 2-1 correct score selection will fail if AZ Alkmaar's recent attacking difficulties prevent them from scoring twice, or if Hapoel Be'er Sheva secure an unexpected clean sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Both Teams to Score (BTTS) market require?
Both teams must score at least one goal in 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
How does the Correct Score market settle?
The match must finish exactly 2-1 to AZ Alkmaar at the end of normal time.
Why is Both Teams to Score selected for this fixture?
Both sides have shown ability to score and concede, making BTTS likely.
What is the main risk to the BTTS selection?
AZ Alkmaar's recent lack of goals threatens the BTTS outcome.
Does AZ Alkmaar's possession guarantee them goals?
No, possession has not translated into goals in recent matches.
How does Eliel Peretz impact the visitors' chances?
He provides a proven attacking outlet with two goals and one assist.
