AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva: lineups, prediction, bet builder tips and odds for Thursday's Europa League clash. Betting angle ahead of kick-off.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Match Summary
Competition | Europa League (2026/2027) |
|---|---|
Match Date | Thursday 15 October 2026 |
Match Time | 17:45 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Alkmaar, AFAS Stadion |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | TNT Sport Extra (UK) |
AZ Alkmaar host Hapoel Beer Sheva at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday, with both sides still hunting a first Europa League win of the campaign.
AZ lost their European opener 1-0 at Sunderland, but home is a different story. The hosts are unbeaten in their last 13 major European matches at the AFAS Stadion.
Hapoel Beer Sheva land in Alkmaar with no confirmed absentees and a defence that has not been breached for 371 minutes. Ran Kozuch's side are stubborn, organised and comfortable without the ball.
Those home odds of 4/11 with 10Bet look fair given the gulf in attacking depth on show here. Hapoel are outsiders, but no pushovers.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Form
Domestic form has wobbled to match the European defeat at Sunderland. A 2-0 loss at Feyenoord ended AZ's unbeaten Eredivisie start and cost them top spot, with an early Wouter Goes error proving costly. They had plenty of the ball but no cutting edge, which puts the onus on Mexx Meerdink and Ro-Zangelo Daal.
Hapoel arrive in far better nick, unbeaten in four in all competitions. A goalless draw with Dinamo Zagreb opened their European account, and the weekend win at Ironi Tiberias came courtesy of second-half goals from substitutes João Victor and Amankwah Forson. João Victor is the man to watch, with the forward set to start.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
AZ Alkmaar: Kees Smit (Injured/out), Stije Resink (Injured/out), Jizz Hornkamp (Injured/out)
Hapoel Beer Sheva: No confirmed absentees
AZ Alkmaar
The team news here shows Lee-Roy Echteld without Kees Smit, Stije Resink and Jizz Hornkamp, which thins out his options in midfield and attack. Jordy Clasie and Peer Koopmeiners should form the engine room, with Dave Kwakman further forward and Ro-Zangelo Daal providing the direct threat from the left around Mexx Meerdink.
Hapoel Beer Sheva
Ran Kozuch has a full squad to pick from. Amankwah Forson, Lucas Ventura and Mohammed Kna'an are expected to form the midfield three tasked with protecting the back four, while João Victor returns after scoring at the weekend to support Igor Zlatanović. Expect the visitors' threat to come on the break rather than through sustained possession.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Predicted Lineup
AZ Alkmaar
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Jari De Busser; Elijah Dijkstra, Wouter Goes, Lewis Schouten, Mateo Chávez; Peer Koopmeiners, Jordy Clasie; Ayoub Oufkir, Dave Kwakman, Ro-Zangelo Daal; Mexx Meerdink
Hapoel Beer Sheva
Formation: 4-3-3 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Ofir Marciano; Guy Mizrahi, Djibril Diop, Miguel Vítor, Pedro Amador; Amankwah Forson, Lucas Ventura, Mohammed Kna'an; Javon East, Igor Zlatanović, João Victor
Check out all the latest oddschecker Free Bets & Sign-Up Offers for AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: AZ win, but Hapoel get on the scoresheet. The hosts are projected for 2.45 goals, which leans this fixture firmly towards the home side. Hapoel's projection of 1.05 says they can nick one on the break, so we see an AZ win with goals at both ends rather than a shutout.
Best Bets
Over 2.5 in the Total Goals Over/Under market. AZ Alkmaar are projected to dominate a visiting side expected to be stretched. The projections point to a total of 3.5 goals, comfortably clear of this line. AZ's attack should do the heavy lifting, but this bet does not need Hapoel to stay quiet either.
Yes in the Both Teams To Score market. Hapoel Beer Sheva carry a counter-attacking threat against an AZ side missing several attackers and midfielders. The projection puts both teams scoring at a 59.4% implied probability, a touch above what the best price suggests. Hapoel's recent clean sheets are the obvious worry, but AZ have conceded in each of their last two outings.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Bet Builder
This four-leg bet builder tips back an AZ win, Mexx Meerdink to score anytime, both teams to score and Eliel Peretz to be shown a card.
AZ Alkmaar to win: The hosts have the greater attacking depth and a strong European home record. Hapoel are stubborn, but they will spend long spells without the ball here.
Mexx Meerdink to score anytime: Meerdink leads the line in the 4-2-3-1, and his movement should test a Hapoel back line set to defend deep. With Hornkamp out, the goals fall on him.
Both teams to score: Hapoel's threat comes on the break, with Javon East and João Victor flanking Igor Zlatanović. An AZ side chasing goals will leave gaps behind.
Eliel Peretz to be shown a card: This is the punt of the four, there to lift the price. A messy fixture with one side camped in its own half tends to keep the referee busy.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 10/1 and is as short as 17/2 elsewhere.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Talking Points
Hapoel have been staging their continental home fixtures at neutral venues because of security conditions, opening their campaign in Bucharest, so a trip to Alkmaar will not faze them. Wouter Goes has a point to prove after his error at Feyenoord, and Radoslav Gidzhenov takes charge with Lukas Fähndrich on VAR. Hapoel are 15/2 with Betfair Sportsbook for the upset, but goals and a home win remain the stronger case on the balance of what is on show.
AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Predictions FAQs
When is the AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva Europa League game?
The match kicks off at 17:45 UK time on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Where is AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva being played?
The match is being played at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar.
Where can I watch AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva?
The match is listed on TNT Sport Extra in the UK.
What competition is AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Beer Sheva in?
The match is a Europa League fixture in the 2026/2027 season.
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