Hapoel glad of chance to advance

Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC will aim to forget a dismal domestic campaign with the prospect of possible UEFA Cup progress when they welcome Aalborg BK to the Bloomfield Stadium in the concluding set of Group G fixtures.

Relegation threat
Hapoel are bottom of the Ligat Ha'Al and under serious threat of what would be only a second relegation in their history. Eli Guttman, appointed earlier this month following Guy Luzon’s dismissal, should be grateful that his side are still in with a chance of qualifying for the Round of 32 following the surprise victory secured by the caretaker coaching team of Yossi Abuksis and Ron Zivlin at Getafe CF on Matchday 3.

Injury woes
The Israeli club have lost nine of their 13 league matches, scoring only five goals, and Guttman will only have a depleted squad at his disposal for tonight's visit of an AaB team who cannot qualify. Hapoel have secured four victories in seven matches in this season's UEFA Cup, but while Guttman’s priority is steer the club out of the relegation zone, the strain of competing in two competitions is taking its toll. Brazilian Gabriel dos Santos pulled out of Tuesday’s training session with a knee problem, joining fellow defenders Tal Chen and Walid Badir on the injury list and leaving Guttman with no choice but to move Congolese midfielder Mazowa Nsumbu to the heart of defence.

Room for improvement
Guttman, who recently returned from a successful spell in Cyprus and has enjoyed previous UEFA Cup success with Hapoel Haifa FC in 1999, said: "The situation at Haifa was very different because we continued our good league form as well. This time round everything is different as Hapoel Tel-Aviv are experiencing a difficult spell. The club is far from enjoying a purple patch but we should see things getting better.”

'Strongest side'
Despite absentees and the relegation scrap, Guttman insisted: "I will field my strongest side and try to advance to the next stage." Hapoel need to win but also require Getafe to beat RSC Anderlecht at home in the section's other fixture. If that match produces a draw, Hapoel will need to win by at least five goals, prompting Guttman to joke: ”We have only scored five goals in 13 league matches and now you expect us to score five in one match?”