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Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs. Southampton: Watch Europa League Online

By James Dudko

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Dusan Tadic of Southampton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on August 19, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Dusan Tadic of Southampton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on August 19, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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Southampton are on a roll under new manager Claude Puel, but a daunting trip to Israel in the Europa League awaits.

The Saints are set to face Hapoel Be’er Sheva FC, a side currently third in the Israeli Premier League. They also pushed Celtic all the way in the Champions League playoffs, before entering Europe’s second competition.

Hapoel beat the Hoops comfortably in the second leg, winning 2-0. It wasn’t enough to avoid a 5-4 aggregate defeat, but the result should ensure Puel doesn’t take them lightly.

The Frenchman has guided the Saints superbly since succeeding Ronald Koeman as manager. His impact has been summed up by the tournament’s official site:

But it’s a run under a not insignificant threat given the key players set to miss out. Among them are towering centre-forward Charlie Austin, intelligent midfielder Steven Davis and defenders Jose Fonte and Ryan Bertrand. Puel is taking a risk by opting to leave the quartet at home, per Alex Crook of the Daily Star.

However, Puel will still be able to field a starting XI brimming with quality. The quality will be taken care off as long as the mercurial brain of Dusan Tadic is given free reign in the final third.

He’s been the creative talisman for Southampton so far this season. The gifted Serbian can unlock any defence, and is a good bet to release the pace of jet-heeled but misfiring forward Shane Long and roving winger Nathan Redmond.

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If there’s enough guile up front, the Saints should have what it takes to snatch a worthy win. Puel knows he can count on a defence led by Virgil van Dijk to keep the door slammed shut at the back.

Date: Thursday, September 29
Start Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Be’er Sheva, Israel
Stadium: Turner Stadium
TV Info: Fox Soccer Plus
Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go

The Saints got their European campaign off to a winning star, thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Sparta Prague last time out. The next step is to seize control of Group K, but that can only happen if Puel’s men leave Israel with all three points.

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