On Thursday occurs the sixth and last game in Group C of UEFA Europe League. The Israeli representative Hapoel Tel Aviv hosts the German challenger Hamburger SV.
The only remaining open question in this group is: Who gets first place? While HSV a draw would suffice for first rank, Hapoel has to win the direct duell to go on first position to knock-out round. The top team is set for the next round in spring and stages his return leg in front of his home crowd.
Hapeol Tel Aviv surprised in the Europe league yet. In the championship Ligat ha'Al the force of coach Eli Gutman as a runner is already nine points behind title holder Maccabi Haifa, although Hapoel rattled off an impressive series of eight unbeaten games currently (7 wins, 1 draw). In between, the young team headed by Bundesliga-proved Nemanja Vucicevic suffered a defeat in European Cup against Celtic FC (0:2).
At last without a real sense of achievement in the Bundesliga, Hamburger SV set with a clear 4-0 away win at the 1. FC Nuremberg an example. On the European stage the team gained from the Hanseatic city only good results, except a 0:3-defeat against Rapid Vienna in the opening game. Given the injury crisis which the HSV suffered during this season, the fifth place in the championship and the fixed promotion in the EL is a remarkable intermediate result.
Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Hamburger SV
UEFA Europe League - Group C, Matchday 6
Thursday, 17th of December 2009, 19:00 CET
Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv
First leg:
HSV - Hapoel 4:2 (3:1)
Goals: 1:0 Marcus Berg (5.); 2:0 Marcus Berg (12.); 2:1 Itay Shechter (37.); 3:1 Eljero Elia (40.); 3:2 Samuel Yeboah (62.); 4:2 Ze Roberto (78.)
Tip: Draw
The best odd for our tip X is 3,40 at bwin.
