AIK arrived in Tel-Aviv looking for a 0-0 draw and they managed to get it.  Hapoel stroked the ball around nicely but struggled to make chances against a packed AIK defence.  The home side will feel they did enough to pick up the win but when they did make chances they either couldn't beat the goalie or hit the target.  AIK did have occasional moments of promise themselves but attacking was definitely not their priority.  In the past a goalless draw away from home would have been viewed as a good result but without an away goal AIK are still leaving themselves open to the break in the return tie.  Hapoel are capable of playing quick passing football and they will still believe they have a great chance of progressing.

The home side elected to go with Fabio and Asulin in attack and this pair looked lively while on the pitch.  Their movement was good and gave the defence plenty of problems but they lacked their usual cutting edge.  Badir was, as ever, the important link in the midfield as he was willing to both take the ball from the defence and push forward to support the attack.  AIK selected a negative 4-5-1 formation with Obolo being left as the lone striker.  Monsalvo joined Stephenson and Johnson in a midfield three as the visitors looked to choke the middle of the park.  In the main they were successful but they would have wanted to push forward more.  Carlsson was given a run out ahead of Patrik Karlsson and he came into the centre of defence with Arnefjord pushing out side.  Carlsson will come in for the season defining derby against Djurgarden on Monday due to suspension and this was effectively a warm up game for him.

The game took a while to get going as AIK sat back deeply and Hapoel weren't quite ready to throw men forward.  Eventually the home side managed to start getting into the final third and but they couldn't capitalise on getting into some good wide positions.  Remarkably the first chance fell to the visitors but Tjernstrom's shot lacked the direction to trouble the 'keeper who saved easily.  Towards the end of the first half Fabio got into a good position but his shot went over the bar as well as Orlund.  The second half followed a very similar pattern with the hosts passing well but struggling to break down the defence.  AIK gave up attacking altogether as the match progressed but although Orlund was tested on a couple of occasions he didn't have anything too extreme to deal with.  A bombardment of crosses failed to produce a last gasp chance for Hapoel and AIK held on.

Any time a side goes away from home and defends for a 0-0, credit has to be given to them for getting it.  It wasn't the best to watch but AIK wanted to ensure they had a 50-50 chance going into the home leg and they have that.  Hapoel probably didn't think they could kill off the game in the first leg but they would have wanted some advantage to take to Stockholm.  They are not out yet though.