Hapoel Be'er Sheva Draws Tough Opponents in UEFA Europa League Group Stage

Hapoel Be'er Sheva faces a challenging UEFA Europa League group stage with matches against European heavyweights including Juventus, AZ Alkmaar, Union Saint-Gilloise, Dinamo Zagreb, Bournemouth, Besiktas, Celta Vigo, and OFI Crete. The draw was announced on August 28, 2026.

Juventus, a historic European powerhouse with one Champions League title and 36 Italian league championships, has undergone a major squad overhaul this summer under coach Luciano Spalletti. The Italian club invested 158 million euros in new signings, including Randal Kolo Muani from PSG and other notable players. Juventus has previously faced Israeli teams like Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv multiple times.

AZ Alkmaar, featuring former Maccabi Tel Aviv player Wesley Hoedt, plays at the 19,500-seat AFAS Stadium and recently lost star striker Troy Parrott. The Dutch club has a history of matches against Israeli teams, with mixed results.

English Premier League newcomer Bournemouth will participate in European competition for the first time, finishing sixth last season. Their squad includes promising talents like Junior Kropi and Justin Kluivert, and they made a significant summer signing in defender Antonio Silva for 25 million euros.

Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo, who finished sixth last season, bring European experience but have never faced Israeli clubs before. Their captain is veteran striker Iago Aspas.

Turkish club Besiktas, familiar to Israeli fans from recent matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv, strengthened their squad with Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović and other notable players. Besiktas has a strong record against Israeli teams.

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, who defeated Hapoel Be'er Sheva decisively in 2018, are currently in a different form but still boast top scorer Dion Drenko, who scored 31 goals last season.

Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, coached by former Hapoel Be'er Sheva player Shahar David-Huber, has risen rapidly in recent years, winning the Belgian league in 2024/25 and regularly competing in European tournaments.

OFI Crete from Greece is considered the weakest opponent, with limited European history and a lower market value than Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Former Israeli player Dan Glazer once played for OFI.

This group presents a formidable challenge for Hapoel Be'er Sheva as they embark on their European campaign against a mix of historic giants and rising clubs.