Hapoel Be'er Sheva Draws Tough Opponents Including Juventus in Europa League

Hapoel Be'er Sheva faces a challenging Europa League campaign starting in the 2026 season, with a tough group including European giants Juventus, Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Belgian Union Saint-Gilloise, Croatian Dinamo Zagreb, English Bournemouth, Turkish Besiktas, Spanish Celta Vigo, and Greek OFI Crete.

Juventus, a historic powerhouse with one Champions League title and 36 Serie A championships, underwent a major summer overhaul under coach Luciano Spalletti, spending 158 million euros on new players like Randal Kolo Muani and Guillermo Vicarro. Juventus has previously met Israeli teams, including Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

AZ Alkmaar, featuring former Maccabi Tel Aviv player Wesley Fofana and young talent Kees Smith, plays at the 19,500-seat AFAS Stadium. The club lost star striker Troy Parrott this summer but has a solid European history against Israeli teams.

Bournemouth makes its European debut after finishing sixth in the Premier League, having sold Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City. Key players include Junior Kropi and Justin Kluivert, with a major signing of defender Antonio Silva for 25 million euros.

Celta Vigo, sixth in La Liga last season, has a rich European past but no prior matches against Israeli clubs. Their squad includes captain Iago Aspas and promising defender Javi Rodriguez.

Besiktas, familiar to Israeli fans from recent matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv, strengthened their squad with Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic and winger Leandro Trossard. The club has a strong record against Israeli teams.

Dinamo Zagreb, a dominant Croatian club with 26 league titles, previously eliminated Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2018/19 but currently features rising star Dion Drenko, who scored 31 goals last season.

Union Saint-Gilloise, owned by Tony Bloom since 2018, won the Belgian league in 2024/25 and is coached by former Hapoel Be'er Sheva player Shahar David Huber. The club has competed regularly in European tournaments recently.

OFI Crete, the smallest club in the group, is considered the most beatable opponent. The Greek team has limited European experience and a lower market value than Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Israeli midfielder Dan Glazer previously played for OFI.

This diverse and competitive group sets a demanding stage for Hapoel Be'er Sheva's European adventure, with historic clubs and emerging teams from top leagues across Europe.