Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Tough Opponents Including Juventus in Europa League Group Stage

Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the Israeli football champion, has been drawn into a challenging group for the upcoming Europa League season starting mid-September. The group includes some of Europe's most prestigious clubs such as Juventus from Italy, as well as strong teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, England, Spain, Turkey, and Greece. The first round of matches will take place on September 16-17.

Juventus stands out as the most formidable opponent, boasting 36 Italian league titles, 15 cups, and multiple European trophies including two Champions League wins. Despite a recent disappointing season that saw them miss out on the Champions League, Juventus remains a powerhouse with notable players like Kenan Yildiz, Randal Kolo Muani, and Jonathan David under coach Luciano Spalletti. Juventus has a history with Israeli clubs, having faced Maccabi Haifa multiple times in the Champions League group stages.

Other notable opponents include Bournemouth from England, who finished sixth in the Premier League last season and qualified for European competition for the first time, and Union Saint-Gilloise from Belgium, a historic club recently revived to top-tier success with Israeli player Enan Khalili contributing to their 2025 league title and 2026 cup win. AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands, Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, Spanish side Celta Vigo, Turkish club Besiktas, and Greek team OFI Crete complete the group. Dinamo Zagreb notably defeated Be'er Sheva heavily in 2018 Champions League qualifiers.

Each club brings its own history and strengths, making Be'er Sheva's Europa League campaign a significant test. The Israeli champions will look to measure themselves against these established European teams, with the Juventus match expected to be the highlight of their group stage.

Summary: Hapoel Be'er Sheva has been drawn into a tough Europa League group featuring Juventus and other strong European clubs, with matches starting in mid-September. The Israeli champions face a challenging campaign against historically successful teams from across Europe, including a notable past defeat by Dinamo Zagreb and a chance to compete against Juventus, a European football giant.