Striker Igor Zlatanović Proves Crucial for Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Hapoel Be'er Sheva's striker Igor Zlatanović, who led the team to a championship last season with 14 goals, remains the team's barometer despite the presence of other capable foreign forwards. Although he has only scored two league goals this season, his recent match-winning performance against Hapoel Jerusalem, where he scored twice in a 2-1 victory after coming on as a substitute, highlighted his importance. The team's coach, Ran Kozuch, who previously managed Zlatanović in Netanya, expressed his belief in the Serbian striker, urging patience from fans. Zlatanović's impact was also felt in European competitions, where he scored three goals in qualifying matches before an injury sidelined him, leading to subsequent losses for Be'er Sheva. His return has coincided with three consecutive league wins for the team.

Be'er Sheva is set to face Union Saint-Gilloise in their third Europa League match, to be played in Dusseldorf without spectators due to the Belgian team's reluctance to host Israeli fans. Zlatanović is expected to start, aiming for his first goal in the competition and a crucial win for his team. Union Saint-Gilloise, currently fourth in the Belgian league and undefeated alongside leaders Gent, recently won their first league title in 81 years and also secured the Belgian Cup last season. The team previously featured Israeli player Anan Khalaili, who was sold to Crystal Palace for a record fee.

The Belgian club's coach, David Huber, has a past connection with Hapoel Be'er Sheva, having played for them briefly in 2014. Huber, who also coached Union Saint-Gilloise to a cup victory, has seen his team perform well this season in both domestic and European play, including a draw against Real Sociedad and a win against Viktoria Plzen. Be'er Sheva will be without defenders Idan Nachmias and midfielder Lucas Ventura due to injuries sustained in recent matches, with Ventura's injury potentially requiring a lengthy recovery period.