Hapoel Beer Sheva Draws First Half Against OFI Crete in Europa League

Hapoel Beer Sheva is currently facing OFI Crete in Romania in the fourth round of the Europa League, seeking their first win in the competition. The Israeli team, coached by Ran Kozuch, has accumulated only one point from their first three matches and desperately needs a victory to improve their chances of advancing to the next stage. This European struggle contrasts sharply with their strong domestic form, where they have secured six consecutive wins in Israeli competitions, scoring 17 goals. In Europe, however, their record is a mere point from a possible nine, accompanied by unconvincing performances. A potentially encouraging statistic for Beer Sheva is their single loss in their last 12 home games in Europe, although many of these, like the current match, were played on neutral grounds.

The Greek opponent, OFI Crete, is also looking to turn their fortunes around. They began their European campaign with a 2-0 victory over Hoffenheim but subsequently lost their next two matches, including a 2-0 defeat to Leverkusen. Last weekend, they secured a 1-0 win against Pantolikos, ending a streak of five losses in their previous six games across all competitions. Their away record is also concerning, with five losses in eight matches.

Goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, who made 18 saves in the first three rounds, the second-highest tally before the current round, will be crucial for Beer Sheva's efforts to keep a clean sheet. On the other hand, OFI Crete's offense relies heavily on Tiago Nos, who has scored in nine of their last ten games where he found the net, posing a significant threat that Beer Sheva's defense must contain. The starting lineups for both teams were also provided.