Hapoel Be'er Sheva Prepares Early for Champions League Clash in Iceland

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to begin its journey to Iceland in the coming hours ahead of their UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Vikingur Reykjavik. In an unusual move, the team will arrive nearly four days before the game to acclimate to the cold, rainy weather and the synthetic pitch where the match will be held on Tuesday. Owner Alona Barkat arranged a special seven-hour flight to the northern country to ensure the squad has ample time to adjust.

Joao Victor will miss the trip due to a hamstring tear and is expected to also miss the return leg next week. However, Mohamed Abu Romi is likely to return to the starting lineup for the upcoming match. The squad will include all suspended players who are now eligible, such as Javon East, Hamudi Kna'an, Zehai Ahmed, Jibril Diop, who is expected to start, and Samir Prahoud. Barkat's cautious approach reflects the club's intent to minimize risks ahead of this crucial Champions League qualifier.