Austria Vienna Veteran Admits Beitar Jerusalem Is a Level Above Ahead of Conference League Clash

Austria Vienna, set to face Beitar Jerusalem in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, is preparing for a challenging tie after Beitar advanced past AEK Larnaca on penalties. The first leg will be played on August 6 in Romania, with the return leg on August 13 away. The winner will move on to the playoff round, where Beitar will face a tough draw as an unseeded team.

Reinhold Ranftl, a seasoned Austria Vienna player, recalled a heavy 4-0 defeat to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2022 and acknowledged Beitar Jerusalem as a stronger side, stating, "It will be a serious challenge, Beitar is a level above us." However, he emphasized that the domestic league remains the club's priority, calling European competition a bonus. Austria Vienna's coach, Stefan Halm, took a cautious stance, noting that Beitar is roughly on par with their level, similar to Banik Ostrava last year, and stressed the need for full effort to advance.

Austria Vienna is a prestigious Austrian club with a rich history, boasting 24 league titles and 27 cups, and a notable European presence. The club has a strong Israeli connection, having featured at least eight Israeli players over time, including Shay Holtzman, Omer Damari, Alon Turgeman, Roi Kehat, and Doron Leidner. After overcoming financial difficulties, Austria Vienna finished fourth in the Austrian league last season. Their squad is valued at approximately 23 million euros, compared to Beitar's estimated 17 million euros. Key players include veteran defender Aleksandar Dragović and top scorer Johannes Eggestein from last season.