Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Uphill Battle Against Red Star Belgrade Without Key Players

Hapoel Be'er Sheva, under owner Alona Barkat's leadership for two decades, has achieved many Israeli football milestones but still aims to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. This season, their chances appear slimmer as they prepare for the third qualifying round match against Red Star Belgrade in Hungary on August 4, 2026, at 20:30. The Israeli champions will face a stronger opponent without their star player Kings Kangwa, who recently transferred to Panathinaikos, and no adequate replacement has been secured yet.

The squad also lacks the presence of Dan Biton, who has not returned to training, and the club's hoped-for significant summer signings have not materialized. The defense is notably weakened after the departure of Or Blorian to Kansas City and the aging of Miguel Vitor, with only young Itay Rotman showing promise. The club's attempts to find a quality central defender have so far failed, leaving a critical gap.

On the flanks, Portuguese defender Pedro Amador recently signed but is still adapting, so left-back Matan Baltaksa is expected to start. The team also seeks a foreign winger to compensate for Biton's absence. Coach Ran Kozuch and analysts describe the team as slow, a disadvantage against Red Star's pace. Despite securing European competition for the season, likely the Conference League at worst, the current squad is not yet at the required level.

Logistical issues have compounded the challenges, with the team's flight delayed by two hours and a late-night border crossing into Hungary. Additionally, only about 200 Be'er Sheva fans traveled to support the team, far fewer than the thousands accompanying Red Star. The tense security situation in Israel has also complicated foreign player recruitment, exemplified by Dylan Batubinsika's last-minute decision to join a Romanian club instead of Be'er Sheva due to fears of renewed conflict with Iran.

The upcoming match and the return leg at Red Star's intimidating "Marakana" stadium will test Be'er Sheva's resilience and depth as they strive to fulfill Barkat's long-standing Champions League dream.