Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Greatest European Upsets Ahead of Red Star Clash

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to face Red Star Belgrade in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, marking another chapter in the club's European history. Despite being underdogs against the experienced Serbian side, Be'er Sheva has a notable record of surprising stronger European teams. Historically, the club's European achievements have been limited, often ending in early exits before the era of owner Alona Barkat and the Turner Stadium. However, the team has recorded five remarkable victories, mostly from a single memorable season.

Among notable recent matches, Be'er Sheva defeated Ludogorets 2-0 on July 26, 2017, securing a playoff spot despite a tough second leg. In December 2020, they won 1-0 against Nice in a crowdless stadium during the COVID-19 pandemic, and earlier that year, they beat Viktoria Plzen 1-0 to reach the Europa League group stage.

The top five historic European moments include a near miss against Celtic in August 2016, where a missed penalty and a 2-0 home win fell short after a 5-2 away loss. In August 2016, a 1-0 home victory over Olympiacos, thanks to Shir Tzedek's late goal, allowed Be'er Sheva to advance unexpectedly. In December 2016, a 1-1 draw at Southampton secured Be'er Sheva's first-ever knockout stage qualification, highlighted by Maor Buzaglo's crucial goal.

A landmark win came in September 2016 at San Siro, where Be'er Sheva defeated Inter Milan 2-0, becoming the first Israeli team to win at the iconic stadium. The pinnacle was a thrilling 3-2 home victory over Inter in November 2016, overturning a 0-2 deficit with late goals including a stoppage-time winner by Ben Sahar, cementing a historic double triumph over the former European champions.

These moments underscore Be'er Sheva's capacity to defy expectations in European competitions, setting the stage for their upcoming challenge against Red Star Belgrade.