Be'er Sheva Replaces Kings Kangwa with Eliel Peretz Ahead of Red Star Belgrade Clash

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to face Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday in the first leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League. This match marks the team's first competitive game since the departure of their key midfielder Kings Kangwa, who was sold to Panathinaikos for a substantial fee. Coach Ran Kozuch announced the starting lineup, with Eliel Peretz starting in place of Kangwa. Peretz, who was among the top performers in the league last season with six goals and five assists, had previously come off the bench in the second qualifying round matches against Icelandic champions Vikingur, where he impressed after entering in the 57th minute.

In the upcoming match, Peretz will start alongside defensive midfielder Niv Yehoshua, who is expected to focus on ball distribution, while Peretz will take on a more attacking role seeking open spaces. Red Star Belgrade enters the game as the clear favorite, aiming to control possession, which could open opportunities for Be'er Sheva to counterattack. The club is actively searching for a permanent replacement for Kangwa and plans to invest significant resources in acquiring a new midfielder. Be'er Sheva has committed to a European campaign this season, with a minimum bonus of 3.17 million euros, in addition to approximately 3.8 million euros earned from Kangwa's transfer.