Hapoel Be'er Sheva Upsets Red Star Belgrade, Advances Odds for Champions League Playoffs

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday night, significantly improving their chances of advancing in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. The win, achieved under coach Ran Kojuch, sets the stage for the second leg next Wednesday at the Marakana stadium in Belgrade.

Following this result, the Football Meets Data (FMData) algorithm adjusted its predictions, now giving Be'er Sheva a 50% chance to progress to the next round, up from 33% before the first match. The algorithm assigns a 24% probability each for a Be'er Sheva win or a draw in the upcoming leg. If Red Star wins by a one-goal margin, the match is expected to proceed to penalties. The most likely scoreline predicted for the second leg is a 1-1 draw.

Looking ahead, FMData forecasts that Be'er Sheva will win the playoff round and qualify for the Champions League group stage, where they are expected to face the winner between Aarhus and Sabah. The recent victory has shifted expectations, underscoring the Israeli champions' competitiveness in European football.