Serbian Media Criticize Lukassen After Red Star's Loss to Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a significant 1-0 away victory against Red Star Belgrade on August 4, 2026, in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. The win gives the Israeli champions an important advantage heading into the return leg. Serbian media outlets analyzed Red Star's disappointing performance, focusing criticism on defender Kristijan Lukassen. Informer described Lukassen as "thrown into the deep end and burned," questioning why a player valued at 10 million euros was left on the bench. They attributed the goal conceded largely to Lukassen's poor coordination with the goalkeeper and noted he nearly worsened the situation with a potential red card. However, the outlet also acknowledged that the entire team underperformed, struggling with Be'er Sheva's pressure and frequently losing possession.

Red Star's coach, Dejan Stanković, defended Lukassen, suggesting the defender may have lacked confidence as it was his first match since the World Cup. Stanković expressed confidence that Lukassen would perform better in the second leg, emphasizing the player's experience and importance to the team despite limited recent playing time. He confirmed his intention to start Lukassen again, not out of stubbornness but necessity for the upcoming match.

The return leg is set to determine which team advances further in the Champions League qualifiers, with Red Star needing to overturn the deficit at home. The Serbian media's scrutiny highlights the pressure on Lukassen and the team to improve their performance in the decisive match.