Serbian Media Doubt Red Star Belgrade Ahead of Crucial Hapoel Be'er Sheva Clash

Ahead of the UEFA Champions League playoff second leg at the Marakana stadium, Serbian media express concern over Red Star Belgrade's prospects against Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The Israeli team arrives with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, aiming to secure a historic first participation in Europe's premier club competition. Despite Red Star's recent 2-0 league win against Novi Pazar, Serbian outlets highlight a troubling historical record against Israeli clubs, noting that Israeli teams have won all five previous encounters dating back to 2005.

Coach Dejan Stanković faces the possibility of a fourth Champions League qualifying round elimination, having last failed against Maccabi Haifa. Serbian media criticized Red Star's poor performance in the first leg, calling it the club's worst in European qualifiers. Stanković defended his decision to field Derrick Luckassen, a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player who contributed to Red Star conceding a goal, stating he would take the risk again and expects Luckassen to make a difference in the return match.

A sharp column in Mundo questioned the absence of leadership within Red Star's squad, lamenting the silence and lack of influence from senior players after the first leg. The article emphasized that the team lacks leaders in the dressing room to inspire and guide the squad ahead of this critical fixture. The Serbian media's overall tone suggests skepticism about Red Star's ability to overturn the deficit and progress in the Champions League.