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

Ahead of the second leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifying round at the Marakana stadium, Serbian media express concern over Red Star Belgrade's chances against Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The Israeli club arrives with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and aims to secure a historic progression to the playoff stage, which would mark their debut in Europe's premier club competition. Despite Red Star's recent domestic form, including a 2-0 league win over Novi Pazar, Serbian outlets highlight a troubling historical record against Israeli teams, noting that Israeli clubs have won all five previous encounters against Serbian opposition in European qualifiers since 2005.

Coach Dejan Stanković faces the prospect of a fourth elimination in Champions League qualifiers, having last failed against Maccabi Haifa. Serbian critics have condemned Red Star's performance in the first leg as their worst in European qualifiers, questioning the tactical decisions and the reliance on players like Derrick Luckassen, a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player who was involved in conceding a goal. Stanković defended his choice to field Luckassen, emphasizing the player's potential impact in the return match.

A sharp commentary in the Serbian sports outlet Mundo lamented the absence of leadership within Red Star's squad, pointing out that senior players remained silent and disengaged after the first leg, signaling deeper issues in the team's morale and unity. The lack of vocal leaders and role models in the dressing room ahead of this critical fixture raises doubts about Red Star's ability to overturn the deficit and advance in the competition.