Hapoel Be'er Sheva Challenges Red Star Belgrade Despite Serbian Criticism

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is performing strongly in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round against Red Star Belgrade. After securing a 1-0 advantage in the first leg, the Israeli champions are pressing hard in the return match in Belgrade, not allowing the home team to leverage their home advantage or reputation. Serbian media have been critical of Red Star's performance, describing the team as disorganized and lucky to have avoided conceding more. "Red Star looks poorly coordinated at Marakana, and Duarte continues to make mistakes," reported Sportal, while other outlets noted the missed opportunities by Red Star's Igor Zlatanović. Despite the pressure of the crucial 90 minutes, Be'er Sheva appears unfazed, with Tvarenasport commenting that the Israeli side "does not feel the pressure." The match is seen as a pivotal moment for Red Star's season, with local media emphasizing the need for the Serbian champions to overturn the deficit on their home ground.