Hapoel Be'er Sheva Advances to Champions League Playoff After Historic Win
Hapoel Be'er Sheva achieved a significant milestone by advancing to the UEFA Champions League playoff round for the first time in nine years. On August 11, 2026, the Israeli champions defeated Red Star Belgrade 2-0 away at the Marakana stadium, securing a 3-0 aggregate victory. Goals from Igor Zlatanovic and Javon East sealed the win, marking one of the most notable successes for an Israeli club in recent years.
The victory puts Hapoel Be'er Sheva just 180 minutes away from qualifying for the Champions League group stage for the first time in their history. Their next opponent will be Sabah FC from Azerbaijan, who await them in the playoff round. Despite the hostile and intense atmosphere in Belgrade, the Israeli side maintained composure and dominated much of the match, creating multiple scoring opportunities through Zlatanovic, Eliel Peretz, and East.
This achievement highlights the club's growing stature in European football and represents a historic moment for Israeli soccer, as they aim to reach the group stages of the continent's premier club competition for the first time ever.
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