Hapoel Be'er Sheva Advances to Champions League Playoff After Win in Belgrade

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a historic European victory by defeating Red Star Belgrade 2-0 away at the Marakana Stadium in Serbia on Tuesday night, completing a 3-0 aggregate win. This triumph guarantees the Israeli champions a spot in the Champions League playoff round and a UEFA prize of nearly 9 million euros. The first half was balanced and tense, with Be'er Sheva's defense holding firm against Serbian pressure and creating scoring chances through Igor Zlatanovic and Eliel Peretz.

In the second half, Red Star's coach, Dejan Stankovic, was sent off after a heated dispute with the referee. Four minutes later, Zlatanovic opened the scoring following a precise assist from Jovane Cabral. Cabral himself doubled the lead in the 79th minute after a well-executed team move. The match ended dramatically when Red Star's substitute Mohamed Abu Fani received a direct red card in stoppage time for striking without the ball.

Be'er Sheva now faces Sabah FC from Azerbaijan in the Champions League playoff. The first leg is scheduled for August 19 at Bucharest's Giulesti Stadium, serving as Be'er Sheva's home ground for European matches, with the return leg on August 25 in Azerbaijan. The winner will advance to the prestigious Champions League group stage, marking a historic achievement for the Israeli club.