Israeli Champions Hapoel Be'er Sheva Impress Serbian Media Despite Red Star Defeats

Hapoel Be'er Sheva stunned Serbian media after defeating Red Star Belgrade twice in August 2026, despite the Serbian club's heavy summer investment. While Serbian outlets criticized Red Star's performance, they praised Be'er Sheva's tactical maturity and composure. "Be'er Sheva played exactly as they wanted," noted local reports, highlighting the Israeli team's calmness under pressure and effective counterattacks.

Former Red Star player Andrija Kluđerović complimented Be'er Sheva's clear game plan, stating the Israeli side "knew exactly what they were doing at every moment" and deserved a 3-0 victory. Dragomir Okuka, head of Serbia's football coaches association and a prominent analyst, agreed that Red Star was the weaker side and was justly eliminated. Serbian media also noted Be'er Sheva's 60% ball possession in the second leg, reflecting their dominance.

Key Israeli players receiving praise included Eliel Peretz, described as "excellent," and Javon East, who "did great work in Red Star's half." The Israeli champions were lauded for withstanding Red Star's early second-half pressure and exploiting defensive weaknesses with swift counterattacks. The coverage emphasized that Be'er Sheva showed no fear playing in Belgrade, performing confidently and tactically sound throughout the matches.