Hapoel Be'er Sheva Celebrates Historic Champions League Playoff Qualification After Win in Serbia

Hapoel Be'er Sheva returned to Israel early Wednesday morning in high spirits after securing a historic 2-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade at the Marakana Stadium in Serbia. This win marked the club's third-ever advancement to the UEFA Champions League playoff round, a milestone celebrated as even greater than their 2016 triumph over Olympiacos, especially since it was achieved without home advantage at Turner Stadium.

Around 300 passionate fans accompanied the team to Serbia and celebrated enthusiastically with the players on the pitch and in the locker room. Coach Ran Kojok praised his squad for their tactical discipline and resilience, highlighting their ability to maintain their style of play under pressure. He noted, "There are tremendous feelings of pride. Beyond the qualification, doing it this way in a tough stadium with the football we played, I am proud of them." Kojok also complimented the team’s defensive captain Miguel Vitor, calling him "the greatest defender to have played in Israel," alongside goalkeeper Ofir Marciano and midfielders Lucas Ventura, Eliel Peretz, and Javon East.

Despite the euphoria, the club faced a setback when their request to postpone the Toto Cup ranking match against Hapoel Haifa was denied by the league administration. As a result, Be'er Sheva plans to field a secondary lineup in that game to preserve their main players. However, the opening round of the Israeli Premier League against Hapoel Haifa will be postponed to accommodate their Champions League playoff matches against Sabah FC from Azerbaijan, aiming to support the club’s historic progression in the prestigious tournament.

The victory and upcoming playoff matches have elevated Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s status among favorites, with the club and fans eager to "fulfill the dream" of reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time.