Hapoel Be'er Sheva Becomes Favorite to Reach Champions League Group Stage After Red Star Win

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a significant 2-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade on August 11, completing a 3-0 aggregate win and advancing to the playoff round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. This win places the Israeli champions just two matches away from reaching the prestigious group stage of the tournament for the first time in their history. According to updated analysis by Football Rankings, Be'er Sheva now holds a 61% chance of qualifying for the group stage, making them favorites against Sabah, who have a 39% chance. Be'er Sheva is the only team among those that completed the third qualifying round to have upset a favored opponent, as Red Star was expected to advance. The elimination of Red Star shifted the odds in favor of Be'er Sheva, while other favorites from the third round maintained their expected progression. Previously, Be'er Sheva reached the playoff round twice, in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons, but failed to advance further. The upcoming playoff matches, scheduled in about two weeks, could see Be'er Sheva make history by entering the Champions League group stage for the first time.