Hapoel Be'er Sheva Advances Confidently Toward Champions League Playoff Against Sabah

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a 3-0 aggregate victory over Red Star Belgrade, winning the second leg 2-0, and advanced to face Sabah from Azerbaijan in the Champions League playoff round. The team's impressive performance in both matches drew high praise from Israeli sports commentators on Sport1's "Tzion 3" show. Jonathan Nimrodi described Be'er Sheva's display as "extraordinary" and a "knockout from the land of knockouts," highlighting the rarity of such a feat for an Israeli club with a modest budget in Champions League qualifiers.

Itzik Shasho added that the second game was even more impressive, while Eitan Leshem emphasized the team's aggressive approach under coach Ran Kojuch. Leshem noted how Be'er Sheva ignored the star signings of Red Star, pressing hard with players like Ahmad, Abu Romi, and Niv Yehoshua, which paid off.

Looking ahead, the commentators agreed that while the European campaign has already been a success, Be'er Sheva must overcome Sabah to avoid failure. Leshem stressed the importance of advancing, calling it a huge opportunity for the club to reach the Champions League group stage. Shasho echoed this optimism, confidently predicting that Be'er Sheva will make it to the Champions League.

The first leg against Sabah is scheduled for Wednesday, marking a critical step in Be'er Sheva's European journey this season.