Hapoel Be'er Sheva Falls to Sabah in Dramatic Playoff, Misses Champions League Group Stage

Hapoel Be'er Sheva came agonizingly close to qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage but suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Azerbaijan's Sabah FK in the playoff second leg on August 25, 2026. After winning the first leg 2-1 at home, Be'er Sheva led twice in Baku but conceded a last-minute goal in the 94th minute, forcing extra time. In the additional period, the Israeli side collapsed, receiving two red cards and conceding three more goals, ultimately losing 5-2 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate.

This marks the third painful near-miss for Be'er Sheva in reaching the Champions League group stage. Previous attempts in 2016 and 2017 ended just short, including a narrow loss to Celtic and elimination by Maribor on away goals. The 2026 playoff defeat was especially cruel, with the decisive goal coming seconds before the final whistle.

The match featured a fast pace from the start, with Be'er Sheva scoring first in the 10th minute through Igor Zlatanovic. Sabah equalized before halftime and again after Be'er Sheva regained the lead in the second half. Sabah's late equalizer in stoppage time pushed the game into extra time, where Be'er Sheva's discipline faltered. Gibril Diop and Eliel Peretz were both sent off, leaving the team with nine players as Sabah scored three additional goals.

Despite the loss, Be'er Sheva will continue their European campaign in the UEFA Europa League group stage, bypassing further qualifiers. This new format guarantees eight matches against eight different opponents, representing a significant sporting and financial achievement.

The match was attended by around 30,000 fans in Baku, with Sabah having won their first Azerbaijani league title the previous season. Be'er Sheva's squad included key players such as goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, captain Miguel Vitor, and scorers Niv Yehoshua and Guy Mizrahi. The defeat ends their Champions League hopes but keeps their European journey alive in the Europa League.