Beitar Jerusalem Returns to Cyprus for European Conference League Qualifier

Beitar Jerusalem resumes its European campaign on Thursday evening, facing AEK Larnaca in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. This marks the club's first match in Cyprus in over a decade, since their 2016/17 Europa League qualifier against Omonia Nicosia at the GSP Stadium. In that previous encounter, Beitar lost 3-2 after conceding a late goal but advanced on away goals thanks to a 1-0 victory at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.

In the 2016 match, Omri Atsily scored the opening goal for Beitar, assisted later by Itay Shechter who set up Atsily's second goal. The Cypriot team equalized through Amir Agayev, who later joined Beitar. The game was coached by Ran Ben Shimon with assistant Ziv Arie on the bench. Following that season, Beitar progressed past Latvian side Jelgava to the playoff round but were eliminated by Saint-Étienne, missing out on a historic group stage qualification.

The starting lineup for that notable Cyprus match included Boris Kleiman in goal, defenders David Keltins, Jesus Ruada, Dan Mori, and Uri Magbo; midfielders Claudemir Pereira, Kobi Moyal, Dan Einbinder, Omri Atsily, Arsinio Valfort; and striker Itay Shechter. Substitutions featured Oz Rali, Idan Vered, and Shimon Abuhatzira. The club's return to Cyprus this week revives memories of that intense European fixture and sets the stage for their current continental ambitions.