Austria Vienna Set to Face Beitar Jerusalem in Conference League Third Qualifying Round

Beitar Jerusalem took a significant step toward reaching the group stage of a European competition for the first time since the 2008/09 season by defeating AEK Larnaca and advancing to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Their next opponent is Austria Vienna, a prominent Austrian club with a rich history, including 24 league titles and 27 cup victories. Austria Vienna reached the UEFA Cup final in the 1980s and has appeared eight times in European group stages across various tournaments.

The Austrian club has seen at least eight Israeli players wear its jersey over the years, including Avi Benyamin, Shay Holtzman, Omer Damari, Roi Kehat, Alon Turgeman, Matan Baltaxa, Doron Leidner, and Silva Cani. After years of struggling in the lower playoff and facing financial difficulties, Austria Vienna stabilized and finished fourth in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. Their squad is valued at approximately 23.07 million euros, compared to Beitar Jerusalem's 17.04 million euros, according to Transfermarkt.

Beitar Jerusalem will be led by coach Almog Cohen in his first season, while Austria Vienna is managed by Stefan Helmer, who has been in charge for three years and is credited with restoring order during tough financial times. The Austrian team is anchored defensively by experienced defender Aleksandar Dragović, who returned to his youth club after stints at Bayer Leverkusen and Leicester City and has over 100 caps for Austria. German striker Johannes Eggestein was Austria Vienna's top scorer last season with nine goals and is known for his aerial prowess.

The upcoming match between Beitar Jerusalem and Austria Vienna highlights the ongoing connection between Israeli players and the Austrian club, as well as the challenges both teams face in European competition.