Austria Vienna Veteran Acknowledges Beitar Jerusalem's Superior Level Ahead of Conference League Clash

Austria Vienna, having recently advanced past AEK Larnaca on penalties, is set to face Beitar Jerusalem in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. The first leg will take place on August 6 in Romania, with the return leg on August 13 away. The winner will move on to the playoff round, where Beitar Jerusalem will face a tough draw as an unseeded team.

Reinhold Ranftl, a seasoned Austria Vienna player, recalled a heavy 4-0 defeat to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2022 and praised Beitar Jerusalem ahead of their upcoming encounter, stating, "It will be a serious challenge; Beitar is a level above us." However, he emphasized that the domestic league remains the club's priority, calling European competition a bonus. Austria Vienna's coach, Stefan Helm, took a cautious stance, noting that Beitar is roughly on par with his team, similar to Banik Ostrava last year, and stressed the need for full effort to advance.

Austria Vienna is a prestigious club in Austria with 24 league titles and 27 cups, boasting a rich European history. The club also has strong Israeli ties, having featured at least eight Israeli players over the years, including Shay Holtzman, Omer Damari, Alon Turgeman, Roi Kehat, and Doron Leidner. After overcoming financial difficulties, Austria Vienna finished fourth in the Austrian league last season. Their squad is valued at approximately 23 million euros, compared to Beitar Jerusalem's estimated 17 million euros. Key players include veteran defender Aleksandar Dragović and top scorer Johannes Eggestein from last season.