Belgrade revenge: prediction for Crvena Zvezda vs Hapoel Be'er Sheva
The second-leg clash of the Champions League third qualifying round between Crvena Zvezda and Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set for August 11 in Belgrade. The Serbian champions lost the first encounter 0-1 and will now look to overturn the narrow deficit with the backing of their passionate home fans.
Crvena Zvezda: at home, the Serbs look far more powerful
Dejan Stanković's side kicked off the season in spectacular fashion, racking up four consecutive wins with a combined score of 17-1. In Champions League qualifying, the Belgraders breezed past Larne 4-0 and 5-0, but suffered their first setback in Israel, losing 0-1 despite creating plenty of chances.
Over the weekend, Crvena Zvezda returned to winning ways, defeating Novi Pazar 2-0. Stanković also gave a rest to Mateus, Rade Krunić, and Bruno Duarte, while his team has won all four home matches this season, netting 15 goals and conceding just once.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva: injury woes complicate the mission
Hapoel are slowly finding their rhythm after a tough start to the campaign. The Israelis lost to Vikingur 1-2, then bounced back with a 2-0 win, and followed that up with a narrow victory over Crvena Zvezda, relying above all on a rock-solid defense.
But ahead of the return leg, the problems have only grown: Matan Baltaxa is suspended, Dan Biton is sidelined with health issues, João Victor is injured, and Kings Kangwa has already left the squad. Away form is a big concern too - since 2022, Hapoel have won just once in 11 European away fixtures.
Match facts and head-to-head
- The first leg ended in a 1-0 win for Hapoel.
- Crvena Zvezda have won all four home games this season by at least a two-goal margin.
- Hapoel have managed just one win in 11 away European matches since 2022.
Home advantage should favor the Serbs: prediction for Crvena Zvezda vs Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Crvena Zvezda have already shown they can create chances against the Israelis and are much more aggressive at home. After squad rotation in the league, the key players should be fresh for this crucial tie. Hapoel will have to withstand tremendous pressure amid significant injury absences and a poor away record. The slender first-leg lead may not be enough for the visitors to survive.
