Hapoel Be'er Sheva – OFI: the Israelis must find a way out of the crisis
On November 5, 2026, Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Greek side OFI will meet in the fourth round of the Europa League league phase.
This is already a crucial match for the Israeli club: after three rounds, the team has collected just one point and sits in the lower part of the table. The Greeks are in a slightly better position, but they cannot afford to feel comfortable either. As a result, the upcoming encounter promises to be highly significant for both sides.
Interestingly, despite being the nominal home side, Hapoel will not enjoy the usual advantage of playing at its own stadium: the match is set to take place at a neutral venue in Bucharest, at Superbet Arena – Giulești. This factor could also influence the course of the game.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva: time to turn things around
The Israelis have endured a difficult start to the league phase. In the opening round, the team played out a goalless draw with Dinamo Zagreb (0-0), before suffering two consecutive defeats. First, Hapoel lost 2-1 away to AZ, and then they were thrashed 4-0 by Belgian side Union.
As a result, the team have collected just one point from three matches and have a goal difference of 1:6. Clearly, with such a scoring record, making serious progress in European competition will be difficult.
That said, Hapoel should not be written off. In the Israeli league, the team are capable of producing a very different brand of football. For example, on October 26, they demolished Maccabi Haifa 5-2. This is an encouraging sign for the fans: the squad does possess attacking potential, and the only question is whether they can carry that firepower onto the European stage.
Amakwa Forson plays an important role in building attacks and has already scored in the Europa League. Zai Ahmed and Javaon East are also worth keeping an eye on. In defense, much will depend on the experience of Miguel Vítor, who will have to organize the back line against a highly mobile opposition attack.
OFI Crete: the Greeks look more confident
The Greek club come into this encounter with slightly more encouraging results in the Europa League. OFI have picked up three points from their opening three rounds. The team defeated Hoffenheim 2-0, but then lost to Rennes (1-2) and Bayer (0-2).
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This means the Greeks have already shown that they can beat strong opponents, although they have also lacked consistency so far. Their problems in front of goal are particularly noticeable: after their impressive win over the Germans, OFI have failed to score in two consecutive matches.
The team's main attacking threat in European competition is Taxiarchis Fountas, who already has three goals in the tournament. He is the kind of player who can exploit even the smallest pocket of space around the penalty area. Aitor Cantalapiedra and Tiago Nuss are also worth highlighting, as they can inject pace into the Greeks' attacking moves.
Experienced midfielder Andreas Bouchalakis plays a key role in the center of the pitch. His task is to help the team control the tempo, maintain the balance between defense and attack, and prevent the opposition from progressing too easily through the central areas.
What can we expect from the match?
On paper, Hapoel Be'er Sheva look like a challenging opponent for OFI, but the Israelis' results in European competition so far do not allow us to call them clear favorites. The team need to improve their defensive organization, as conceding six goals in three rounds is a statistic that is difficult to ignore.
On the other hand, OFI do not look like a side capable of controlling the match without difficulty. The Greeks have been inconsistent, and their recent results suggest that they struggle to create chances when facing a well-organized opponent.
I expect Hapoel to try to take the initiative, enjoy more possession and use the flanks to move forward. OFI will probably opt for a more cautious approach, relying on quick transitions and Fountas' individual quality in attack.
At the same time, the absence of their usual home stadium slightly levels the playing field for the Israelis. I think we will see a cautious opening, but as the final whistle approaches, both teams will be forced to take more risks.
It seems unlikely that we will see a high-scoring game. Hapoel have struggled with their finishing in the Europa League, while OFI have failed to score in their last two matches after their prolific win over Hoffenheim.
However, the Israelis need points, so they are unlikely to sit back completely. OFI, meanwhile, are more than capable of capitalizing on their opponents' mistakes.
My prediction: both teams to score - yes.
