The visitors will try to hold on to their advantage. Champions League match preview: Hapoel vs Vikingur
In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, Hapoel Be'er Sheva will face Vikingur Reykjavik. The match is set for Wednesday, July 29, with kickoff at 19:30 Central European Time. I am offering my pick for the winner of this clash.
H2H and statistical facts
- Hapoel have lost their last four official matches.
- Vikingur have both scored and conceded in four consecutive games.
- The first leg ended with a 2-1 win for the Icelandic side.
The opening match proved to be a real challenge for the Be'er Sheva outfit. The Israelis managed to score away from home, but a 1-2 defeat left them chasing the tie. Despite the disappointing result, the intrigue of this clash is far from over—a one-goal deficit is always possible to overturn.
In this European campaign, Hapoel entered straight into the second qualifying round of the Champions League and have already played a domestic fixture. Just like the game in Iceland, their Israeli Super Cup match against Maccabi Tel Aviv also ended in defeat.
It's worth recalling that last season, Hapoel finished top of their domestic league for the first time in eight years, earning them a return to the Champions League. However, the new season is just beginning for Hapoel, so they still lack match sharpness compared to their opponents, who are in the thick of their league campaign. This could be one of the deciding factors in the return leg.
The hosts' main hope will be a more aggressive attacking approach. However, they'll need to avoid defensive lapses, as conceding could make their task of progressing to the next round much more complicated.
The Icelandic champions enter the return leg in high spirits after their 2-1 home victory. The team capitalized on their chances and now hold a slim but crucial advantage ahead of the away fixture. Even a single goal in the second leg could be enough to put Vikingur on the brink of the next round.
This European campaign has been going well for the club. In the first qualifying round, Vikingur shocked Hungarian side Gyor, winning at home and drawing away. They then kicked off the Hapoel tie with another positive result, confirming the Icelanders' strong form and confidence on the continental stage.
In the Icelandic league, the season is in full swing, giving players regular match practice. Vikingur are once again among the title contenders and boast one of the league's most prolific attacks. Their constant competitive rhythm keeps them at peak fitness.
The visitors' key strength could be their ability to strike on the counterattack. In the second leg, Vikingur are unlikely to control possession, but the inevitable gaps left by Hapoel as they push forward could become the Icelandic club's main weapon.
What to bet on?
The return leg promises to unfold very differently from the first encounter. Hapoel will have to push forward from the opening whistle in search of an early goal, while Vikingur are likely to focus on compact defending and quick breaks. Despite the visitors' advantage from the first match, the superior quality and experience of the Israeli side make them favorites here. My pick is a win for the Israeli club.
