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Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs Red Star Belgrade: Champions League Qualifying Pressure Rises in Hungary. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Both sides have strong recent scoring records at home and away, with Hapoel regularly finding the net despite defensive absences and Red Star boasting a potent attack with 17 goals in four games. This suggests a high likelihood of goals from both teams in this first-leg tie.
A 2-1 scoreline reflects Red Star's dominant recent form and attacking quality, balanced by Hapoel's resilience and ability to score as designated hosts. Their tactical control and experience suggest a narrow away win in a competitive first leg.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Red Star Belgrade meet at the Haladás Sportkomplexum on Tuesday evening with a place in the Champions League playoff round at stake across two legs.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs Red Star Belgrade — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva's home resilience contrasts with Red Star's strong away form, shaping the likely outcome.
Hapoel's home matches often see goals at both ends, matching Red Star's frequent away scoring.
A 2-1 scoreline fits Red Star's attacking prowess and Hapoel's competitive home performances.
Red Star's 17 goals in four matches show their offensive strength against Hapoel's defensive challenges.
Three Punchy Stats
- Red Star Belgrade have won all four of their competitive matches this season, scoring 17 goals in the process.
- Hapoel Be’er Sheva overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Vikingur Reykjavik by winning the return match 2-0 and advancing 3-2 on aggregate.
- Red Star have not lost a competitive away match since November 2025, while Hapoel have suffered only three defeats when designated as the home team since August 2025.
Attacking Efficiency Comparison
Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Red Star Belgrade bring comparable attacking form into this contest.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s attacking output gives Red Star Belgrade a clear tactical problem to solve.
Red Star Belgrade can trouble Hapoel Be'er Sheva by turning promising attacks into cleaner final actions.
Defensive Stability Contrast
Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Red Star Belgrade show similar defensive weaknesses under pressure.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s defensive shape will be tested whenever Red Star Belgrade increase the tempo.
Red Star Belgrade must match Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s discipline and avoid conceding cheap openings.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6.30pm on 4 August, and the contrast between the teams could hardly be sharper. Hapoel arrive after a badly needed European comeback, while Red Star have opened the campaign with four consecutive victories and an alarming appetite for goals.
This is only the first leg, but it already feels pivotal. Hapoel must find a way to disrupt one of the competition’s most confident qualifying teams without leaving themselves exposed. Red Star, meanwhile, have an opportunity to turn their superior form into a commanding position before the return fixture.
Hapoel Need Their European Recovery to Become a Revival
Hapoel’s 2-0 victory over Vikingur Reykjavik was more than a routine qualifying result. Ran Kozuch’s side had lost the opening leg 2-1 and entered the return match carrying the weight of a three-game losing sequence.
Goals from Zahi Ahmed and Amir Ganah completed a 3-2 aggregate turnaround, delivering Hapoel’s first victory in five matches. They controlled 56% of possession and produced three shots on target, doing enough to overturn the deficit without turning the evening into an end-to-end scramble.
That response matters because knockout football often exposes a team’s emotional condition as much as its tactical quality. Hapoel showed patience after falling behind in the tie, but one positive result does not automatically erase the problems that came before it. Football has a habit of declaring every victory a “turning point”; sometimes it is simply a pleasant Tuesday.
The challenge is now to make the Vikingur performance the beginning of something more stable.
Hapoel’s record when designated as the home side offers genuine encouragement. They have lost only three such matches since August 2025, suggesting that they are generally more controlled and competitive in familiar surroundings.
However, this match is being played at the Haladás Sportkomplexum in Szombathely, Hungary. The venue may carry recent positive memories after the win over Vikingur, but Hapoel must create their own sense of home advantage through intensity, organisation and game management.
Red Star Arrive With Ruthless Momentum
Red Star could not have prepared for this round in more convincing fashion.
Dejan Stankovic’s team dismantled Larne 9-0 on aggregate, following up their first-leg success with a 5-0 victory in Belgrade. They held 78% possession in the second leg and registered 14 shots on target, with Marko Arnautovic scoring twice.
Those numbers reveal more than simple dominance. Red Star did not merely circulate the ball harmlessly; they repeatedly converted possession into attempts that tested the goalkeeper. Fourteen shots on target is evidence of sustained territorial control, aggressive chance creation and an ability to keep an opponent trapped.
Their domestic opening has been equally decisive. Red Star have won their first two league matches, scoring eight goals and conceding only once. Across all competitions, they have started the season with four wins from four.
That momentum fits a wider pattern of continental consistency. Red Star have reached the group stage or league phase of a UEFA competition in each of the last nine seasons. They are now attempting to extend that sequence to an uninterrupted decade.
They have also avoided defeat in competitive away matches since November 2025. Hapoel therefore face a side that are not only scoring heavily but travelling with confidence and considerable European experience.
Calling Red Star favourites is hardly controversial. The more debatable statement is that their biggest danger may be comfort. After a 9-0 aggregate win, even elite concentration can loosen by half a percentage point. At this level, half a percentage point is often where trouble begins.
The Midfield Battle Could Define the First Leg
Hapoel’s likely midfield trio of Omer Yehoshua, Lucas Ventura and Kings Kangwa will have an enormous tactical responsibility.
They must protect a reshaped defence while also giving Hapoel a route through Red Star’s pressure. If they retreat too deeply, Igor Zlatanovic could become isolated and every clearance may simply invite another Red Star attack. If they advance too aggressively, Red Star’s attacking midfielders could find space between the lines.
Red Star’s expected combination of Mohammad Abu Fani and Rade Krunic offers passing quality and positional control in central areas. Loizou may also contribute from a deeper or wider midfield starting position, while Aleksandar Katai and Mahdi Cam can operate closer to Arnautovic.
That structure gives Red Star several ways to progress the ball. They can build patiently through midfield, use the width provided by the full-backs or find attacking players in the pockets around Hapoel’s holding line.
Hapoel may therefore need to defend in compact units rather than chase the ball individually. The goal should be to reduce the distance between defence and midfield, block central passes and encourage Red Star towards less dangerous areas.
Possession itself is unlikely to be the decisive measure. Hapoel had 56% against Vikingur, while Red Star recorded 78% against Larne, but percentages do not score goals. The important question is where each team controls the ball and what happens immediately after possession changes hands.
Hapoel’s Defensive Absences Create a Serious Test
Kozuch is expected to be without centre-back Djibril Diop, who is working towards full fitness after a thigh problem. Pedro Amador, recently signed from Atlanta United, is recovering from an Achilles injury and is also unavailable.
Itay Rotman is therefore likely to partner Miguel Vitor in central defence, with Guy Mizrahi and Matan Baltaxa operating at full-back.
That back four will be tested by Red Star’s movement rather than just their physical presence. Arnautovic gives the visitors a central reference point, but Katai and Cam can attack the areas around him. If Hapoel’s centre-backs become preoccupied with the striker, gaps may appear for runners arriving from deeper positions.
Communication will be essential. Rotman and Vitor must decide when to step forward, when to hold their line and when to pass runners into midfield coverage. Red Star have scored 17 goals across their four competitive matches, so defensive indecision is unlikely to go unpunished.
Red Star have fewer availability concerns. Eighteen-year-old left-back Adem Avdic remains sidelined after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in June, with Matej Strika expected to start on the left of a defence also featuring Milos Veljkovic, Franklin Uchenna and Seol Young-woo.
Can Hapoel Threaten Red Star’s Defensive Shape?
Hapoel also have important attacking absences.
Dan Biton remains unavailable because of heart issues that emerged in the spring, while Joao Victor is managing a hamstring injury. Zlatanovic is consequently expected to lead the attack, supported by Javon East and Zahi Ahmed.
Ahmed enters the match with the confidence of having scored against Vikingur. His ability to move from a wide starting position into finishing areas could be especially important if Zlatanovic occupies Red Star’s centre-backs.
East may provide another outlet during transitions. Hapoel cannot afford to send every attack slowly through a settled Red Star block. Their best moments may come immediately after regaining possession, when the visitors’ full-backs are advanced and the defensive structure is still reorganising.
Recent scoring patterns suggest that Hapoel can create chances in this type of fixture. Both teams have scored in seven of Hapoel’s last 10 matches when they have been the home side and in 13 of their last 20 games overall.
Red Star have also seen both teams score in 12 of their last 20 competitive away matches, including three of the last five. That does not dictate what will happen on Tuesday, but it highlights the possibility that Hapoel can contribute offensively even against opponents with a stronger recent record.
The hosts must still balance ambition with discipline. An away goal is no longer treated differently in UEFA ties, so there is no mathematical reason to panic if Red Star score. Hapoel’s objective should be to remain competitive across the entire contest rather than turning the opening hour into a frantic exchange.
First-Leg Control Will Matter More Than First-Leg Drama
The tactical tension comes from the teams’ different needs.
Red Star have the quality and form to take control, but they do not need to settle the entire tie in Hungary. Hapoel must be assertive enough to create a threat, yet cautious enough to avoid giving the visitors the open spaces they exploited so brutally against Larne.
For Hapoel, the opening phase should be about emotional control. A strong crowd-driven start can help establish intensity, but reckless pressing would suit Red Star. Kozuch’s side need aggression with structure: force hurried passes, compete for second balls and attack quickly when possession is recovered.
For Red Star, patience could be the most dangerous weapon. Their four-match winning run and 9-0 aggregate triumph may create expectations of another immediate demolition, but this is a different opponent in a different type of contest. Stankovic’s team can afford to probe, move Hapoel’s midfield and wait for defensive distances to expand.
The first goal would significantly alter the tactical landscape. Hapoel scoring first could allow them to protect central areas and counter through East, Ahmed and Zlatanovic. Red Star scoring first would force the hosts to become more expansive, potentially opening the spaces that Katai, Cam and Arnautovic are equipped to exploit.
Hapoel enter the match with renewed belief but unresolved questions. Red Star arrive with overwhelming momentum but must prove that their early dominance can survive a more demanding test. The hosts need their victory over Vikingur to become the foundation of a revival; the visitors want their flawless start to become another step towards a tenth consecutive season in the main phase of European competition.
One side are trying to recover their authority. The other are playing as though authority already belongs to them. Tuesday evening will reveal whether Hapoel can narrow that gap before the tie moves to its decisive second leg.
📊 Market Explainer
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
Selection: Both Teams To Score YES. Both teams must score at least once during normal time. The match winner does not matter; the selection is settled only by whether each side finds the net.
Correct Score Market
Selection: Hapoel Be'er Sheva vs Red Star Belgrade 1-2. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
Pick 1: Both Teams To Score YES @ 4/6
Hapoel Be’er Sheva enter this first leg having demonstrated resilient attacking output despite structural challenges. Both teams have scored in 7 of Hapoel’s last 10 matches when playing as the designated home side, as well as in 13 of their last 20 fixtures overall. Armed with momentum after turning around a 2-1 deficit against Vikingur Reykjavik with a 2-0 victory, Ran Kozuch’s squad possess proven routes to goal through Zahi Ahmed, Javon East, and Igor Zlatanovic. Ahmed scored in the previous round, and East provides a direct outlet on transitions when opponents overcommit full-backs forward.
Conversely, Red Star Belgrade arrive with extraordinary offensive momentum under Dejan Stankovic, having scored 17 goals across four competitive wins this season. Their away records also heavily favor goal action at both ends, with both teams finding the net in 12 of Red Star’s last 20 competitive away fixtures, including three of their past five. While Red Star dominated Larne with 14 shots on target and 78% possession, Hapoel face defensive shortages with centre-back Djibril Diop sidelined with a thigh issue and Pedro Amador nursing an Achilles injury. This leaves Itay Rotman and Miguel Vitor facing relentless pressure from Marko Arnautovic, Aleksandar Katai, and Mahdi Cam. With Red Star consistently creating chances away from home and Hapoel regularly scoring in designated home ties, both attacking units hold clear advantages over opposing backlines.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Both teams have scored in 7 of Hapoel Be'er Sheva's last 10 home matches and 13 of 20 overall.
- Red Star Belgrade have seen both teams score in 12 of their last 20 competitive away matches.
- Red Star have scored 17 goals in 4 competitive games this season, while Hapoel's defensive absences increase vulnerability.
Risk Factor: Red Star's midfield control through Mohammad Abu Fani and Rade Krunic could limit Hapoel's transition chances and attacking opportunities.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Scored 17 goals across 4 competitive victories this term, generating 14 shots on target against Larne.
Missing centre-back Djibril Diop (thigh) and Pedro Amador (Achilles), forcing a reshaped defensive backline.
Pick 2: Hapoel Be'er Sheva vs Red Star Belgrade 1-2 @ 11/2
A 2-1 victory for Red Star Belgrade reflects the competitive realities of this first leg at the Haladás Sportkomplexum. Red Star hold an extraordinary four-match winning streak across all competitions, racking up 17 goals while remaining unbeaten in competitive away fixtures since November 2025. Their attacking fluency was displayed in full during a 5-0 win over Larne where Marko Arnautovic scored twice, backed by creative force from Aleksandar Katai and Mahdi Cam. Their superior passing quality in central areas via Mohammad Abu Fani and Rade Krunic gives them the tactical control required to break down Hapoel’s newly assembled defensive pairing of Itay Rotman and Miguel Vitor.
However, Hapoel Be’er Sheva rarely fail to contest fixtures on neutral ground, having lost only three games as the designated home side since August 2025. Their 2-0 victory against Vikingur Reykjavik showcased their ability to dictate terms with 56% possession and establish emotional control. Even without Dan Biton and Joao Victor, Hapoel maintain dangerous transitional threats through Zahi Ahmed and Javon East. With both teams scoring in 13 of Hapoel’s last 20 matches overall and 12 of Red Star’s last 20 away games, Hapoel should find a breakthrough. Nevertheless, Red Star’s continental experience—reaching UEFA group or league stages in nine consecutive seasons—gives them the composure to secure a tight 2-1 away triumph before returning to Belgrade.
Risk Factor: Hapoel's defensive indecision may allow Red Star's aggressive attack to extend their lead in the second half.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Yes market mean?
Both Teams To Score YES requires both teams to register at least one goal during standard play. The final winner is irrelevant as long as neither side keeps a clean sheet.
How does the Correct Score market function in football betting?
The Correct Score market requires predicting the exact final scoreline at the end of normal time. It offers higher odds due to the difficulty of exact predictions.
Why is Both Teams To Score YES selected for this match?
Both teams have strong historical scoring trends at home and away, making goals from both sides likely in this fixture.
What tactical factors support a 1-2 scoreline prediction for Red Star?
Red Star's 17-goal form and Hapoel's resilience as designated hosts suggest a narrow away win with both teams scoring.
How do injuries affect Hapoel Be'er Sheva's defensive structure?
Key defensive absences force Hapoel to field a reshaped central defensive pairing, increasing vulnerability against Red Star's attack.
What is the main difference between Match Odds and Correct Score markets?
Match Odds cover overall results, while Correct Score requires predicting the exact number of goals scored by each team.
Does Red Star Belgrade's early season record support goals betting?
Red Star's high scoring rate and numerous shots on target support markets involving goals and attacking play.
Why is playing at the Haladás Sportkomplexum important for Hapoel Be'er Sheva?
Hapoel are designated hosts at this neutral venue and must create their own home advantage to maintain their strong home record.
