Against Abu Fani and Loizou: This is what awaits Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the next stage

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured participation in a European league stage this evening (Wednesday) after completing a comeback against Vikingur, though they hope it will be in the Champions League. However, their hurdle in the third qualifying round of the competition will be anything but simple: Red Star Belgrade. The Israeli champion will host the first leg next week in Szombathely, Hungary, and on August 11 will arrive at the raucous Marakana in Belgrade.

Red Star has had an Israeli representative in almost every season in recent years, but its only encounter with an Israeli champion ended in trauma for them, when Maccabi Haifa passed them on the way to the group stage four years ago. Since then, Barak Bakhar managed them for a short period, Omri Glazer defended their goal, and now their lineup features Mohammad Abu Fani, who was purchased from Ferencvaros and will meet some of his Israel national team teammates next week. Loizos Loizou is also starting to integrate; this evening he scored his debut goal in the second leg against Northern Ireland's Larne, following his 3.5 million euro transfer from Hapoel Tel Aviv.

The match this evening ended 0:5, following a 0:4 win in the first leg. Loizou scored and assisted Marko Arnautovic, who completed a brace; Abu Fani was substituted in the 77th minute. Aleksandar Katai scored the opener and assisted substitute Osman Bukari for the final goal.

Another former Israeli Premier League player in the squad is Derrick Luckassen, the former Maccabi Tel Aviv defender who signed last week to strengthen the defense. The biggest name in the Serbian champion's squad is 37-year-old Arnautovic, the record holder for goals and appearances for the Austrian national team. Captain Mirko Ivanic is one of the survivors from the 2022 encounter with Maccabi Haifa, alongside vice-captain Katai and Bukari, who returned for another stint on loan from Widzew Lodz. Strahinja Erakovic has also returned, and the attack is led by Brazilian Bruno Duarte.

Among the young talents, the hot name is Vasilije Kostov, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder sought after by top European clubs, with a market value of 25 million euros. Adam Avdic, also born in 2007, is currently injured.

There has also been a comeback on the sidelines since that same encounter with Maccabi Haifa. Dejan Stankovic, the former star who resigned following that painful elimination, has returned for another round. His team is currently in predatory mode: 0:5 against Macva in the league, 0:4 against Larne away, 1:3 against Vojvodina in the league, and this evening's 0:5 victory in the home second leg.