A touch away from the dream: Miguel Vitor's last dance
Two disappointments in the playoffs in the past, being benched as the fourth center-back, and a magnificent comeback in the money time: exactly ten years since he arrived at Hapoel Be'er Sheva with the goal of taking it to the Champions League, the 37-year-old captain gets one final chance to close the circle and complete the mission.
Four years after Maccabi Haifa's appearance in the Champions League, Hapoel Be'er Sheva is just two games away from another Israeli team qualifying for the world's premier football league. To do so, for the first time in its history, the club must overcome Sabah, the champion of Azerbaijan, in a two-legged tie, the first of which is tonight (22:00) in Bucharest.
Just three weeks ago, Be'er Sheva's situation was difficult, following a 3:1 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Aluf HaAlufim and a 2:1 defeat to Iceland's Vikingur. However, the team improved game by game. After eliminating the Icelanders with a 2:0 victory in the second leg, the club parted ways with its star, Kings Kangwa, who moved to Panathinaikos. His absence did not prevent the team from doing the unthinkable and eliminating Red Star Belgrade, showing dominance in both matches.
Be'er Sheva has appeared twice in the Champions League playoffs, nine and ten years ago, but both times fell just one goal short against Maribor and Celtic respectively. Their current opponent, Sabah, is also seeking a debut in the Champions League. Founded only in 2017, the Azerbaijani side completed a domestic double last season and added Xander Severina, who is currently in good form.
Lineup and Tactical Outlook
Despite heroic performances against Red Star, Be'er Sheva comes into the match following a heavy 4:0 defeat to Hapoel Haifa in the Toto Cup. It is likely that Ran Kozuch will keep faith with the lineup that started the last two European games. Niv Yehoshua, who was injured in Belgrade, is fully fit and expected to start. Center-back Itay Rotman and midfielder Eliel Peretz are carrying two yellow cards; another booking tonight would rule them out of the return leg in Baku.
Approximately 1,000 Be'er Sheva fans are expected at the Rapid Bucharest stadium, a record for the current European campaign. The match will be officiated by an Italian team led by Davide Massa.
Miguel Vitor: The Captain's Final Chance
If Be'er Sheva has an advantage, it is experience. Only one player remains from all those European campaigns: 37-year-old captain Miguel Vitor. Joining in the summer of 2016, his primary goal was to reach the Champions League. Over the last decade, he has become a club icon, winning three championships and three cups, and earning Israeli citizenship, yet the Champions League goal remained elusive.
After last season, it seemed Vitor's time was fading as he dropped to the fourth-choice center-back and considered leaving. However, in the playoffs, Ran Kozuch turned back to the veteran's experience. Vitor stabilized the defense and even scored in the title-deciding match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Now, paired with young Itay Rotman, he looks like the leader of old. For Miguel Vitor, this is likely his last dance on the most prestigious stage. Achieving this mission would mark the most glorious chapter of his Hapoel Be'er Sheva legacy.
