FK Crvena zvezda vs Hapoel Be'er Sheva

"The stage is set at the iconic Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade as Serbian giants FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) look to overturn a narrow 1-0 first-leg deficit against Israeli outfit Hapoel Be'er Sheva in this high-stakes UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second-leg clash. Hapoel Be'er Sheva ground out a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the first leg played in Hungary, courtesy of a first-half strike from Zahi Ahmed. However, playing in the legendary 'Marakana' is an entirely different beast. With a passionate home crowd behind them, Red Star Belgrade enter this fixture as heavy favorites to turn the tie around, especially given their stellar domestic form and robust home record in European qualifiers. Red Star Belgrade's surprise defeat in the first leg was a rare blemish on an otherwise explosive start to their 2026-27 campaign. Before that trip to Hungary, the Serbian champions had put together a formidable run, dismantling domestic opponents by a combined aggregate score of 17-1 across four matches. Vladan Milojević's men quickly got back on track with a convincing 2-0 win over Novi Pazar on Saturday, restoring confidence ahead of this continental showdown. Tactically, Red Star are expected to line up in an aggressive 4-2-3-1 setup. The midfield double pivot, featuring the experienced Rade Krunić and the combative Mohammad Abu Fani, will be crucial in reclaiming second balls and keeping Hapoel pinned in their own half. Up front, the physical presence of Brazilian striker Bruno Duarte will be key to unlocking a deep-lying defensive block. For Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the objective in Belgrade is simple: survive. Ran Kozuch's side executed their defensive game plan to perfection in the first leg but suffered a massive blow when key defender Matan Baltaxa was shown a red card in the 58th minute. His suspension leaves a gaping hole in Hapoel's back four, forcing a defensive reshuffle that Red Star's dynamic wingers will undoubtedly look to exploit. Returning to a compact 4-3-3 block, Hapoel will heavily rely on Miguel Vítor's leadership at the back and Ofir Marciano's shot-stopping abilities. However, playing under the suffocating pressure of Belgrade's atmosphere without a key defensive pillar makes keeping a clean sheet an incredibly daunting task. Under the hood, advanced metrics strongly favor a comfortable home win. Red Star Belgrade boast an impressive home xG of 2.15 in domestic and European matches this season, while Hapoel's away xG hovers around a modest 0.85. The combination of Red Star's offensive firepower, the hostile atmosphere of Rajko Mitić, and Hapoel's defensive vulnerabilities due to Baltaxa's suspension points toward a decisive performance by the hosts. Expect Red Star Belgrade to dominate possession, wear down the visitors' makeshift defense, and eventually secure a 2-0 victory to seal their progression to the playoff round."