- Match status: Hapoel Beer-Sheva won the first leg 1-0, so Red Star need to bounce back in the second game.
- Recent records: Red Star's home record in all competitions is 4-0-2 across the last 6, Hapoel Beer-Sheva are 2-1-1.
Hapoel hold the upper hand in Belgrade
Ran Kozuch's Hapoel Beer-Sheva dug in well to grab a 1-0 win in the first game of this UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 tie and the Israeli side could hold firm in Belgrade as well. Red Star have their work cut out to finish the task on Tuesday.
Dejan Stankovic's side are the big favorites at 1.36 with Hapoel priced up at 7.95 and the draw at 5.46 in this Second Qualifying Round, Second Leg encounter at Stadion Rajko Mitic. Hapoel have won two and lost three of their last five matches, so the recent form lines aren't particularly strong for the visitors, but they have won back-to-back games and have a platform to build upon from the 1-0 advantage they gained.
The Serbians are in better form, but the 5-0 blowout of Larne at home in this competition was clearly the highlight of a run that has seen them win five and lose four of their most recent ten in all competitions.
Red Star’s high-tempo style should see them dominate territory
Tactical outlook
Red Star's front-foot approach, which sees Stankovic's players press the ball high up the pitch and overload the half-spaces, should dominate territory against a Hapoel side that are a much narrower, deeper and more structured outfit. But the visitors have shown plenty of grit and structure to have come through the first leg with the win, while the width they bring into the game off their central spine is also a threat to a Red Star team that can be open at the back.
Players to watch
Bruno Duarte is the danger man for the hosts, as the Portuguese international leads their scoring charts in this year's UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 with two goals in two appearances. Zahi Ahmed is Hapoel's most reliable finisher with two in three appearances and is their current pick as most likely to get on the scoresheet again.
Hapoel can stay competitive for 90 minutes
We like Red Star to bounce back from the 1-0 defeat in Israel with a win at home, but Hapoel's ability to get a first-leg victory and the fact that they have the structure to stay compact and hit on the counterpunch should ensure the matchup remains tight.
- There's a potential for this to be a nervous evening for Red Star and the bookies have the game looking a coin toss with both teams to score being near coin-flip territory.
- That's a play to make on this encounter as the stats suggest we are in for a tight game with Hapoel having conceded only five goals in four away matches in all competitions this season.
- Red Star have shipped 11 goals in six matches at home, but we think the Under 2.5 goals wager at 2.52 looks the best way to keep the upset alive in Serbia.
