- Hapoel Beer-Sheva are on a four-game losing streak, with defeats to Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Vikingur Reykjavik.
- Vikingur Reykjavik are in decent form, with three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five matches across all competitions.
Side on side at Haladas Sportkomplexum
The second match of Vikingur Reykjavik's UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 meeting with Hapoel Beer-Sheva comes just two days after the teams last met, with Vikingur Reykjavik having edged the Israeli side 2-1 in that game before being beaten by Thor Akureyri.
Vikingur will be the happier of the two teams as a result, but the edge of that tie should still be enough to carry them through the return fixture in Hungary, although Ran Kozuch's men should have the edge.
The bookies make Hapoel the 1.7 favourites, with Vikingur at 4.9 and the draw at 3.9, and that does seem a fair reflection of the sides' performances in the first leg and their form and respective seasons to date.
Icelandic champions can keep it tight
Hapoel arrive at Haladas Sportkomplexum on the back of four straight defeats, while Vikingur won three, drew one and lost one of their previous five.
Vikingur, who are actually the other side, have the better all-round form and look to be in a better groove than Hapoel, who have won five, drawn one and lost four of their ten in all competitions.
That's a mixed return for Kozuch, who has been in charge of the side since 1 July 2024, and his 4-3-3 is set up to play patient, possession football, using width and selective pressing to break opponents up, rather than chasing games.
Vikingur, meanwhile, are happiest when they can set up in a low-to-mid block and punish turnovers with direct counters and set-pieces.
Sölvi Ottesen's side, who have been under his stewardship since 20 January 2025, are set up in a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 hybrid, one that rewards discipline and transitions and should suit the trip to Hungary.
Side on side on goal markets
Over 2.5 goals at 1.85 and Both Teams to Score at 1.82 are my main selections for this game, which is likely to see two teams with very different approaches face off and should be a lively affair.
Hapoel have scored 19 goals in their last ten in all competitions, an average of 1.90 per game, and carry a real bite up front, while Vikingur have conceded 12 goals in their last 10, an average of 1.20, so there should be a chance for each to make the net bulge.
