Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Crvena Zvezda predictions: Serbians to extend winning start
R Kilvington
Red Star have won their opening four games in all competitions to begin the season
Hapoel Beer Sheva defeated Vikingur in the previous round
Recommended bet: Crvena Zvezda to win @ 3/4 with LiveScore Bet
Hapoel Beer Sheva did not have things all their own way in the previous qualifying round, only edging past Vikingur 3-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2-1.
That result set up a third-round qualifier against Serbia side Crvena Zvezda, who are looking to reach the Champions League group stage for the fifth time since 2018.
A 9-0 aggregate success over Irish side Larne, combined with league victories against Vojvodina and Macva, mean Crvena Zvezda could make it five consecutive wins on Tuesday evening.
The latest Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Crvena Zvezda Belgrade odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Hapoel manager Ran Kozuch will be missing defender Djobril Diop, who is struggling with a thigh injury.
The 27-year-old is only expected to miss a week, however, which means he could return for the second leg.
Dejan Stankovic will likely unleash Austrian Marko Arnautovic at the tip of a 4-3-2-1 system after he scored a brace against Larne.
Summer signing Osman Bukari also scored against the Irish outfit last time out and that suggests a starting spot might be on the cards for him this time around.
The stats
Hapoel Beer Sheva return to the Champions League qualifiers for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign, although the Israelis have never reached the group stage of the competition proper.
Crvena Zvezda last reached the group stage during the 2024/25 campaign, finishing 29th out of 36 in the first season of the revamped format.
The Serbian side have won their previous four European away matches, with their last defeat coming against Braga in the Europa League group stages last term.
Crvena Zvezda have played two matches against Israeli opposition in Europe, failing to beat Maccabi Haifa in the 2022/23 Champions League playoff round.
Hapoel have conceded five goals across their opening three matches this season.
Crvena Zvezda have conceded just once in four games, keeping three clean sheets.
Crvena Zvezda won eight of their 16 European matches last term, losing just four.
The latest Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Red Star Belgrade odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
The visitors come into this clash as the team in better form. Four successive victories have Stankovic’s men brimming with confidence and this should carry them to a win on Tuesday evening.
Whoever progresses from this tie will face either Celje or Ararat-Armenia in the playoff round.
Hapoel will have to improve massively from the previous round and will face a far sterner test in the current Serbian champions.
The game is taking place at Haladas Sportkomplexum, a neutral venue, and this perhaps gives the Serbians a slight edge heading into the tie.
Having missed out on the Champions League last season, ironically to Israeli opponents, they will be desperate to secure a lucrative return.
Score prediction: Hapoel 0-2 Crvena Zvezda
Back Crvena Zvezda to win @ 3/4 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Crvena Zvezda odds are available on LiveScore Bet
