Planning to attend the Champions League qualifying second leg between Crvena Zvezda and Hapoel Beer Sheva? The football match takes place on 11 August 2026 at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade. Review the match details, organise your trip and plan your ticket purchase in good time
Crvena Zvezda against Hapoel Beer Sheva: a night of decision in Belgrade
Crvena Zvezda and Hapoel Beer Sheva meet at Stadion Rajko Mitić in the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round. Kick-off is on 11 August at 20:00, and the Belgrade team enters the match one goal behind after a 1:0 defeat in the first match played in Szombathely. Zahi Ahmed scored in the 38th minute, while Hapoel defended its lead with ten players for the final half-hour following Matan Baltaxa's dismissal.
Crvena Zvezda must win by at least two goals to advance without additional play-offs. A one-goal victory would only level the aggregate score. A draw or any victory suits Hapoel, but the first-leg result is not large enough to allow the visitors a passive evening.
At stake is a place in the final qualifying round, where the winner will face the better team from the Aarhus - Sabah tie. Because of the first-leg result, a tense evening is expected. Ticket sales for this match are under way, and it is worth securing them in time.
What the first match showed
The first encounter offered a clear illustration of the styles that can also be expected in the return leg. Hapoel Beer Sheva started in a 4-3-3 formation, with three midfielders who aggressively contested second balls and tried to accelerate play towards Javon East, Igor Zlatanovic and Zahi Ahmed. Crvena Zvezda responded with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Rade Krunić and Mohammad Abu Fani in front of the defence and Osman Bukari, Vasilije Kostov and Mirko Ivanić behind Bruno Duarte.
Crvena Zvezda created chances before conceding the goal. Ivanić moved into shooting positions, Bukari attacked down the right flank, and Duarte took part in transitions. The problem was the final decision. Ofir Marciano stopped the attempts directed at his goal, while Hapoel's defence withstood several dangerous crosses.
The match changed after Baltaxa's dismissal in the 60th minute. Hapoel dropped into a lower block, closed the centre and accepted that Crvena Zvezda would have more possession. Dejan Stanković introduced Timi Max Elšnik, Muhammed Cham, Marko Arnautović, Aleksandar Katai and Loizos Loizou. The visitors increased the number of players in the final third, but they did not move Hapoel's defence from one side to the other quickly enough. Arnautović had a close-range header, Cham threatened from the edge of the penalty area, and the final pressure did not produce an equaliser.
The first tie therefore did not leave the impression that the gap between the teams was large. It did, however, show that Hapoel can punish a lost duel or an incorrectly positioned defensive line and then defend the small area in front of its penalty box with discipline.
Key events from the first encounter
- Hapoel Beer Sheva won 1:0 through Zahi Ahmed's goal in the 38th minute.
- Crvena Zvezda started in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Hapoel began in a 4-3-3 formation.
- Matan Baltaxa was sent off in the 60th minute and will not be available for the return leg.
- Ofir Marciano kept a clean sheet during the period of Crvena Zvezda's greatest pressure.
- Dejan Stanković used all five substitutions, including the introductions of Marko Arnautović and Aleksandar Katai.
Crvena Zvezda between attacking and controlling risk
The home side cannot wait, but it must not turn the match into a series of open transitions either. In the first match, Hapoel showed that duels, second balls and quick moves towards the wings suit it. Crvena Zvezda must therefore attack in an organised manner, with enough players behind the ball whenever an attack ends with possession being lost.
An important decision will be the choice of players behind the central striker. In the first match, Ivanić most often moved into positions for the final shot, while Bukari brings speed and the ability to play one-on-one. After the defeat, Stanković said that Bukari had not completed the entire pre-season programme and that approximately 60 minutes represented his realistic energy limit at that time. He will have had an additional week of work by the return leg, but Crvena Zvezda also plays a league match against Novi Pazar between the two games.
Marko Arnautović offers a different profile from Bruno Duarte. He can hold the ball with his back to goal, attack crosses and attract centre-backs, opening space for Ivanić, Katai or Cham to arrive from deeper positions. Duarte is more mobile and moved effectively towards the flank in the first match, but the home side will need a greater presence in the penalty area in the return leg. Their roles may also change during the match, depending on how deeply Hapoel sets up its defence.
Rade Krunić and one of his midfield partners will have to control the space behind the attacking line. If both full-backs push high at the same time, Crvena Zvezda will leave Hapoel precisely the kind of space the Israeli team sought in the first encounter. The rhythm of the attacks will therefore probably be more important than the sheer number of crosses.
The home side has two wins from two league matches, with eight goals scored and one conceded. Before losing to Hapoel, it defeated Mačva 5:0, Larne 4:0 away, Vojvodina 3:1 and Larne 5:0 in Belgrade. That run confirms that the team can create a large number of chances, but the return leg will require patience that is often unnecessary in domestic matches.
Why Hapoel Beer Sheva is not merely a team defending a lead
Ran Kozuch has reason to retain the basic structure from the first match. His team did not dominate possession, but it was compact, aggressive and ready to attack as soon as space opened. Zahi Ahmed provides penetration from the left and has already shown that he can finish an attack inside the penalty area. Javon East offers depth, while Igor Zlatanovic can play as the central focal point of the attack and occupy the centre-backs.
Lucas Ventura provides balance in midfield, Eliel Peretz engages in duels, and Niv Yehoshua helps with the press. Miguel Vítor's experience will be important because Baltaxa is absent due to the red card. João Victor was unavailable because of a hamstring injury, so the composition of the visitors' defence will be one of the more important decisions.
Ofir Marciano was among the most important players in the first match. He will probably have more work in the return leg, especially when dealing with crosses, set pieces and shots from the second line. Hapoel cannot expect to spend 90 minutes inside its own penalty area. Every longer attack that slows down the home side and quietens the stands will have tactical value.
Hapoel's form before the first match was inconsistent. The team lost the first encounter against Víkingur 2:1, then won the return leg 2:0 and advanced 3:2 on aggregate. It has not yet begun its domestic league season, so its competitive rhythm has been built almost entirely through qualifying matches and domestic cup competitions. The victory over Crvena Zvezda is therefore the most important result of the start of the season, both competitively and psychologically.
Players who can change the return leg
- Mirko Ivanić - the most dangerous home player between the lines in the first match.
- Osman Bukari - his speed on the right can force Hapoel's defence to retreat.
- Marko Arnautović - his physical presence and penalty-area play give the home side a different type of finishing threat.
- Zahi Ahmed - scorer of the only goal in the first encounter and a threat in transition.
- Ofir Marciano - the goalkeeper who preserved Hapoel's advantage in the first tie.
- Miguel Vítor - the leader of the visiting defence in a match in which Baltaxa will be absent.
Tactical points that will decide the match
The first is the width of the home attack. Hapoel closed the centre well and, after the dismissal, defended the space in front of goal. Crvena Zvezda must stretch the defence, but crossing must not be the only solution. Cut-backs towards Ivanić, Cham, Katai or Krunić may be more dangerous.
The second is the reaction after losing the ball. Hapoel's attackers needed few touches to reach the penalty area. Derrick Luckassen played the entire first match, and Stanković said that he lacked competitive rhythm. Strahinja Eraković, Miloš Veljković and Franklin Tebo Uchenna are additional defensive options.
The third is discipline. Hapoel lost a player to two yellow cards in the first encounter, while Crvena Zvezda collected several cautions. With a highly charged atmosphere and full stands, controlling reactions may be just as important as controlling the ball. The home side needs pressure, but not unnecessary fouls that give the visitors time and interrupt the rhythm.
The fourth is the opening phase of the match. An early goal would change the balance of power, but an overly risky start would give Hapoel space for a counterattack. The home side needs a high press with clear protection through the centre.
Stadion Rajko Mitić and the atmosphere of the return leg
Stadion Rajko Mitić is located at Ljutice Bogdana 1a in Belgrade. The club states that it has a capacity of 49,167 seats. The venue opened in 1963 and, because of its former capacity of 110,000 spectators, it remains known among supporters as the "Marakana".
The stadium's configuration intensifies the feeling of pressure: the pitch is lower than the surrounding approaches, the stands are large and block the view outside, and the north stand traditionally sets the rhythm of the support. In a match in which the home side must overturn a deficit, the first wave of noise is expected as soon as the teams come out to warm up. Hapoel will try to slow the opening, retain the ball through short spells of possession and prevent the match from immediately turning into a continuous Crvena Zvezda attack.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly, and arriving earlier reduces the risk of congestion on the approaches and at the entrances. Visitors should carry a ticket and identification document and follow the latest club announcements concerning security rules and gate-opening times.
Practical arrival information
- Address: Stadion Rajko Mitić, Ljutice Bogdana 1a, Belgrade.
- Capacity: 49,167 seats according to club data.
- Public transport: journey planners currently list bus 36 from Beograd Centar station to Dinarska station, followed by a walk of approximately 500 metres.
- Traffic: schedules and routes may change on matchday, so the departure should be checked immediately before travelling.
- Entrances: a specific gate-opening time for this match had not been published by 5 August; for the previous qualifying match, the gates opened two hours before kick-off, but that schedule should not be regarded as confirmation for the return leg against Hapoel.
- Parking: because heavy congestion is expected around the stadium, it is safer to plan to use public transport or leave the vehicle farther away from the immediate stadium approaches.
What supporters should watch from the first minute
The most important signal will be the positioning of the home full-backs. If both immediately push high, Crvena Zvezda will be accepting the risk of transition. If one remains deeper, the home side will attack with three players providing defensive cover.
It is also worth watching who starts as the central striker. Duarte would indicate more movement and drifting towards the flanks, while Arnautović would suggest more direct balls, crosses and attempts to keep Hapoel's defence deep. The introduction of Katai or Cham could change the match if the home side needs a shot from the space between the lines or a higher-quality final ball.
For the visitors, the first change following Baltaxa's absence will show how ready Kozuch is to deviate from the team used in the first encounter. If Hapoel remains in a 4-3-3, it will try to retain three outlets for transitions. If it drops into a more compact formation with five players in the defensive line, Crvena Zvezda will gain even more possession but have less space behind the defence.
Set pieces may play a major role. Crvena Zvezda has height through Arnautović, Luckassen, Eraković, Veljković and Krunić, while Hapoel relies on Miguel Vítor and Marciano. Every corner and free kick can change the aggregate score.
It is worth securing tickets in time and arriving early enough to ensure that security checks do not take away the opening minutes. The return leg begins with Hapoel holding a minimal advantage, but home ground, the depth of Crvena Zvezda's squad and the experience of players such as Ivanić, Katai, Krunić and Arnautović give the Belgrade team enough tools to complete a comeback. The visitors, on the other hand, will need the same discipline, aggression and composure that they showed after the dismissal in the first encounter.
Sources:
- FK Crvena zvezda - report from the first match, statements by Dejan Stanković, ticket information and data on Stadion Rajko Mitić
- FotMob - line-ups, formations, chronology of the first match, form and list of absentees
- Serbian SuperLiga - current table and Crvena Zvezda's record in the domestic championship
- Moovit - currently available public transport route from Beograd Centar station to the stadium