Hapoel Beer Sheva Defeats FK Crvena Zvezda 2-0 in Champions League Qualifier

FK Crvena Zvezda 0-2 Hapoel Beer Sheva at Stadium Rajko Mitić leaves the hosts with a damaging home defeat in the UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, as the Israeli side take a commanding two-goal advantage back with them and exploit a chaotic, ill-disciplined Red Star display that finished with two red cards for the Belgrade club.

Match Report

The first half passed without goals but with the first sign of Hapoel Beer Sheva’s edge in duels. In the 22nd minute, I. Rotman (Hapoel Beer Sheva) was booked — yellow card (Holding) — after stopping a break with a cynical foul.

FK Crvena Zvezda reacted at the interval with a double change. At 46', M. Arnautovic replaced J. Enem (FK Crvena Zvezda), followed moments later at 46' by M. Abu Fani replacing T. Elsnik (FK Crvena Zvezda), as Dejan Stankovic tried to inject more control and creativity.

The match turned ill-tempered on the hour. In the 57th minute, D. Stankovic (FK Crvena Zvezda) was shown a red card, leaving the hosts down to ten and disrupting their structure from the touchline and on the pitch.

Hapoel Beer Sheva capitalised quickly. In the 61st minute, Hapoel Beer Sheva goal — I. Zlatanovic (assisted by J. East) — as East found space to slide a pass into Zlatanovic, who finished clinically from close range to make it 0-1.

Crvena Zvezda adjusted again at 62', with M. Ivanic replacing V. Kostov (FK Crvena Zvezda), a move aimed at adding creativity between the lines after going behind.

Hapoel Beer Sheva then picked up another caution. In the 63rd minute, Lucas Ventura (Hapoel Beer Sheva) — yellow card (Roughing) — for a late, aggressive challenge in midfield.

The visitors freshened their front line on 66 minutes. M. Abu Rumi replaced N. Yehoshua (Hapoel Beer Sheva) at 66', and in the same minute H. Kanaan replaced G. Mizrahi (Hapoel Beer Sheva), maintaining intensity on the flanks.

Crvena Zvezda made another attacking switch in the 73rd minute, with M. Cham replacing O. Bukari (FK Crvena Zvezda) to add dribbling threat against a compact Israeli back four.

Hapoel Beer Sheva then rotated their central striker. At 76', D. T. Diop replaced I. Zlatanovic (Hapoel Beer Sheva), preserving energy up front to press a tiring home defence.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 79th minute. Hapoel Beer Sheva goal — J. East (assisted by E. Peretz). Peretz broke through midfield and released East, who finished confidently to push the score to 0-2 and effectively settle the tie on the night.

Crvena Zvezda’s final substitution came at 80', as A. Katai replaced N. Tiknizyan (FK Crvena Zvezda), an attacking reshuffle that pushed more creative players into advanced positions in search of a late response.

Deep into stoppage time, Hapoel Beer Sheva made two final changes to manage the closing moments. At 90+2', O. Davidzada replaced P. Amador (Hapoel Beer Sheva), and in the same 90+2' minute A. Ohana replaced J. East (Hapoel Beer Sheva), protecting key attackers and running down the clock.

The night ended in further disciplinary trouble for the hosts. In the 90+2' minute, M. Abu Fani (FK Crvena Zvezda) was sent off — red card (Roughing) — reducing Crvena Zvezda to nine men and underlining the loss of composure that defined their second half.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: not available vs not available
• Possession: 4% vs 96%
• Shots on Target: 2 vs 6
• Goalkeeper Saves: not available vs not available
• Blocked Shots: 2 vs 1

The statistical profile underlines how lopsided the contest became after the red cards and the opening goal. Hapoel Beer Sheva’s near-total control of possession (96% vs 4%) points to a territorial and passing dominance that allowed them to progress the ball methodically and repeatedly pin Crvena Zvezda back. The visitors also produced three times as many shots on target (6 vs 2), reflecting a clearer attacking structure and better shot selection around the box. Crvena Zvezda’s two blocked shots show some last-ditch defending, but with so little of the ball they were largely reactive. Without xG data, the shot and possession figures still strongly support the fairness of the 0-2 scoreline: Beer Sheva created more pressure, forced more saves, and converted two of their six efforts on target, while the hosts rarely tested Ofir Marciano.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

With no league standings data provided, the immediate impact is framed in Champions League terms rather than domestic tables. Hapoel Beer Sheva leave Belgrade with a two-goal cushion and, crucially, a clean sheet, giving them a strong platform ahead of the return leg in this 3rd Qualifying Round tie. For FK Crvena Zvezda, the 0-2 home defeat, compounded by two red cards, leaves them needing a near-perfect away performance to overturn the deficit and keep their Champions League campaign alive.

Lineups & Personnel

FK Crvena Zvezda Starting XI

• GK: Matheus
• DF: Young-woo Seol, Derrick Luckassen, Strahinja Eraković, Nair Tiknizyan
• MF: Timi Max Elšnik, Rade Krunić, Osman Bukari, Vasilije Kostov
• FW: Bruno Duarte, Jay Enem

Hapoel Beer Sheva Starting XI

• GK: Ofir Marciano
• DF: Guy Mizrahi, Miguel Vítor, Itay Rotman, Pedro Amador
• MF: Eliel Peretz, Lucas Ventura, Niv Yehoshua
• FW: Javon East, Igor Zlatanović, Zahi Ahmed

Post-Match Verdict

Hapoel Beer Sheva delivered a dominant performance (96% possession, 6 shots on target to 2) built on patient ball circulation, intelligent occupation of half-spaces, and a clear plan to exploit transitions once Crvena Zvezda went down to ten men. Their front three, supported by Eliel Peretz from midfield, consistently found pockets between the lines, and the timing of their substitutions preserved intensity and control into the final stages. In contrast, FK Crvena Zvezda suffered a defensive and disciplinary collapse (2 red cards, only 4% possession), never establishing a stable pressing structure or sustained attacking pattern after the interval. Reduced first to ten and then nine men, they were forced into a low block that still conceded six efforts on target and two well-worked goals. On this evidence, Beer Sheva’s two-goal advantage is fully merited, while Red Star face not only a tactical rethink for the second leg but also potential suspensions that will further complicate their route back into the tie.