Hapoel Be'er Sheva
On Wednesday 29 July 2026, in the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round, Hapoel Be'er Sheva will host Vikingur Reykjavik. The match at Turner Stadium in Be'er Sheva will kick off at 18:30 BST.
The Icelanders won the first game in Reykjavik (2:1), and from here everything comes down to the difference in match sharpness. Vikingur are in the middle of their season and are confidently leading the Icelandic league. Hapoel have not yet started their league and come into the return leg on a run of defeats.
Vikingur travel to Be'er Sheva as a side for whom avoiding defeat is enough. That changes everything. The Icelanders have already been through this scenario a month earlier: they beat Gyor at home, then calmly drew 2:2 in Hungary and went through. They know how to see these ties out.
At the same time, the visitors will not simply freeze in front of their own goal. Solvi Geir Ottesen’s team have won 14 of 16 rounds of the Icelandic league and pulled eight points clear of the chasing pack. They have only two defeats in their last 27 matches, and in 22 of those the Icelanders have scored at least twice. Gylfi Sigurdsson conducts play from deep, while Nikolaj Hansen scored twice in the first leg. Vikingur will take their chances away from home as well.
Now for the hosts. Hapoel won the Israeli championship but have had a dreadful summer. Four defeats in a row in official matches, a heavy Super Cup loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv (1:3), and most importantly Ran Kozuch’s team concede at least two goals in each of their last eight games. The defence creaks against any opponent.
There is another side to it. In those same eight matches Hapoel scored every time. So both sides should get on the scoresheet, and that is exactly the fork in the road where a draw becomes a live outcome.
Only one thing may give pause: the hosts have to chase the game, and the market makes them favourites. Yet in Reykjavik the Israelis managed five shots, two on target, against 13 from their opponents. A team without cohesion, without a league campaign already under way and without Kings Kangwa, who is playing out his final days before a move to Panathinaikos, does not suddenly become a potential winner. Joao Victor is injured and there is no depth in the squad.
Hapoel will pour forward, Vikingur will catch them on the counter, and by the closing stages the visitors will be perfectly happy with a level score. We are backing the draw.
Antoni Bandic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Matches – 8 (international fixtures, 2025–2026);
Average fouls per match – 26;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) – 6.3;
Matches with red cards – 1 of 8;
Matches with penalties – 3 of 8.
|
Ran Kozuk
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Ofir Meir Marciano
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Djibril Thialaw Diop
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Guy Mizrahi
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Matan Baltaxa
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Miguel Ângelo Leonardo Vítor
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kings Kangwa
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lucas de Souza Ventura
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Niv Yehoshua
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Igor Zlatanović
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Javon Romario East
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Zahi Ahmed
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Marco Wolff
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Itay Rotman
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ofir Davidzada
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Eliel Peretz
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Itay Hazut
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Roy Levy
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yoan Stoyanov
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amir Chaim Ganah
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amit Ohana
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mohammad Kna'an
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Muhammad Abu Rumi
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yoav Koren
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Solvi Ottesen
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Aron Snær Friðriksson
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gunnar Vatnhamar
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Karl Friðleifur Gunnarsson
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Peter Oliver Ekroth
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tarik Ibrahimagic
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Daníel Hafsteinsson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Óskar Borgþórsson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aron Elís Þrándarson
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Helgi Guðjónsson
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Valdimar Þór Ingimundarson
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Uggi Jóhann Auðunsson
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ögmundur Kristinsson
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Davíð Örn Atlason
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sveinn Gísli Thorkelsson
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sveinn Margeir Hauksson
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Erlingur Agnarsson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Viktor Örlygur Andrason
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ármann Ingi Finnbogason
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Daði Berg Jónsson
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nikolaj Andreas Hansen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stígur Diljan Þórðarson
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Víkingur Reykjavík
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Víkingur Reykjavík
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Gyori ETO
Víkingur Reykjavík
Víkingur Reykjavík
Gyori ETO
Champions League 2026/27
Víkingur Reykjavík
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
9
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
18
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
9
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
10
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
14
|
Manchester City
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Aston Villa
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Betis
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
Arsenal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
AS Roma
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
5
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
6
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
7
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
8
|
PSG
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
9
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
11
|
Manchester United
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Liverpool
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
AEK Athens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
