Can Red Star Belgrade pull off a comeback?
On Tuesday, Red Star Belgrade hosts Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva for the second leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The Israelis won the first leg 1-0 at the Haladás Sports Complex in Hungary, even though Dejan Stankovic’s team had more chances and played with a man advantage for about 30 minutes. Prior to that, the Serbs had comfortably eliminated Larne with 4-0 and 5-0 victories.
The visitors narrowly advanced past Vikingur Reykjavik after a 1-2 away loss. In the Red Star Belgrade vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva matchup, the Serbian champions have the edge based on their superior play in the first leg, home-field advantage, and a squad value of approximately 121 to 25 million euros. It’s therefore no surprise that the highest odds for a home win are just 1.35—available at Bet-at-home.
Let’s now examine whether the so-called home-field advantage actually plays a role in this matchup. The home team has lost only five home games since January 22, 2025, making them one of the strongest home teams in Europe. And even in the previous Europa League season, they suffered just a single defeat in five matches at Rajko Mitic Stadium. The Serbs were even able to hold their own against internationally experienced teams like Lille, Celtic, Steaua Bucharest, and Celta Vigo.
The visiting team, on the other hand, put in a weak performance against Vikingur Reykjavik and suffered a deserved 1-2 loss in the second round of Champions League qualifying. They often lack control on the road. The odds for a Red Star Belgrade vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva prediction favoring an away win are therefore, quite rightly, between 8.00 and 9.50, depending on the bookmaker.
In terms of the Red Star Belgrade vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva odds, the form comparison clearly favors the home team. Stankovic’s team has won five of its last six competitive matches. They beat Macva 5–0, won 4–0 at Larne, defeated Vojvodina 3–1, prevailed 5–0 in the second leg against the Northern Irish champions, and most recently won 2–0 against Novi Pazar despite a red card in the 61st minute.
In addition to losing the first leg against Vikingur, Hapoel also lost the Israeli Super Cup 1–3 to Maccabi Tel Aviv, even though Ran Kozuk’s team played with a man advantage for 32 minutes. This was followed by their advancement past the Icelandic side and, of course, the narrow victory in the first leg against the Serbs.
Red Star Belgrade – Hapoel Beer Sheva Head-to-Head Record
The head-to-head record consists of the match played just under a week ago. When assessing the Red Star Belgrade vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva betting odds, the result of the first leg isn’t the only decisive factor.
Beer Sheva capitalized on a defensive error in the 38th minute and subsequently defended its lead against a Serbian side that dominated play but lacked efficiency. Even after the Israeli team had a player sent off, the favorites failed to score.
The tactical approach for the second leg is thus clear: The visitors can sit deep and rely on a few counterattacks, while the home team will need patience and better finishing. However, the pressure is likely to be even greater in their own stadium than on neutral ground, so we expect the home team to create a multitude of good chances.
Red Star Belgrade – Hapoel Beer Sheva Prediction
Our Red Star Belgrade vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva betting tip is “Red Star Belgrade Win HC -1.” The hosts must overcome the deficit from the 0-1 first leg and need a victory by at least two goals to advance to the next round without extra time. In the first match, Stankovic’s team created more chances but failed to capitalize on them. Playing at home, they’re expected to apply even more pressure and deliver a better offensive performance.
Red Star won both matches against Larne convincingly and has repeatedly demonstrated in league play how effectively the team can punish an inferior opponent. Beer Sheva is likely to defend compactly at first but would have to adjust its approach after conceding an early goal. The resulting open spaces increase the likelihood of a clear home victory.
“Over 2.5 goals” is a good alternative bet. The odds for at least three goals in the Red Star Belgrade vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva match are interesting because the home team alone could surpass that total. Against Larne, the Serbs scored at least four goals in each of the two matches, and their offense has also been on target recently in the domestic league. In the second leg, the team won’t have time to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
They’ll need to make up the deficit and are likely to put Beer Sheva under pressure early on. If they manage to equalize quickly, the match will open up, as another goal by the hosts would force the visitors to respond. At the same time, Hapoel can be dangerous on the counterattack. Three or more goals therefore fit well with the expected course of the game.
