Hapoel Be'er-Sheva — Sabah: 2-1 in favor of the Israelis
By OnzeActu · · 4 min read
Hapoel Be'er-Sheva won 2-1 against Sabah in the first leg of the Champions League play-off, played in Bucharest. The duel will be decided during the return match in Baku on August 25.
According to Championship.
Context
Hapoel Be'er-Sheva, as an Israeli club, aims to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, a goal that could boost their stature on the European stage. The performances of players like Javon East and Igor Zlatanović will be essential for the team's success in the second leg.
Why it matters
Hapoel Be'er-Sheva's 2-1 victory in the Champions League play-off first leg is crucial to their qualification ambitions. By scoring two away goals, the Israelis take a slight advantage before the second leg, which could influence the dynamics of the confrontation. The result also underlines the competitiveness of the teams in this decisive phase of the tournament.
Key points
- Hapoel Be'er-Sheva — Sabah: 2-1 in favor of the Israelis.
- Hapoel Be'er-Sheva won 2-1 against Sabah in the first leg of the Champions League play-off, played in Bucharest.
- Хапоэль Беэр-Шева— Сабах: результат матча 19 августа, счет 2:1, раунд плей-офф Лиги чемпионов — 2026/2027, первый матч -.
The first act of the first leg play-off for qualification for the group stage of the 2026/2027 Champions League between Hapoel Be'er-Sheva and Sabah ended with a 2-1 victory in favor of the Israelis. The match, played on Tuesday at the Giulești — Valentin Stănescu stadium in Bucharest, offered a tight double confrontation which will continue next week in Azerbaijan.
It was Sabah who struck first. In the 6th minute, striker Velko Simic opened the scoring, giving the visitors an early advantage and launching the showdown of this first leg play-off. The two teams then engaged in a tactical battle, but it was Hapoel who regained balance just before half-time: in the 43rd minute, Javon East equalized, bringing the two teams to 1-1 and restarting the match before the break.
The second half was more choppy, without preventing a decisive outcome. In the 79th minute, midfielder/forward Igor Zlatanović (Serbian) scored the winning goal for Hapoel Be'er-Sheva, giving the nominal 'hosts' a hard-fought but valuable victory away from the clubs' home country. This success gives the Israelis a slight advantage before the return match.
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The return match is scheduled for Tuesday August 25 at the Tofig Bakhramov Stadium in Baku. The two teams will then have the opportunity to decide the outcome of this double confrontation play-off, the winner of which will qualify for the group stage of the 2026/2027 Champions League.
This first round confirmed the balance between the protagonists: Sabah showed its ability to make the difference early in the match, while Hapoel was able to respond and show character to turn the situation around in the second half. The small difference in the score leaves the double confrontation open and promises a tense return match in Azerbaijan.
In addition to the immediate sporting challenge – qualification for the group stage – this confrontation also illustrates the specificity of the C1 play-off rounds, where a single achievement can tip over a double confrontation. Fans of the competition will follow the return closely to find out which of the two clubs will access the main draw of the next Champions League.
The rest
The return match in Baku on August 25 will be decisive for both teams. Hapoel Be'er-Sheva will need to defend their lead while looking to score to secure their place in the Champions League group stage. For its part, Sabah will have to reverse the situation to hope to continue its journey in this prestigious competition.
Frequently asked questions
What is the score of the Hapoel Be'er-Sheva vs Sabah match?
The match score is 2-1 in favor of Hapoel Be'er-Sheva.
What impact does this match have on the Champions League standings?
This victory gives Hapoel Be'er-Sheva a slight advantage going into the second leg, but the final ranking will depend on the result of the double confrontation.
When will the return match between Hapoel Be'er-Sheva and Sabah take place?
The return match is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25 at the Tofig Bakhramov Stadium in Baku.
Who scored for Hapoel Be'er-Sheva in this match?
Javon East scored the equalizer and Igor Zlatanović scored the winning goal
oire for Hapoel Be'er-Sheva.
Who opened the scoring in the Hapoel Be'er-Sheva vs Sabah match?
Velko Simic opened the scoring for Sabah in the 6th minute.