Vikingur Reykjavik Set for Hapoel Be’er Sheva Test in Champions League Qualifying

Vikingur Reykjavik will try to extend their strong home run on Tuesday when they host Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the first leg of a UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie at Vikingsvollur.

The Icelandic champions reached this stage after edging past Gyor 3-2 on aggregate in the first qualifying round, while Hapoel Be’er Sheva enter the competition looking for a response after losing the Israeli Super Cup to Maccabi Tel Aviv. The tie brings together two domestic title winners chasing a deeper European run, with the return leg still to come after Tuesday’s opener in Reykjavik.

Key facts

Vikingur arrive with home momentum

Vikingur’s place in the second qualifying round was secured by a narrow aggregate victory over Hungarian side Gyor. According to the Sports Mole preview, Nikolaj Hansen’s late goal in the first leg at Vikingsvollur proved decisive across the tie, before the Icelandic side came through a lively second leg.

Daniel Hafsteinsson scored in that return match, while former Everton and Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson also made a major contribution by both creating a goal and scoring as Vikingur advanced.

The result matched Vikingur’s best Champions League qualifying performance, with the club having previously reached the same round in the 2024-25 campaign. For readers following the early European rounds, the tie is another example of how domestic champions from smaller leagues can build a campaign around home advantage, match fitness and set-piece detail before facing clubs with broader continental experience.

There is one recent warning sign for the hosts. Vikingur were beaten 2-1 by Thor Akureyri in domestic action at the weekend, ending a long unbeaten stretch in league play. Even so, Sports Mole notes that their record at Vikingsvollur remains a major part of the story: the team are reported to be unbeaten in 23 straight home matches across all competitions.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva seek a quick reset

Hapoel Be’er Sheva begin their Champions League qualifying campaign after winning the Israeli Premier League title last season, their sixth league championship and first since 2018.

Their competitive start to the new season did not go to plan. The Israeli champions were beaten 3-1 by Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Super Cup last Thursday. Kings Kangwa equalised after an early Maccabi goal, but second-half strikes left Hapoel without the opening domestic trophy of the campaign.

Pre-season form was also mixed, with the preview citing one win from three warm-up matches. That makes Tuesday’s trip to Iceland an immediate test of whether Ran Kozuch’s side can shift quickly from domestic disappointment into European knockout football.

Hapoel’s wider European target is also significant. The club came close to the Champions League group stage in 2017-18, reaching the playoff round before losing to Maribor. This year’s route starts in Reykjavik, where a controlled away first leg would give them a platform before the return match.

Team news and selection notes

Vikingur remain without veteran goalkeeper Ingvar Jonsson, who has been sidelined since May because of a severe health condition, according to the source report.

Defender Robert Orri Thorkelsson is also a doubt after being forced off in the league defeat to Thor Akureyri. If he is unavailable, Vikingur may need to adjust a back line that will be under pressure from Hapoel’s attacking options.

Sigurdsson is likely to be central again for the Icelandic side after his decisive performance against Gyor. His experience in higher-level club football gives Vikingur a player capable of slowing the tempo, finding final-third passes and managing key moments in a two-legged tie.

For Hapoel, Kangwa is the attacking player highlighted by Sports Mole after producing 21 league goal involvements last season. New arrivals Niv Yehoshua and Joao Victor came off the bench in the Super Cup and could push for more minutes in Reykjavik.

Possible lineups from the preview list Vikingur with Kristinsson in goal and a midfield group including Ibrahimagic, Hafsteinsson and Sigurdsson. Hapoel’s projected XI includes Marciano, Vitor, Lopes, Peretz, Ganah, Kangwa, Zlatanovic and Levy.

Why this tie matters

For Vikingur, the first leg is a chance to turn home strength into a measurable European advantage. Champions League qualifying often rewards teams that can avoid mistakes in the opening match, especially when the second leg is away from home. A narrow win or clean sheet at Vikingsvollur would change the pressure dynamic before the return fixture.

For Hapoel Be’er Sheva, the task is different. They have the domestic pedigree and recent title momentum, but their Super Cup defeat means Tuesday is also about restoring rhythm. An away draw would be a useful result; an away win would put them in command of the tie.

The match also matters for neutral followers of Champions League qualifying because both clubs are chasing a rare breakthrough. Vikingur are trying to move beyond the second qualifying round, while Hapoel are aiming to revive the kind of European run that previously took them close to the competition’s main stage.

What to watch next

The key checks before kickoff are Vikingur’s defensive fitness, especially the status of Robert Orri Thorkelsson, and whether Hapoel start either of their newer attacking options after using them from the bench in the Super Cup.

Because the available preview information comes from a single secondary source, final lineups, injury details and matchday availability should be confirmed through UEFA, club channels or official team sheets closer to kickoff.

Source: Sports Mole Football RSS, https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/vikingur-reykjavik/champions-league/preview/vikingur-vs-h-beer-sheva-prediction-team-news-lineups_601503.html