Vikingur vs Hapoel Be'er Sheva prediction 21.07.2026 | UEFA Champions League

Víkingur Reykjavík enter this fixture in excellent condition. The Icelandic champions successfully negotiated the first qualifying round and remain among the strongest teams in the Besta deild, carrying momentum from both domestic and European competitions. Their busy schedule means they are already match sharp, something that could prove advantageous against opponents playing their first competitive European fixture of the campaign.

The Reykjavik club have built their recent success on defensive organisation and collective discipline. They have been difficult to break down at Víkingsvöllur, while their attack continues to produce goals consistently in domestic competition. Their recent run of form includes victories in the vast majority of their competitive fixtures, including a narrow 1-0 home win over the Hungarian champions Győr in the first qualifying round.

Manager Arnar Gunnlaugsson is expected to have the majority of his first-team squad available. At the time of writing, no major injury concerns have been reported among the regular starters, allowing Víkingur to field their strongest possible lineup for arguably their biggest home match of the season.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva qualified for the Champions League after winning the Israeli Premier League title and enter this competition carrying greater European pedigree than their Icelandic counterparts. The visitors regularly feature in UEFA qualifiers and have experience of progressing through difficult knockout ties.

However, preparations have not been entirely smooth. Be'er Sheva recently suffered a 3-1 defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Super Cup, a result that ended their positive pre-season momentum and exposed some defensive vulnerabilities. The squad will nevertheless view this fixture as an opportunity to respond immediately.

The Israeli champions possess greater individual quality throughout the squad, particularly in midfield and attack, where they have several technically gifted players capable of controlling possession and creating chances. No significant injury absences have been confirmed ahead of the first leg, meaning the visitors should also be close to full strength.