Austria Vienna vs Beitar Jerusalem – Euro tie in Romania
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Austria Vienna make the trip to Ploiești, Romania, to face Beitar Jerusalem in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie on Thursday, 13 August 2026. Beitar are forced to play their home European matches in the Romanian city because of the security situation in Israel, creating an unfamiliar setting for both clubs as they chase a place in the play-off round.
Team News and Injury Latest
Aleksandar Dragović returns to the Austria Vienna squad after recovering from a concussion sustained earlier in pre-season. The centre-back’s experience should be a timely boost for coach Stephan Helm. Johannes Eggestein misses out with a minor knock, while Philipp Wiesinger, Noah Botić and Manprit Sarkaria remain unavailable through injury. Beitar Jerusalem have no fresh concerns and will once again look to goalkeeper Miguel Silva, the penalty shootout hero of the second qualifying round, as they aim to keep the tie alive for the return leg in Vienna.
Beitar Jerusalem Form Guide
Beitar edged past AEK Larnaca on penalties in the previous round after a gripping tie, with Silva saving two spot-kicks. Defender Raz Shlomo emphasised the importance of maintaining the “positive momentum” the side has built since the start of the season. Last term they finished runners-up in the Israeli Premier League, just three points behind champions Hapoel Beer Sheva, and they will lean on that strong domestic campaign to test an Austria side that looked fragile at the back in its Bundesliga opener.
Austria Vienna Form Guide
Stephan Helm’s side opened their domestic season with a 3–0 defeat away to WAC, a performance the coach described as “too sloppy” and lacking defensive consistency. The Violets must sharpen quickly against an opponent that plays with “great creativity and courage when in possession” – a direct contrast to the structured challenge WAC posed. Helm stressed the need to “find the right balance” against a Beitar team that is aggressive without the ball.
Key Battle: Dragović vs Shlomo
With Dragović back in the fold, Austria Vienna will hope to tighten the gaps that WAC exploited. The veteran defender will be tasked with marshalling a back line that looked disjointed and will come up against a confident Raz Shlomo, who helped Beitar keep a clean sheet in the second leg against Larnaca. How Dragović copes with Beitar’s inventive forward play could well determine whether the Austrians return home with a result.
What Comes Next
The winners of this tie will face either Braga or Dinamo Minsk in the play-off round for a place in the Conference League league phase. The return leg is scheduled for Vienna on 20 August, offering Austria Vienna the chance to finish the job in their own stadium – provided they can navigate a testing first assignment in Ploiești.
