Almog Cohen was not prepared to hand Austria Wien a single extra clue. With Beitar Jerusalem needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in Thursday's Conference League third qualifying round return, the coach cut the team's final training session in Vienna short after his staff noticed cameras trained on the pitch, ONE reports.
Rather than run a full tactical rehearsal that could be picked up and analysed by the hosts, Cohen limited the session to defensive shape and set-piece work, keeping his attacking plans and likely starting eleven under wraps until kick-off.
The caution reflects how tight the tie has become. Beitar led through Noam Muche in Ploiesti before Austria Wien struck twice, through Vasilije Markovic just before half-time and Sanel Saljic in the second half, to leave Cohen's side needing to win by two clear goals in Vienna, or by one with away goals no longer separating the sides under UEFA's current rules, to advance.
According to ONE, Cohen held three separate meetings with his players in the buildup, stressing the need to protect possession and show "greater maturity in play." The coaching staff's review of the first leg reportedly concluded that Austria Wien's goals owed more to Beitar's own errors than to anything the Austrians did particularly well going forward, a diagnosis that shaped this week's message.
There is better news on the injury front. Georgian defender Luka Gadrani is available again after missing recent matches, while attacking midfielder Tomer Yosefi is set for a bigger role in the side. Forward Shon Weissman, who picked up an ankle injury during the first leg, remains a doubt for the second leg.
Kick-off at the Generali Arena is set for 21:30 local time, with ONE reporting that roughly 1,150 Beitar fans are expected to travel for the match. In a smaller gesture beyond the football, the club has agreed to display appeals for two missing women from Vienna on screens around the ground during the game.
