Almog Cohen used Beitar Jerusalem's final training session in Vienna on Wednesday for almost everything except a rehearsal of his starting eleven. According to ONE, the coach kept the work loose and steered clear of running a structured shape after members of the travelling party noticed cameras trained on the pitch during the session — a precaution born of suspicion that Austria Wien might be trying to pick up clues about Thursday's lineup and game plan before a match Beitar cannot afford to lose.
The caution reflects the stakes. Beitar trail 2-1 from last week's first leg of this Conference League third qualifying round tie and must win in normal time to go through, or force extra time and penalties with a 1-0 or higher-scoring draw. Kick-off at Austria Wien's Generali Arena is set for 19:30 local time.
The first leg, played at Beitar's neutral 'home' venue in Romania, had looked promising for long spells — the Jerusalem side led before conceding twice in the second half to fall behind in the tie. It leaves Cohen's players needing a positive result away from home against opposition many in Israeli football consider stronger than their qualifying-round billing suggests.
Cohen has used team meetings in Vienna to press a simple message on his squad: keep the ball better and play with more composure than they showed in the first leg, where lapses in possession helped invite Austria Wien back into the tie.
There is a squad worry to go with the tactical one. Shon Weissman, who picked up an ankle injury in the first leg, is a doubt for the return. Beitar do get a boost at the back, though: defender Luka Gadirni, who missed the first leg, has recovered from injury and is in line to feature, potentially alongside Brian Karabali in central defence for a side that has been working with a threadbare back line.
Around 1,000 Beitar supporters are expected to be in the Generali Arena stands, part of a travelling contingent the club has leaned on all summer through a run that has already accounted for FK Sutjeska in an earlier qualifying round. Their arrival in Vienna has not been without friction — Ynet has reported that a protest against Beitar is planned in the city, part of the reception the club's travelling support has periodically drawn on the continent.
Amid the build-up, Beitar have also agreed to a more sombre request: the club will display signage at the match appealing for information on Mally and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter who have been missing in Vienna since Friday, August 7. Israeli media have reported that the country's embassy in Austria and local police are still searching for the pair, last seen near the city's Naschmarkt.
Whichever side survives Thursday advances to the Conference League playoff round, where Sporting Braga or Dinamo Minsk await a place in the competition's league phase — a prize that would be the furthest Beitar have advanced in Europe in years, if Cohen's guarded preparations translate into a result on the pitch.
