After registering a shock win in the first leg, champions Hibernians will be aiming for a positive result as they face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round at the Itztadion Bloomfield in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, kick-off at 19:30. A positive result which would enable them to set up a clash with Czech champions FK Viktoria Plzen.
The Paolites came from behind to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 at the Hibernians Stadium last Tuesday thanks to goals by Jorge da Silva Pereira and Jackson di Lima Siqueira in the final sixteen minutes.
A draw would enable Branko Nisevic’s side to secure a clash in the third qualifying round. In case of a defeat, a 0-1 loss would put the Israeli giants in the next round. A 2-1 win for Maccabi Tel Aviv would force extra-time while a 3-2 win for the hosts would put Hibs through on the away-goals rule.
Maccabi will be under huge pressure to get the goals early in the game but the Paolites know that should they manage to score, they would increase the pressure on the Israeli side who is expected to have star attacking midfielder Eran Zahavi – formerly of Palermo – in squad.
Nisevic is not expected to make any changes to the team which won the first leg as Jean Paul Farrugia remains the only player ruled out injured.