Hamrun Spartans host Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Tuesday, kick-off at 19:00. 

The Spartans are coming from back-to-back 0-3 defeats to Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and are therefore eager to bounce back with a good display against the Israeli champions.

The squad has been strengthened further last week with the signing of Croatian midfielder Ante Coric and Dutch forward Stijn Meijer, therefore giving coach Giacomo Modica more options.

Maccabi Tel Aviv are playing in the UEFA Europa League after being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round by Pafos FC of Cyprus. Maccabi Tel Aviv had notched the equaliser in added time for a 1-1 draw in Paphos but at home, they were beaten 0-1 by the Cypriot champion.

Founded in 1906, Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are based in Tel Aviv, won 26 Israeli championships, 24 State Cups, 9 Toto Cups and 8 Super Cups. They made it to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2004/05, UEFA Europa League in 2011/12, UEFA Europa League in 2013/14, UEFA Champions League in 2015/16, UEFA Europa League 2016/17, UEFA Europa League 2017/18, UEFA Europa League 2020/21, UEFA Europa Conference League 2021/22 and UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 where they made it to the Round of 16 and the UEFA Europa League league phase last season.

After the Israeli FA joined UEFA, Maccabi Tel Aviv played their first match in Europe against Valletta in 1992, winning 2-1 and 1-0. In season 2015/16, they were drawn with Hibernians in the UEFA Champions League, winning 6-3 on aggregate after losing 1-2 to Hibernians and winning 5-1 at home.

The return match will be played at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia on Thursday 14.

Should Hamrun eliminate Maccabi Tel-Aviv, they would continue their journey in the UEFA Europa League where they would face the winner of the clash between FC Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine – their opponents in the second qualifying round – and Pafos FC.

On the other hand, if Maccabi Tel-Aviv prevail in the third qualifying round, Hamrun Spartans would face the loser of the clash between FC RFS of Estonia and KuPS Kuopio of Finland in the UEFA Conference League play-off round.