Hamrun Spartans will be facing Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia on Thursday, kick-off at 20:00.
At the Tony Bezzina Stadium last week, Maccabi Tel Aviv scored twice late in the game to turn the score in their favour after the Spartans had taken the lead courtesy of an N’Dri Koffi penalty. Trailing by one goal, qualifying for the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League will be no easy task for Hamrun despite the fact that Giacomo Modica’s side was clearly the better side in the first leg. The Spartans did a great job in bouncing back from the rather disappointing performances in the back-to-back 0-3 defeats to Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
Maccabi Tel Aviv definitely have greater experience at this level, having 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. However the Spartans need to believe in themselves as they chase the dream of being the first Maltese club to reach the league stage of a UEFA competition.
Hamrun need to win by a two-goal difference while winning by a one goal difference would force extra-time.
Should Hamrun eliminate Maccabi Tel-Aviv, they would continue their journey in the UEFA Europa League where they would face familiar opponents – FC Dynamo Kyiv – after these were eliminated by Pafos FC of Cyprus with a 3-0 aggregate score. They would be guaranteed of a place in the league stage of, at least, the UEFA Conference League
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 Latvia and KuPS Kuopio of Finland in the UEFA Conference League play-off round. KuPS won the first leg 2-1 away from home.