Valletta will be making a return to European football as they face RKS Raków Częstochowa of Poland in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round at the Miejski Stadion Piłkarski “Raków” on Thursday, kick-off at 18:30.

It will definitely be a tough task for Thane Micallef’s side against a team who reached the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 last season.

This summer, the Citizens strengthened their squad with defenders Manuel Morello and Ermin Bicakcic, midfielders Roko Prša and Petar Sekulovic and forwards Alex Tanque and Bruno Gomes while Keyon Ewurum returned with the club after a spell with Torino in Italy. On the other hand, former captain Steve Borg retired while Rowen Muscat, Thomas Melillo, Shaft Brewer, Jackson Mendoza, Stijn Meijer and Yuri moved elsewhere.

Although they won the championship just once, in 2022/23, Raków Częstochowa have been participating regularly in European football since 2021. They made it to the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2023/24 and last season, they placed second in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League with four wins – over Universitatea Craiova, Rapid Wien, Zrinjksi Mostar and Omonia Nicosia – and two draws against Sigma Olomouc and Sparta Prague. They were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Fiorentina with a 2-4 aggregate score. 

The second leg will be played at the Centenary Stadium on Thursday 30, kick-off at 19:30. A clash with Hammarby of Sweden or Anderlecht of Belgium awaits the qualifying side.