From Benfica to Atalanta: European clubs awaiting Israeli teams in the playoff draw
Following a successful week in European competitions, four Israeli clubs are preparing for the third qualifying round. On Monday, they will discover their potential opponents for the playoff stage.
After a successful European week, the four Israeli football representatives will return to the pitch for the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Tomorrow, Monday (13:00), they will discover their opponents for the playoff stage, assuming they succeed in the current round.
Champions League
Hapoel Be'er Sheva, which will host Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday (20:30), will secure a place in the Champions League playoffs as a seeded team if they eliminate the Serbian champions. Ran Kozuch's side could meet the winner of Celje vs. Ararat, LASK vs. Kairat, Levski vs. Aarhus, or Sabah vs. Viking.
If Hapoel Be'er Sheva drops to the Europa League playoffs, they will be unseeded and could face strong opponents such as Benfica, Glasgow Rangers, Ferencvaros, Besiktas, PAOK, or Salzburg. More comfortable options include Lech Poznan, Shamrock Rovers, and KuPS.
Europa League
Maccabi Tel Aviv, facing CSKA Sofia this Thursday (19:00), could draw Trabzonspor, Thun, OFI, Kairat, Levski, Sabah, St. Truiden, or Vikingur if they advance.
If Maccabi Tel Aviv is eliminated, they will drop to the Conference League playoff draw. Possible opponents include heavyweights like Atalanta, Monaco, Brighton, Braga, Ajax, Freiburg, and Copenhagen, or more manageable sides like Midtjylland, Anderlecht, Qarabag, Panathinaikos, Gent, Pafos, Partizan, Lugano, Sheriff, and St. Gallen.
Conference League
Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem, following impressive wins over Ludogorets and AEK Larnaca, are aiming for the next stage. If they overcome Katowice and Austria Vienna, they will learn their final hurdle. As unseeded teams, they may face Atalanta, Freiburg, Monaco, Brighton, Ajax, Braga, Midtjylland, Panathinaikos, or Copenhagen. Other potential opponents include Pafos, Lugano, Gent, Rapid Vienna, Dynamo Kyiv, and Qarabag.
Schedule:
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Third qualifying round: August 4-5 and August 11.
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Playoff round: August 18-20 and August 25-27.
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League stage draw: August 27.
