Win or lose: Maccabi Tel Aviv’s next European opponents have been narrowed down
The Yellows will be seeded if they pass CSKA Sofia, but if they are eliminated, they could face a much tougher opponent in the Conference League playoffs (14:00)
Maccabi Tel Aviv successfully passed Sheriff Tiraspol in the second qualifying round of the Europa League, winning 6-0 on aggregate over the two matches, but now the bar is raised and they face a meeting with Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia, who advanced past Azerbaijan’s Qarabag after a 0-0 aggregate score and a dramatic penalty shootout.
In the Europa League playoff draw, which will be held today (Monday, 14:00), Maccabi Tel Aviv will be seeded. This means that if they pass CSKA Sofia over the two matches, they will not only guarantee at least their participation in the Conference League, but are also expected to receive a relatively easy draw on paper in the battle for a place in the Europa League.
These are the possible opponents after the reduction:
Thun (Switzerland) - Reykjavik (Iceland)
OFI Crete (Greece)
Aarhus (Denmark) - Sabah (Azerbaijan)
Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) - Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
If Maccabi Tel Aviv is eliminated by CSKA Sofia, it will not be seeded in the Conference League playoffs, and much tougher opponents will await them there.
These are the possible opponents after the reduction:
Braga (Portugal) - Dinamo Minsk (Belarus)
Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine) - Qarabag (Azerbaijan)
Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) - FC Tobol (Kazakhstan)
FC Lugano (Switzerland) - Runavik (Faroe Islands)
Dates in the Europa League:
Third qualifying round, first leg: August 6. Second leg: August 13
Playoffs, first leg: August 20. Second leg: August 27
League phase draw: August 28
Matches: September 16 to January 28, 2027 (eight rounds)
