Only one rival now stands between Maccabi and the group stage of the Europa League. The draw takes place today
After last year's successful Europa League campaign that saw them reach an historic appearance in the competition's round of 32, Maccabi Tel Aviv are poised to embark on another adventure in the same competition. Maccabi's 2014/15 campaign will begin tomorrow at UEFA headquarters in Nyon Switzerland where the draw will be held for the last round before the group stage, the play-off. Maccabi are seeded, which means their potential rivals will all have a lower European ranking coefficient. The final map of those 31 potential rivals will become clearer after the last of the 3rd round return legs are played tonight, with further small changes between seeds and non-seeds also among the possibilities. The picture will narrow down considerably tomorrow morning when UEFA divides all the clubs into smaller groups of five or six for the draw, but in the meantime let's categorise some of those potential rivals, some of whom have been starred to indicate they've already secured a place in the play-off round.
The most "sensational": Grasshopper Club Zurich*
During the 2014 January transfer window young international striker Moannes Dabbur made his way from Maccabi to Grasshopper. Could he be on his way back to face in Europe the club where he made his senior team debut? And that's not the only score Maccabi have to settle with this Swiss top-tier outfit.
The most "adapted": RNK Split, FC Astana, FC Dinamo Moskva
All of these clubs have already faced Israeli opponents in the competition this season. Croatians RNK Split knocked out Hapoel Beer Sheva in the 2nd round, Kazakhstani FC Astana did the same to Hapoel Tel Aviv. Both sides must finish off their 3rd round ties tonight, as do Russian outfit FC Dinamo Moskva, who are already halfway through their contest with Ironi Kiryat Shmona.
The most "home away from home": AC Omonia Nicosia and Apollon Limassol FC*
If Maccabi are drawn against either of these two Cypriot sides, the club might consider opening a branch in Cyprus. MTA have already "hosted" two European matches on the island and should, god forbid, there be no change in the security situation in Israel, they may be looking at two more, home and away. Thanks to Cypriot clubs enjoying a high ranking in Europe, Apollon are beginning their European campaign in the play-offs. Omonia, where returning Maccabi defender Yuval Shpungin spent three seasons, are in post position to reach the play-offs taking a 3-0 lead into their 3rd round second leg against FYR Macedonian hopefuls FK Metalurg Skopje.
The most "bad boys on the block": Torino FC, AS Saint-Etienne*, Feyenoord*, FK Partizan Belgrade*
Each of these top clubs, from Italy, France, Holland and Serbia respectively, awaits the results of tonight's matches to see if they are to be seeded for the draw, but as of now they are all potential and highly intriguing rivals for Maccabi in the play-off round.
The most "seasonal": Rio Ave FC
If Maccabi fans were looking for a summer resort for the away leg of the play-off, the choice would definitely fall upon Vila do Conde, the city by the sea that Portugal's Rio Ave FC call home. With eleven miles of beaches on the Atlantic coastline, Vila do Conde would be a perfect spot to combine business and pleasure.
The most "Rade Prica": any one of six Scandanavian clubs
Having played in several Scandinavian leagues, Maccabi striker Rade Prica is familiar with Norway's Molde, Denmark's Esbjerg and Midtjylland and Sweden's Elfsborg, though he's only actually played for Norway's Rosenborg. A bit farther afield, the Finnish side HJK Helsinki would bring back fond memories of Maccabi's road to the group stage of the Champions League in 2004.
Update on Friday morning August 8th – Maccabi have been placed in draw group 2, with potential rivals as follows: FC SPARTAK TRNAVA (Slovakia), ASTERAS TRIPOLIS FC (Greece), FC DINAMO MINSK (Belarus), AEL LIMASSOL FC (Cyprus) and HNK HAJDUK SPLIT (Croatia)
But don't wait till it's all over. Live reports from the 2014/15 Europa League play-off round draw will appear on the Maccabi Tel Aviv official Facebook page starting at 2pm.
