Maccabi play AEK Larnaca in Cyprus on Wednesday for the first leg of their Conference League third qualifying round before hosting the return leg at Bloomfield eight days later. The Playoff draw which took place at UEFA’s Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday, saw Robbie Keane’s side learn the identity of their potential next opponents.
NK Celje that finished last season in the runners-up spot of Slovenia’s PrvaLiga 6 points behind Champions Olimpija Ljubljana, hosted their matches so far at their Z’dezele stadium but will host at Stožice stadium in Ljubljana. Celje’s opponents Neman Grodno are currently midway through their domestic league season and are 2nd in the table 3 points adrift of leaders Dinamo Minsk. With Belarus unable to host matches, Neman host their matches in Hungary at the home stadium of Gyori where Maccabi played a Champions League qualifier in the summer of 2013.
Should Maccabi qualify at the end of the two-legged tie against AEK Larnaca, they will host the first leg of the Playoff at Bloomfield on August 24th before traveling to Hungary for the return leg a week later, on August 31st.
