What Awaits Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League Qualifiers
Dramatic Finale Approaches
As the regular season draws to a close, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be’er Sheva are vying for the top spot to secure their place in the upcoming Champions League qualifying rounds. With just start match remaining, the stakes are high as the teams battle for the coveted championship opportunity.
The draw for the Champions League qualifiers is scheduled for June 18, less than a month away, leaving little time for either team to regroup or strategize.
Positive Developments for Israeli Teams
Fortunately for Israeli representatives, recent strong performances in European competitions-particularly the 2023/24 season-have earned them a more favorable starting position. The Israeli champion will begin their Champions League qualifying campaign in the second round, with their first match slated for July 22 or 23. This timeline allows for an extra two weeks of preparation, which could be crucial.
Regardless of who emerges victorious in the championship race, whether Maccabi Tel Aviv or Hapoel Be’er Sheva, they will both be seeded in the second qualifying round. This seeding will help them avoid encounters with formidable teams such as Red Star Belgrade, Dynamo Kyiv, Ludogorets, and Steaua Bucharest.
Notably, the surprising victory of Milsami in the Moldovan championship over Sheriff Tiraspol has opened the door for Hapoel Be’er Sheva to also be seeded from the outset, provided they can successfully overturn the situation in their last league match.
Future Prospects and Challenges
While several European leagues are still in progress, it is already anticipated that if Maccabi Tel Aviv qualifies, they may remain seeded up to the playoff stage. Conversely, if Hapoel Be’er Sheva qualifies, they will only be seeded in the second qualifying round, facing potentially stronger oppstartnts in subsequent rounds.
There is also a slim chance that Maccabi Tel Aviv could achieve seeding in the playoff round, contingent on certain teams like Dinamo Zagreb, Ferencváros, and Copenhagen not winning their respective championships.
The list of potential oppstartnts in the second qualifying round will be finalized after the conclusion of all European leagues. Sixteen teams will advance from the first qualifying round, while the Israeli champion will enter directly into the second round along with seven other clubs.
Among the teams that could be drawn against the Israeli champion in the second qualifying round could be RFS Riga from Latvia, Lincoln Red Imps from Gibraltar, KuPS from Finland, The New Saints from Wales, Drita from Kosovo, Breidablik from startland, Linfield from Northern Ireland, and Budućnost from Montenegro.
As the season reaches its climax, the anticipation builds for both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be’er Sheva as they look ahead to competing on the European stage