Hamrun vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv

Hamrun Spartans host Maccabi Tel Aviv at Tony Bezzina Stadium on Tuesday, aiming for a positive outcome in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round match.

After being knocked out by Dynamo Kiev in Champions League qualifying, the Maltese champions strive for success in the secondary European club competition against the Israeli side in order to progress to the playoff round.

Match preview

After cancelling out Zalgiris’ first-leg advantage in Champions League qualifying before defeating the Lithuanian club on penalties, Giacomo Modica’s team could not mount a similar comeback against Dynamo Kiev, losing both legs 3-0 and exiting with a 6-0 aggregate score.

Despite that defeat, the Maltese club remain in Europe, dropping down to the Europa League via the Champions Path to participate in the third round of qualifying, with the winner progressing to the playoff round.

However, Tas-Sikkina’s form in competitive matches this season under their new Italian boss has been inconsistent, suffering defeats in three of their four games, conceding two or more goals in all three losses.

A positive result will benefit Ta’ Werwer in the reverse fixture next week, as they aim to take a significant step towards the playoff round in the hope of ultimately avoiding another European qualification disappointment.

Despite reaching the qualifying stages of the Europa League in 2022-23, and the Champions League and Conference League in the following years, Hamrun hope to finally achieve success on their fourth attempt. 

Like their hosts, Maccabi also exited Champions League qualifying, though they were narrowly beaten by Pafos, who triumphed 2-1 on aggregate.

That loss was particularly disappointing for Zarco Lazetic’s team, who drew 1-1 in Cyprus but were hampered by Ofek Melika‘s red card in the reverse fixture at TSC Arena.

While their ambition to compete in the Champions League is now gone, a Europa League campaign remains possible as the Yellows seek to amend the setbacks of last year’s unsuccessful league phase.

Although they entered the new competition with hopes of finishing in the top eight — securing a last-16 spot, or at least a place in the top 24 for knockout phase playoffs — losing six of eight matches undermined those ambitions, leaving Maccabi with six points in 29th position, four points and five places behind 24th-placed Fenerbahçe.

Having advanced through last season’s third qualifying round and playoff round with 5-1 and 8-1 aggregate wins over Panevezys and TSC respectively, the Israeli side hope for a similarly straightforward run to secure their place in this campaign’s league phase.

Hamrun Spartans form (all competitions):

Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions):

Team News

Raphael Lopes Silva and Luke Montebello, who scored 12 and 11 goals respectively for Hamrun, have now left the club, leaving Modica scratching his head over finding goalscoring solutions.

In Joseph Mbong, however, scorer of one of the two goals in Hamrun’s Champions League victory over Zalgiris, and the third-highest goalscorer in 2024-25, the Italian manager hopes that the forward makes a decisive impact against Maccabi.

Melika’s sending-off a week ago against Pafos rules out the young goalkeeper on Tuesday, while Yoav Gerafi’s early withdrawal leaves Lazetic pondering the Israeli outfit’s choice between the sticks.

Although Eran Zahavi has departed, the Yellows should have no trouble replacing the forward’s 12-goal tally from 24-25; Dor Turgeman (15 goals) and Weslley Patati (12) could influence the first leg and possibly the tie.

Hamrun Spartans possible starting lineup:

Bonello; Compri, Polito, Bjelicic, Camenzuli; Mbong, Cadenovic, Garcia, Mihana; Simkus; Koffi

Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:

Mashpati; Asante, Stojic, Camara, Revivo; Lederman, Sissokho; Davida, Peretz, Patati; Turgeman

We say: Hamrun Spartans 1-2 Maccabi Tel Aviv

While Hamrun will hope to capitalise on Maccabi Tel Aviv’s goalkeeper crisis in the first leg, the Yellows possess more dependable match-winning quality, which should be advantageous as they aim for victory ahead of August 14’s second leg at TSC Arena. 

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