Maccabi Tel Aviv Faces Formidable Swiss Opponent Lugano in Conference League Playoffs

Maccabi Tel Aviv, after being eliminated from the Europa League by CSKA Sofia, will face Swiss club Lugano in the playoff round of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. The first leg is scheduled for next Thursday at Lugano's AIL Arena, which holds 8,150 spectators, followed by the return leg two weeks later in Batumi, Georgia, Maccabi's European base this season.

Lugano has started their domestic season impressively, winning seven of eight matches across all competitions and currently holds a perfect record in the Swiss league after three rounds. The team finished fourth in the Swiss Super League last season and aims to reach the Conference League group stage again, as they did two years ago when they advanced to the round of 16 before being eliminated by Basel in extra time.

The club is coached by Mattia Croci-Torti, who has been in charge since September 2021 and previously faced Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Conference League qualifiers. Notable players include veteran German forward Kevin Buerkens, who has scored seven goals this season and has prior experience scoring and assisting against Maccabi Haifa while playing for Union Berlin. Other key figures are captain Renato Steffen and goalkeeper David von Ballmoos.

Lugano recently avoided a setback in the Faroe Islands, coming back from a 2-0 deficit against Runavik to draw 2-2, with contributions from Italian Matteo Zanotti and Frenchman Yanis Cimignani. The club also made a significant signing by acquiring 18-year-old Honduran talent Derrick Moncada from Inter Bogota for 3 million euros, making him their most expensive transfer ever, replacing Greek striker Georgios Koutsias who was sold for 2.5 million euros.

Maccabi Tel Aviv has participated in the group stage of European competitions in each of the past three seasons and now seeks to continue this streak by overcoming Lugano to reach the Conference League group phase for the fourth consecutive year.