Dynamo Kiev or FC Pafos await in Europa League

Ħamrun Spartans were handed a favourable draw in the UEFA Conference League as the Malta champions were paired with either Latvian side RFS, of Latvia, or Finnish team KuPS Kuopio in the Play-Off round.

The Spartans are currently gearing up for their UEFA Europa League fixture against Israeli giants Maccabi Tel Aviv, with the opening leg to be played at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Tuesday.

However, their hopes of making it past the Israeli outfit look slim given the high pedigree of their opponents.

Still, their aspirations of making it to the League phase of a UEFA club competition will still be alive should they bow out against Maccabi, as they will have another chance.

The Spartans will then drop to the Play Off round of the UEFA Conference League and will face the loser of the Europa League tie between RFS and KuPS Kuopio.

Similar to Ħamrun Spartans, both RFS and KuPS started their European journey in the Champions League this summer.

RFS faced Levadia Tallinn, of Estonia, in the first qualifying round of the Champions League and squeezed into the next round with identical 1-0 victories in both legs.

The Latvian side RFS then faced Malmo in the second qualifying round of the Champions League but were knocked out 5-1 on aggregate to slip to the Europa League and a clash agaisnt KuPS Kuopio, of Finland.

The Finnish side edged past Milsami, of Armenia, in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, after winning the first leg at home 1-0 and then grinding out a goalless draw in Moldova.

Their journey in the Champions League ended in the second qualifying round when they were knocked out by Kairat, of Kazakhstan.

KuPS won the first leg 2-0 but then suffered a 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan to bow out of the elite competition.

On paper, it looks like RFS are the likelier side to face the Spartans, and if that happens, it will see the Latvian side face a Maltese club for the second time in the space of a few years.

In season 2022-23, they faced Hibernians in the third qualifying round of the Conference League and after a 1-1 draw in Latvia, the return leg was marred by controversy.

RFS won the second leg at the Centenary Stadium 3-1 but the match will be remembered for some debatable decisions from Irish referee Rob Hennessy, who annulled a legitimate goal for Hibernians for non-existent offside.

Meanwhile, should Ħamrun Spartans do the unthinkable and knock out Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Europa League, they could be facing familiar opposition in the Play-Off round of the Europa League.

The Maltese champions would be up against the team that loses the UEFA Champions League third qualifying tie between Dynamo Kyiv, of Ukraine, and Cypriot side FC Pafos.

Kyiv have knocked out Ħamrun Spartans from the UEFA elite club competition in the second qualifying round after securing identical 3-0 wins late last month.

On the other hand, FC Pafos have knocked out Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the second qualifying round of the Champions League and are bidding to reach the group stages of the UEFA prestigious club competition after reaching the same stage in back-to-back seasons in the UEFA Conference League.

The Play Off round of both the Europa League and Conference League will be played on August 21 and 28.