Hibernians’ quest to become the first Maltese club to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League faces a daunting hurdle in the shape of Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“My reaction to the draw is somewhat mixed,” Hibs coach Branko Nisevic told Times of Malta.

“There were stronger clubs than Maccabi Tel Aviv in the pot but, on the other hand, they were the toughest opponents among the seeded teams we could get.

“Maccabi have won the domestic title more than 20 times, they are the most successful club in Israel and, in recent years, they have also advanced to the latter stages of the Europa League.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv completed a domestic treble last season after winning the league, knock-out and Toto Cup.

News that the draw in Nyon had pitted Maccabi Tel Aviv against the unfancied Maltese champions was greeted with delight in Israel but this should further reinforce Hibs’ resolve to stand up and be counted.

Although Maccabi are clear favourites to advance to the third qualifying round, Nisevic is not ready to give up on his team’s chances.

“I believe in my team and in our chances at this competition,” he said.

“Maccabi are the team to beat but we will do our best to surprise them.”

Hibernians are at home for the first leg, on July 14/15 with the second leg a week later in Tel Aviv.

It’s a measure of Maccabi’s ambition to make their mark in the Champions League that they have appointed Serb Slavisa Jokanovic as their new coach following the dismissal of Spaniard Pako Ayestaran who paid the price for the team’s perceived failure to play attractive football.

Jokanovic steered Watford to promotion into the English Premier League last season but left after failing to agree a new deal.

The technical sector of Maccabi Tel Aviv is led by Jordi Cruyff, the former Barcelona and Manchester United winger who has some knowledge of Maltese football after turning out for Valletta in the final year of his playing career.

Maccabi’s top priority this season is to progress to the UEFA Champions League group stages.

They have five top-notch foreigners, in-cluding Spanish keeper Juan Pablo Colinas and defender Carlos Garcia, Serbian midfielder Nikola Mitrovic, Nosia Igiebor, a Nigeria international, and experienced Swedish striker Rade Prica.

The team’s star player is Israel forward Eran Zahavi, the 2014/15 league’s top scorer with 27 goals.

Last season, Maccabi Tel Aviv succumbed to Slovenia’s Maribor in the third qualifying round after a 3-2 aggregate defeat.

Hibs suffered a 9-2 aggregate defeat to Slovak side Spartak Trnava in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

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