Sliema Wanderers have their sights set on a spirited display this evening when they meet Khazar Lankaran in the second leg of their Europa League first qualifying round match at the City Stadium in Lankaran (kick-off: 5pm).
Coached by renowned Welshman John Toshack, Khazar are regarded as favourites to reach the second round on the back of last week’s 1-1 draw at the Centenary Stadium but the qualification issue is anything but settled.
The one-all stalemate ensured that Sliema flew out to Azerbaijan earlier this week knowing that their chances of making further progress in the competition are still very much alive.
Nigerian striker Stanley Ohawuchi grabbed Sliema’s equaliser in the second half after Khazar had taken an early lead through Nildo Franca Junior.
Alfonso Greco, the Sliema coach, is not expected to make significant changes from the team that started the first leg.
Veteran striker Ivan Woods has travelled to Azerbaijan with the rest of the Sliema squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. Given his lack of match fitness, Woods is not expected to start but may come on as a substitute.
Khazar will be without Elnur Allahverdiyev after the defender was sent off for two cautions in the latter stages of the match at the Centenary Stadium.
As part of their build-up for today’s match, Khazar played a friendly against Birkirkara last weekend. The match ended 1-1.
The winner of the Khazar-Sliema encounter will play Israel’s Maccabi Haifa in the next round.
Elsewhere, Hibernians will be aiming to make a dignified exit from this season’s Europa League after a 4-1 home defeat to Serbian side FK Vojvodina all but ended their qualifying hopes.
Coach Branko Nisevic will be hoping that his team avoid the mistakes that marred an otherwise encouraging showing at home in tonight’s second leg in Novi Sad (kick-off: 20.30).
Nisevic is expected to take measures to limit the threat posed by Omarou Abou-bakar as his surging runs caused Hibs a lot of worries during last week’s match.
Veteran goalkeeper Mario Muscat, one of Hibs’ best players in the home game, didn’t make the trip to Serbia for family reasons.
In the second round, the winner of the Vojvodina/Hibs tie will probably meet Budapest Honved as the latter lead Montenegro’s Celik Niksic 4-1 ahead of today’s second leg in Hungary.