Maccabi Netanya landed in Malta yesterday ahead of the Europa League second qualifying round, first leg against Sliema Wanderers at the Centenary Stadium tomorrow (kick-off: 17.45).
The Israeli outfit were led by coach Nati Azaria who was greeted at the airport by Sliema Wanderers president Steve Abela. Azaria took charge of the team this season after the resignation of former Germany great Lothar Matthaeus last May.
Maccabi, who qualified for the Europa League after finishing fourth in the league, have just concluded a 15-day training camp in Antalya, Turkey.
They played against Russian side Rostov and lost 2-1 and then drew 0-0 with Manisaspor, of Turkey, in another friendly.
The 42-year-old Azaria, whose association with Maccabi goes back to the days when he was still a junior player, said that he is treating the Sliema tie very seriously and is expecting a tough challenge from the Maltese team.
"It's going to be a very difficult game for us," Azaria told The Times yesterday.
"We are here with a very young team with very little experience in Europe. At the end of last season, most of our best players left the club and we decided to start building a new team with the ones that came through our youth ranks.
"So far, we know very little about Sliema. For sure, they have some experienced players in the squad who form part of the national team but other than that I don't know much."
Azaria said he was impressed by the results achieved by Maltese teams in the Europa League so far, particularly Valletta's qualification against Keflavik. That, he said, should act as a warning sign to his players not to underestimate the Wanderers.
"Maltese teams have done pretty well in the Europa League this season," Azaria said.
"I was particularly impressed by Valletta's qualification to the second qualifying round. It's a good sign for the sport in this country and it means Malta has made progress in club football.
"Maccabi have to be very careful and give our opponents the respect they deserve. Our objective this season is to try and go a step further than last year when we were eliminated in the second qualifying round to Bulgaria's Cherno More Varna."
Mifsud Triganza doubtful
Sliema Wanderers are sweating on the fitness of striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, club president Steve Abela revealed yesterday.
The former Birkirkara forward, who joined the Wanderers last month, is struggling with a back injury after colliding with one of his team-mates in training yesterday.
"We are keeping our fingers crossed that it's nothing serious," Abela said.
"Jean Pierre had some tests to see the extent of his injury but we are hopeful that he will be available for the first leg. Losing him will be a big blow for us."
After tomorrow's match, Sliema will play Sheffield Wednesday and Birkirkara in a triangular tournament at the Tedesco Stadium on Thursday.
Sheffield Wednesday arrived in Malta last weekend for a brief pre-season training camp here.
Today, they will figure in another triangular tournament, also at the ground in Ħamrun. Their opponents in two 45-minute matches will be Floriana and Dingli Swallows. First match starts at 8 p.m.