Floriana and Balzan open their Europa League campaign with tough away assignments at Serbia’s Red Star and Videoton, of Hungary, today.
The two Maltese teams will have a common goal, that of trying to keep alive the tie before next week’s home leg in Corradino.
On paper, Floriana have the most difficult task when playing former European champions Red Star at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, in Belgrade, (kick-off: 8.30pm).
Giovanni Tedesco, the Floriana coach, has kept faith with the bulk of players in the squad that won the FA Trophy last season, with the exception of Senegal striker Amadou Samb and Italian midfielder Antonio Monticelli. Both players were released.
Tedesco has succeeded in bringing in four reinforcements in the close season – defender James Baldacchino, Ghanaian winger Noel Nyason, Vladan Milosavljev, a Serbian midfielder, and Brazilian wingback Ricardo.
Brazilian striker Juninho Cabral, on loan at Senglea Athletic in 2016-17, is back at Floriana and has made the trip to Serbia.
Tedesco cannot bank on wing-back Alex Cini, however. He was not included in the list of players submitted to UEFA in time due to administrative issues.
Tonight, Balzan will be in action at the Panco Arena in Felcstut against Hungarian league giants Videoton (kick-off: 8.45pm).
The Reds are currently under the charge of Serbian duo Marco Micovic and Bojan Stamatovic who took the reins of the team following the departure of Oliver Spiteri.
As part of their pre-season, Balzan have just completed a training camp in Slovenia.
They bolstered the squad with the acquisition of two Serbian players – defender Milan Savic and winger Uro Ljubomirac.
Balzan have also brought in defender Michael Johnson, from St Andrews, and wingback Alex Alves, formerly of Tarxien Rainbows.
First qualifying round – today
| Shirak (Armenia) vs Gorica (Slovenia) | 14.00 |
| I. Pavlodar (Kazakhstan) vs D. Ruse (Bulgaria) | 16.00 |
| K. Almaty (Kazakhstan) vs Atlantas (Lithuania) | 16.45 |
| Partizani (Albania) vs B. Plovdiv (Bulgaria) | 17.00 |
| Pyunik (Armenia) vs S. Bratislava (Slovakia) | 17.00 |
| Ventspils (Lithuania) vs V. Reykjavik (Iceland) | 17.00 |
| Trencin (Slovakia) vs T. Kutaisi (Georgia) | 17.20 |
| D. Minsk (Belarus) vs NSI Runavik (F. Islands) | 17.30 |
| L. Tallinn (Estonia) vs Cork City (Rep. Ireland) | 17.30 |
| C. Sachkhere (Georgia) vs Altach (Austria) | 18.00 |
| D. Batumi (Georgia) vs J. Bialystok (Poland) | 18.00 |
| Shkendija (Macedonia) vs D. Chisinau (Moldova) | 18.00 |
| S. Soligorsk (Belarus) vs Suduva (Lithuania) | 18.00 |
| VPS Vaasa (Finland) vs O. Ljubljana (Slovenia) | 18.00 |
| Lyngby (Denmark) vs Bangor City (Wales) | 18.30 |
| N. Kalju (Estonia) vs B36 Torshavn (F. Islands) | 18.30 |
| B. Jerusalem (Israel) vs Vasas (Hungary) | 18.45 |
| Ferencvaros (Hungary) vs Jelgava (Latvia) | 18.45 |
| AEK Larnaca (Cyprus) vs Lincoln (Gibraltar) | 19.00 |
| Z. Balti (Moldova) vs FK Sarajevo (Bosnia) | 19.00 |
| Haugesund (Norway) vs Coleraine (N. Ireland) | 19.00 |
| L. Sofia (Bulgaria) vs Sutjeska (Montenegro) | 19.00 |
| Odds (Norway) vs Ballymena (N. Ireland) | 19.00 |
| UE Santa Coloma (Andorra) vs Osijek (Croatia) | 19.00 |
| Zira (Azerbaijan) vs Differdange (Luxembourg) | 19.00 |
| Fola Esch (Luxembourg) vs M. Orhei (Moldova) | 19.30 |
| Bala Town (Wales) vs Vaduz (Liechtenstein) | 20.00 |
| Connah’s Quay (Wales) vs HJK Helsinki (Finland) | 20.00 |
| Midtjylland (Denmark) vs Derry City (Rep. Ireland) | 20.00 |
| IFK Norrkoping (Sweden) vs Prishtina (Kosovo) | 20.00 |
| M. Tel Aviv (Israel) vs Tirana (Albania) | 20.00 |
| Skenderbeu (Albania) vs Sant Julia (Andorra) | 20.00 |
| Vojvodina (Serbia) vs Ruzomberok (Slovakia) | 20.00 |
| KI Klaksvik (F. Islands) vs AIK (Sweden) | 20.00 |
| Domzale (Slovenia) vs F. Tallinn (Estonia) | 20.30 |
| Red Star (Serbia) vs Floriana (Malta) | 20.30 |
| Mladost (Serbia) vs Inter Baku (Azerbaijan) | 20.30 |
| Mladost (Montenegro) vs Gandzasar-Kapan (Armenia) | 20.30 |
| Tre Penne (San Marino) vs Rabotnicki (Macedonia) | 20.30 |
| Crusaders (N. Ireland) vs Liepaja (Latvia) | 20.45 |
| S. Brijeg (Bosnia) vs Ordabasy (Kazakhstan) | 20.45 |
| L. Poznan (Poland) vs Pelister (Macedonia) | 20.45 |
| Rangers (Scotland) vs P. Niederkorn (Luxembourg) | 20.45 |
| St Joseph’s (Gibraltar) vs AEL Limassol (Cyprus) | 20.45 |
| St Johnstone (Scotland) vs Trakai (Lithuania) | 20.45 |
| Valletta (Malta) vs Folgore (San Marino) | 20.45 |
| Videoton (Hungary) vs Balzan (Malta) | 20.45 |
| Zeljeznicar (Bosnia) vs Zeta (Montenegro) | 20.45 |
| KR Reykjavik (Iceland) vs SJK Seinaajoki (Finland) | 21.15 |
| Stjarnan (Iceland) vs Shamrock Rovers (Rep. Ireland) | 21.15 |
Second legs: July 4 and 6.