Sheriff host Maccabi Haifa at the Sheriff Stadium in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round first leg on Wednesday (July 26).
The two sides entered the competition in the first qualifying round, with Sheriff besting Romanian side Farul Constanța 3-1, while Maccabi Haifa crushed Hamrun Spartans 6-1 on aggregate.
The hosts followed a similar path in the previous edition, reaching the third qualifying round before bowing out to Czech side Viktoria Plzen (4-2).
Zholto-Chornyye won the Moldovan Super Liga last season to book their place in the Champions League qualifiers. They have been active in the transfer market ahead of their continental campaign. Eight new players have been recruited, including Brazilian winger Luvannor, while seven others were recalled from loan.
Maccabi, meanwhile, clinched their third straight title in the Israeli Premier League last season to earn qualification for the Champions League qualifiers.
Last season, they played in four stages of the competition – second and third qualifying rounds, playoffs and group stage. They're yet to reach the knockouts.
The Greens have signed a couple of new players, while close to 20 are retuning from loan spells. However, new centre-forward Anan Khalaili will miss the clash due to a knee inflammation, as well as ailing influential left-back Sun Menahem.
Maccabi will hit the road on the back of three consecutive wins, with nine goals scored.
Sheriff paraded a couple of outstanding players last season, who could help their cause again this term.
Nigerian striker Rasheed Akanbi was the league’s top scorer award with eight goals while Senegal’s Mouhamed Diop netted four times and also had four assists. Ghanaian goalkeeper Razak Abalora registered seven
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