Gżira, Ħamrun and Floriana face tougher assignments in Conference League

Gżira United could be facing familiar opposition should they progress from the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, while Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans will be heading to Eastern Europe as the draw of the second qualifying round was held on Wednesday.

Gżira United, who on Tuesday were drawn to face Andorra side Atletic Club D’Escaldes, are on collision course with Serbian side Radnicki.

No doubt, the Maltese outfit have a tough task on their hands should they proceed to the second qualifying round as they have first-hand experience of the strength of Radnicki.

In fact, the Maroons have already faced the Serbian side in the Europa League qualifiers in season 2018-19 and on that occasion Radnicki proved to be too strong for the Maltese side as they strolled through to the next round after recording 4-0 and 1-0 wins to complete a 5-0 aggregate success.

On the other hand, Floriana, who will be up against Moldova’s Petrocub Hincesti in the first qualifying round, will await the winner of the tie between Albanian side Laci or Iskra, of Montenegro.

Ħamrun Spartans, on the other hand, will head to Bosnia Herzegovina should they manage to negotiate a way into the second qualifying round at expense of Armenian side Alashkert.

In fact, the Spartans will be taking on FK Velez, the winners of the Bosnian Cup last season, and who are regarded as one of the most successful teams in their country.

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s draw also decided who will be the opponents of Hibernians, should the Malta champions crash out of the Champions League at the expense of Shamrock Rovers.

In that case, Stefano Sanderra’s team will be up against the winner of the tie between Levadia Tallinn, of Estonia, or Vikingur, of Denmark