With the final round of matches in the Slovenian league having been played on Saturday, it has now been ascertained that it will be Maribor who will be facing Birkirkara in the qualifying round of the Intertoto Cup next month.
The Slovenian giants made sure of their berth in the competition after defeating FC Interblock 3-0 on the final day, thus finishing in third place.
Maribor had been Slovenian champions for the past seven years but have shown they were in decline during the past season.
They are coached by Marijan Pusnik who is now eyeing a good run in the competition to try and qualify for a UEFA Cup place via the Intertoto Cup.
On Saturday, Maribor played with the following formation: Pridigar, Džiniè, Samardžiè, Cipot, Celcer, Lungu, Mezga, Miheliè (od 73. Buzeti), Tomažiè-Šeruga, Makriev (od 61. Zajc), Pekiè (od 75. Diarra.
Trainer: Marijan Pušnik
Meanwhile, UEFA has also announced the seeded teams for the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, where Malta, this year, will be represented by Marsaxlokk (Champions) and Sliema W. and Hibernians (UEFA Cup).
Marsaxlokk could be drawn against one of the following teams: Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia), APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus), NK Domzale (Slovenia), Elfsborg (Sweden), Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Ventspils (Latvia), Zilina (Slovakia), Derry City (Ireland), Hafnarfjardar (Iceland), Kaunas (Lithuania), Tampere United (Finland), FC Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova), Olimpij Rustavi (Georgia) and Pobeda Prilep (Macedonia).
In the UEFA, pooisble opponents for Sliema and Hibernians are the following:
Partizan Belgrade (Serbia), Litex Lovech (Bulgaria), Hajduk Split (Croatia), Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel), Vojvodina Novi Sad (Serbia), FK Bezanija (Serbia), Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus), NK Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Slaven Belupo (Croatia), Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus), Koper (Slovenia), Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia-Herzegovina).
UEFA Champions League first qualifying round matches are to be played on 17-18 July (first legs) and 24-25 July (second legs).
UEFA Cup first qualifying round matches will be played on 19 July (first legs) and 2 August (second legs).