Salzburg seeking repeat performance

FC Salzburg will hope history repeats itself when they lock horns with Maccabi Haifa FC for a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Quotes
Huub Stevens, Salzburg coach
We have a lot of respect for Maccabi because we know they are strong and doing very good work with the development of young players in Israel. We know they have good forwards but we will look to get everything right from our side first, to concentrate on our game. I don't know if there is a favourite in this tie but we need to play well in both legs, here and next week. It will be historic for either club to reach the group stage.

Elisha Levi, Maccabi coach
These are two good teams, both with chances of qualifying. It's 50-50 so we will be giving it our all to make the next round. We've been playing together for a long time, we're confident and have the perfect mix of youth and experience to give us the best possible chance. At different times [this season] we've shown we can defend and attack – now it's about striking the perfect balance between the two.

Key stats
• Both teams are striving to secure their second participation in the UEFA Champions League with Slazburg having reached the group stage in 1994/95 and Maccabi in 2002/03.

• The two clubs have met twice before, in the 1994/95 qualifying round, when Salzburg overcame Maccabi 5-2 on aggregate to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the only previous time. Mladen Mladenović scored three goals over the two legs for the Austrian side.

• Maccabi's veteran defender Alon Harazi was in the starting XI for both legs.

• Maccabi have won their two subsequent two-legged ties against Austrian opponents. After beating SV Ried in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round, they defeated SK Sturm Graz in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

How they reached the play-offs
• Salzburg have relied on their away form to get them this far. They drew both at home to Bohemian FC and NK Dinamo Zagreb before winning each tie with late goals in the subsequent away leg, Patrik Jezek's 86th-minute goal earning a 1-0 win at Bohemians and Robin Nelisse's effort seven minutes from time securing a 2-1 success in Zagreb.

• Maccabi reached the play-off round thanks to a remarkable comeback against FK Aktobe in the third qualifying round. Following a goalless away draw, they were 3-0 down after just 15 minutes in Haifa but battled back to win 4-3, Vladimer Dvalishvili scoring the final two goals. Elisha Levi's men had earlier seen off Glentoran FC 10-0 in the second qualifying round.

Team news
• Salzburg
Out: René Aufhauser (torn stomach muscle), Anis Boussaidi (muscular problem), Louis Ngwat-Mahop (torn muscle), Karel Piták (torn cruciate ligaments)
Doubtful: Admir Vladavič (torn knee ligaments)
Suspended: Ibrahim Sekagya
Misses next match if booked: Thomas Augustinussen, Milan Dudić, Franz Schiemer, Admir Vladavič

• Maccabi
Out: none
Suspended: Jorge Texeira
Misses next match if booked: Nir Davidovitch, Dekel Keinan, Lior Refaelov

Previous competitive results
15/08/09 SK Vorwärts Steyr 1-7 Salzburg (Austrian Cup)
(Vogel 90; Rakić 3 12 14 75, Nelisse 47 67, Sekagya 52)

15/08/09 Hapoel Petah-Tikva FC 1-1 Maccabi (Israeli League Cup)
(Arbeitman 62)

Did you know?
Since appearing in the competition in 1994/95 Salzburg have fallen short in four subsequent qualifying bids. Maccabi have failed in five of their six previous attempts.