After winning their domestic league championship last season, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, the Club’s Under-19 team took part in the UEFA Youth League draw. The young Yellow & Blue will face FC Anzhi Makhachkala from Russia in a two legged tie and should Guy Tzarfati’s squad advance they will play the winner of the match between Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v Maribor (SVN).

The first leg against Anzhi will take place in the city of Astrakhan on October 3rd, while the return leg will be played at the Ramle Stadium on October 24th. Should Maccabi advance the next round tie against either Sigma or Maribor will take place on November 7th away and on November 28th at home.

The Youth Department Director Guy Zukerman said: “It’s not a simple draw and it will be a difficult trip to get to the away match in Russia. From a professional side, I’m certain that we will be able to stand up to them and advance. In terms of the second draw should we advance, I’m sure that we will also be able to compete and continue to move along in the competition.”

“It’s always an incredible experience to be a part of the Champions League,” Zukerman continued. “I recall that when we participated in the group stages a few seasons ago, it was quite a wonderful experience. And now to be a part of a draw with some of the top youth departments in Europe, is also something extra special and gives us a tremendous amount of energy, respect and honor. I hope that we will also be able to honor the club with our performance on the pitch.”

Domestic Champions path guide

This path involves the domestic youth champions of the 32 best-ranked associations in the 2017 UEFA association coefficient rankings (the same rankings used to decide access to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League).
Vacancies in the domestic champions path (because a club is instead eligible for the UEFA Champions League path, for example Atlético and Inter) are filled by the domestic youth champion of the next best-ranked association (in the above cases, Moldova and Iceland).
Chelsea, who won this competition in 2014/15 and 2015/16 but lost last season’s final to Barcelona, enter this path.
Two-time semi-finalists Anderlecht keep up their record of entering all six editions.
Debuts: AEL Limassol, Anji, Bohemians, FC Admira, Hamilton Academical, Hertha Berlin, Illés Akadémia, Lech Poznań, KR, Montpellier, Septemvri Sofia, Signa Olomouc, Žilina.

Road to Nyon

Play-offs
In the draw on 17 December, the eight Domestic Champions path survivors will be drawn at home to the eight UEFA Champions League path runners-up in one-off ties to be played on 12/13 February to decide the eight remaining round of 16 berths. The other eight places are taken by the UEFA Champions League path group winners.

Dates
Play-off draw: 17 December
Play-offs: 19/20 February
Knockout draw (round of 16 onwards): 22 February
Round of 16: 12/13 February
Quarter-finals: 2/3 April
Semi-final: 26 April, Nyon
Final: 29 April, Nyon