The next opponent of Maccabi Haifa in the CL is Strum Gratz from Austria. The first game will be held in Bulgaria.
Tough opponent. Going to Bulgaria isn't really all that much of an "away" fixture for the Austrians is it?
Somehow, Strum is getting the fact that this will infact be an easy game for them.... 2 weeks ago, they were fearing Hapoel's outlook, because they saw how they were playing. Later on they got the notion that there actually playing an Israeli team. Oddly enough both sides look like there the same, though the Strum coach mentioned he fears of Maccabis Attackers... "Just too good" As he points out!
I can't see any reason for Sturm Graz to be confident of advancing. They're not good enough to take anyone lightly.
Strum are a top contender, and they have every right to be so.. They made it to the CL 4 out 5 years.... So some might count on them, but they narrowly lost to Hapoel Tel Aviv, a couple of years back and they know how hard that game was, and now they have a bigger contender in Israel called Maccabi Haifa. The tables have turned!