Four teams seek remaining Championship Pool spots

Marsaxlokk, Qormi, Hamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers will be seeking one of the two remaining Championship Pool spots as the final three matches from the first phase of the BOV Premier League will be played simultaneously at three different venues, kick-off at 15:00.

The Southseasiders lead the way with 23 points, followed by Qormi and Hamrun on 20 and Sliema on 19.

Marsaxlokk need just one point from the game against Qormi to secure a place in the Championship Pool.

Qormi have to beat Marsaxlokk by at least four goals to make sure of a place in the Championship Pool. In fact, if they beat Marsaxlokk and Hamrun beat Vittoriosa, the three teams would end their commitments on 23 points. The direct encounters would be taken into account and since the three of them would have collected six points, the goal difference and then the number of goals scored in these encounters will be considered.

With a four-goal win, Qormi would have the better record and Marsaxlokk and Hamrun would have to play a decider. With a smaller win, Qormi would have to face Marsaxlokk in another decider, should Hamrun beat Vittoriosa.

The Spartans need a win over Vittoriosa and hope that if Qormi beat Marsaxlokk, it would be by less than four goals. In case of a draw for Hamrun, they would have to hope that Marsaxlokk beat Qormi and Sliema fail to beat Hibs.

Sliema would have to beat Hibernians and hope that both Qormi and Hamrun lose in the other two games. In case of a draw for Sliema and defeats for Qormi and Hamrun, the three teams will end on 20 points. A decider would be necessary between the best two teams in direct encounters – Hamrun and Sliema – with Marsaxlokk making it to the Championship Pool.

Qormi vs Marsaxlokk @ Hibernians Ground
Qormi had already defeated Marsaxlokk 1-0 in the first round and will be all out in search of a comfortable win. They are coming from a 4-1 win over Birkirkara in their last outing.

Marsaxlokk, who drew 2-2 with Vittoriosa last week, have four players suspended – Rumen Galabov, Andrew Spiteri, Gareth Sciberras and Martin Deanov but Trevor Templeman and Peter Pullicino will be back after serving a one-match ban.

Vittoriosa S. vs Hamrun S. @ National Stadium
Hamrun Spartans will be all out for the three points in their bid to secure a top six finish. After suffering four consecutive defeats, they managed to earn a point in a draw with leaders Valletta. Dene Shields and Massimo Grima are ruled out through suspension.

Lying at the bottom of the table, the Stars hope to upset the Spartans by collecting precious points in the battle against relegation.

In the first round, Hamrun defeated Vittoriosa 2-0.

Sliema W. vs Hibernians @ Victor Tedesco Stadium
After beating Floriana 1-0 in their last outing, the Wanderers hope a win over Hibernians would enable them to secure a place in the Championship Pool. Obinna Obiefule is ruled out through suspension.

The Paolites hope to collect precious points in their bid to narrow the gap with the teams who will be leading the way in the Relegation Pool.

In the first round, the two teams shared the spoils in a goalless draw.

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