Floriana, Tarxien aim at returning to winning ways

After disappointing in recent outings, Floriana and Tarxien Rainbows will be hoping to return to winning ways on Saturday as the two teams face each other in a clash from the Championship Pool at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday.

The two teams were among the most pleasant surprises this season as they did very well for most of the first phase when they seemed to be the main challengers for honours behind leaders Valletta.

Floriana are eager to bounce back after suffering four consecutive defeats to Tarxien, Sliema, Valletta and Marsaxlokk. Four defeats in which they suffered ten goals and scored two and which also meant the sacking of technical director Todor Raykov and the release of Marcal Guerreiro Fernandes and Kiril Dzhorov. The club has in the mean time appointed Eric Schembri as club trainer to assist coach Michael Woods.

The Rainbows, on the other hand, picked just one point from the last three matches following a goalless draw with Birkirkara and two 1-3 defeats to Hibernians and Birkirkara.

Floriana’s Clyde Borg is unavailable as he serves a one-match ban but Duncan Pisani will be back. Ivan Woods and Daniel Nwoke are in doubt as they are recovering from injuries. For Tarxien, Daniel Mariano Bueno, Manuel Caruana and Justin Grioli are all ruled out through suspension but Gianluca Calabretta and Ryan Mintoff return after serving a one-match ban.

Tarxien have already defeated Floriana twice this season 2-0 and 3-1.

Meanwhile in a match from the Relegation Pool, Vittoriosa Stars take on Qormi.

The Stars lie five points behind Qormi and Hibernians and therefore cannot afford any result other than a win from Saturday’s game if they aim at maintaining alive hopes of avoiding a quick return to Division 1. After collecting just one point from the previous three matches, Vittoriosa lost the first game of the Relegation Pool, suffering a 1-2 defeat to Hibernians.

Qormi, on the other hand, hope to beat Vittoriosa in order to move eight points clear. However they definitely need to improve after a most disappointing 0-4 defeat to Sliema Wanderers last Monday. Goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia will be back after serving a one-match ban.

Qormi won the first round clash 4-2 while the second round clash ended in a 2-2 draw.

Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com