Depleted Valletta aim at returning to winning ways

After losing their unbeaten record, Valletta will be aiming at returning to winning ways on Saturday as they take on Mqabba in one of the two BOV Premier League matches in programme at the National Stadium.

After winning the first four matches, the Citizens not only lost 0-2 to Hibernians last Sunday but also lost three players who were sent off and are therefore ruled out of this game. Ryan Fenech, Gilbert Agius and Steve Borg were suspended three, two and one match respectively.

Also ruled out for the Citizens are Michael Mifsud and Brazilian defender Ramon Dos Santos who is yet to make his first appearance this season.

Mqabba will be hoping for another good performance after collecting seven points out of the last three matches as they defeated Marsaxlokk and Balzan Youths and held Birkirkara in a draw. A setback for the Reds is the injury suffered by Andrew Scicluna who has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile in the first match, Sliema Wanderers take on Balzan Youths.

Together with Hibernians, Sliema Wanderers are still unbeaten, collecting eleven points in three wins and two draws so far. They are coming from a narrow win over Birkirkara last week.

On the other hand, besides being awarded a 2-0 win by the MFA Protests Board, Balzan collected their only point in a draw with Mosta and they are therefore keen to obtain a positive result from this game.

The absence of Pedro Dos Santos Calcado makes the task more difficult for the Youths after he was handed a two-match ban. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza is ruled out injured but Danial Mitev returns for the Blues after serving a suspension.