Leaders Valletta aim to return to winning ways

Leaders Valletta will be all out to return to winning ways on Saturday as they take on Balzan in one of the four matches in programme at the National Stadium and the Hibernians Stadium.

Meanwhile relegation to Division 1 could be decided on Saturday as St. Andrews take on Naxxar Lions and Qormi face Sliema Wanderers. Pembroke Athleta take on Tarxien Rainbows in a game between two teams lying in a mid-table position.

St. Andrews vs Naxxar Lions, kick-off 16:00 at Hibernians Stadium
Naxxar Lions need only a point to secure the play-off spot as they take on St. Andrews in a clash between the teams lying second and third from bottom. The Lions lie on the 12-point mark, followed by St. Andrews on 7 and Qormi on 6.

With a draw, Naxxar would condemn St. Andrews and Qormi to Division 1. On the other hand, should St. Andrews beat Naxxar, they would also need to beat Qormi in the last match, hoping that Naxxar lose to Sliema next week in order to clinch the play-off spot.

Naxxar earned five points from their last three matches after beating Mosta and two draws with Pembroke and Qormi. St. Andrews, on the other hand, lost their last five matches.

Michael Johnson is ruled out for St. Andrews as he serves a one-match ban. Edu Vallecillo will be back for Naxxar after serving a one-match ban.

Naxxar defeated St. Andrews 2-1 in the first round with the Saints winning the second round clash 1-0.

Qormi vs Sliema Wanderers, kick-off 18:00 at Hibernians Stadium
Qormi could only hope to beat both Sliema and St. Andrews and that the Saints beat Naxxar in order to avoid the bottom two places and set-up a clash with Senglea Athletic in the play-off. However they failed to win any of the last sixteen matches after fifteen consecutive defeats and a draw with Naxxar.

The Wanderers, on the other hand, registered three consecutive wins as they beat Pembroke, Mosta and Sliema.

For Qormi, Ryan Micallef is suspended.

Following a goalless draw in the first round, Sliema defeated Qormi 6-3 in the second.

Pembroke Athleta vs Tarxien Rainbows, kick-off 16:00 at National Stadium
Tarxien Rainbows hope to return to winning ways after suffering three consecutive defeats to Valletta, Hibernians and Mosta in their last three outings. Pembroke, on the other hand, are coming from a fine 3-2 win over Floriana last week and are now fully focussed on the FA Trophy semi-finals after eliminating Pietà Hotspurs.

Carlos Menendez Hevia and Ebiabowei Baker will be back after missing the last league game, although both played in the FA Trophy quarter-final which they lost in extra-time to Balzan.

Tarxien defeated Pembroke 2-1 in the first round but Pembroke registered a 1-0 win in the second.

Balzan vs Valletta, kick-off 18:00 at National Stadium
After losing to Floriana and earning just a point in a draw with Birkirkara, Valletta cannot afford anything other than a win as they take on third-placed Balzan. The latter disappointed in a 1-3 defeat to Hibernians last week.

Jonathan Caruana and Romeu Pericles Romao return for Valletta but Juan Cruz Gill is suspended. For Balzan, Clive Brincat will be back after missing the last league game.

Balzan defeated Valletta 1-0 in the first round but the Citizens registered a 2-1 win in the second round.

3 comments

  1. Jekk Balzan jispiccaw fir-raba’ post u sliema jew Pembroke jirbhu t-trophy Balzan jikkwalifikaw ghall-Ewropa?

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