Maroons take on Birkirkara as BOV Premier League resumes

Gzira United will be eyeing a win on Friday in their bid to move top as they take on Birkirkara at the Centenary Stadium, kick-off at 19:00.

The Maroons are currently second in the BOV Premier League, along with Valletta, one point behind leaders Balzan. They won three out of the last four matches and a win on Friday would confirm their status as one of the main challengers for honours this season.

Birkirkara, on the other hand, are currently eighth on 22 points – eight behind Gzira. They registered three wins in their last three outings and hope to start 2018 on a high after the disappointing start to the season.

Both sides made changes in their squads over the past days. Birkirkara signed Macedonian international goalkeeper Kritijan Naumovski, Brazilian defender Fernando Barbosa Pereira and welcomed back Serbian midfielder Srjdan Dimitrov. On the other hand, they released Martin Klein, Landry Mulemo, Fabiano Oliveira and Ernest Webnje N’For. The Maroons, on the other hand, secured the services of former Hamrun Spartans striker Haruna Garba but released Samba Tounkara and Sem Kamana Ogolong.

Birkirkara’s Cain Attard and Nikola Vukanac and Gzira’s Roderick Briffa and Amadou Samb are ruled out as they serve a one-match ban.

Gzira defeated Birkirkara 2-0 in the first round.

Photo: Copyright © Jonathan Bugeja