Maroons hope to return to winning ways

After dropping four points in two draws with Pietà Hotspurs and Valletta, joint-leaders Gzira United will be hoping to return to winning ways as they take on Floriana at the Hibernians Stadium, on Saturday kick-off at 16:00, in one of the four matches in programme.

Although they are still unbeaten, the points lost by the Maroons in their last two outings allowed Hibernians to join them on top. A win is a must to make sure they stay top. However this will be no easy task as Floriana, who defeated Mosta 1-0 in their last outing after three successive defeats, are eager to collect more precious points in order to climb further up the table. The Greens are currently ninth on twelve points.

Making his debut for Floriana will be coach Guido Ugolotti who replaced Luis Oliveira before the international break. Gzira, on the other hand, could not count on the injured Amadou Samb.

In the first match at the Hibernians Stadium, kick-off at 14:00, Mosta take on Birkirkara.

New Mosta coach Mark Miller will hope to end the Blues’ disappointing run as they lost their last five matches, collecting just one point from the last seven matches. They are currently third from bottom on seven points. However Birirkara are also eager to impress after losing four out of their last six matches and are currently seventh on fifteen points.

Birkirkara’s Kurt Zammit and Mosta’s Alessio De Cerchio are ruled out as they serve a one-match ban.

Meanwhile in the first match at the Centenary Stadium, kick-off at 14:00, Senglea Athletic face Sliema Wanderers.

After suffering back-to-back defeats to Hibernians and Birkirkara, the Wanderers returned to winning ways in a 2-0 victory over Qormi. However they now share fourth place with Balzan and Hamrun Spartans, losing ground with Gzira, Hibernians and Valletta. Senglea, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the table, on level points with Qormi. They lost eight of the ten matches played so far and are therefore desperate to collect precious points in the battle against relegation.

Senglea captain Ferdinando Salvati is ruled out through suspension.

In the second match at the Centenary Stadium, kick-off at 16:15, Valletta will be all out to return to winning ways and extend their positive run to nine matches after the draw with leaders Gzira two weeks ago. A win which would enable them to keep the pressure on both Gzira and Hibernians. The Saints, however, are proving to be a hard nut to crack and won three out of the last five matches. They are currently eighth on 13 points.

The Citizens could not count on the suspended Joseph Zerafa.