Greens hope to upset rivals Valletta

Floriana will be hoping to upset eternal rivals Valletta as the two teams cross swords in one of the two Championship Pool matches in programme on Sunday.

The Citizens lead the way with 27 points, followed by Birkirkara on 21 and Floriana on 20. The Greens will therefore aim at obtaining a positive result from this game as they target a return to European football. Besides the champion and the U*BET FA Trophy winner, only the runner-up will make it to the European competions this summer.

After suffering a heavy defeat to Marsaxlokk, Floriana bounced back with a 5-1 win over Tarxien Rainbows and a 2-0 victory over Hamrun Spartans. They had managed to hold Valletta in a goalless draw in the first round but the second round clash ended in a 2-0 win for the Citizens.

Valletta returned to winning ways last week as they beat Birkirkara 1-0 following two draws with Hamrun and Marsaxlokk. A win over Floriana would move them nine points clear and one step closer towards the twentieth championship in the history of the club.

Ryan Fenech will be back for the Citizens after serving a one-match ban but Jamie Pace is ruled out through suspension. Roderick Briffa is injured. Floriana, on the other hand, should be in full strength with Italian defender Mauro Di Lello possibly making his debut for the club.

Meanwhile in the first match, Hamrun Spartans take on Tarxien Rainbows.

One point separates the two teams with Tarxien on 15 and Hamrun on 14 but the Rainbows disappointed in recent outings as they collected just one point from the last five matches. In fact they lost the three Championship Pool matches played so far, losing to Birkirkara, Floriana and Marsaxlokk.

The Spartans, on the other hand, collected two points in draws with Valletta and Birkirkara before suffering a 0-2 defeat to Floriana.

Jovan Vukanic will be back for the Spartans after missing the last game through suspension. Justin Grioli and Mark Tanti are both ruled out for Tarxien.

The two first phase clashes ended in two 3-1 wins – one for Hamrun in the first round and one for Tarxien in the second.

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