Sixteen teams will be searching for a place in the quarter finals as the U*BET FA Trophy takes centre stage this weekend with eight matches from the fourth round – four on Saturday and another four on Sunday.
On Saturday, four Premier League clubs will be facing each other in two of the matches while another two Premier League clubs take on clubs from Division 1 and 2 respectively.
In the first match at the National Stadium, Balzan Youths take on holders Floriana.
The Youths are currently sixth on 24 points thanks to four wins out of their last six matches. On the other hand, Floriana lie in third place as they extended their positive run to eight matches without defeat.
In the third round of the competition, Balzan beat First Division side Zejtun Corinthians 2-1 while Floriana found no difficulty in beating Third Division side 6-1.
Floriana and Balzan already met once in the BOV Premier League with the Greens claiming a 3-1 win.
In the second match, Sliema Wanderers face Valletta.
A dramatic defeat to Balzan Youths brought the Wanderers’ positive run to an end, leaving them in joint-fourth place on 26 points, together with Birkirkara. Leaders Valletta, on the other hand, kept marching on with a narrow win over Mqabba. They lead the way with 44 points, six ahead of Hibernians.
In the previous round of the FA Trophy, Sliema defeated Mqabba 4-2 while Valletta beat First Division side St. Patrick 2-0.
In the first round of the BOV Premier League, Sliema and Valletta shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
In the first match at the Centenary Stadium, Marsaxlokk take on Pietà Hotspurs.
The Southseasiders lie at the bottom of the Premier League table with eleven points from seventeen matches and are coming from five successive defeats. Pietà, on the other hand, lead the way in the BOV First Division with 25 points from ten matches.
In the third round, Marsaxlokk beat Second Division side San Gwann 5-3. Pietà, on the other hand, beat Third Division side Santa Lucia 5-1 in the second round and Premier League side Tarxien Rainbows in the third round.
In another match at the Centenary Stadium, Mellieha face Qormi.
Mellieha are currently third in the BOV Second Division with 24 points from twelve matches. Qormi, on the other hand, are now seventh with 23 points from seventeen matches after losing four of the last five matches.
In the previous round, Qormi met another Second Division side – Gzira United, beating them 1-0. Mellieha, on the other hand, reached this stage after claiming two wins on penalties following two goalless draws. They eliminated First Division side Melita and Second Division side Siggiewi.
In these games, extra-time will be played if necessary and if the result is still draw at the end of extra-time, penalty kicks shall be awarded according to the Laws of the Game.