Stripes aim at extending lead

hibs-bkara130922Champions and BOV Premier League leaders Birkirkara will be aiming for a ninth consecutive win as they take on Hibernians in this weekend’s big match at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Following Valletta’s shock 1-2 defeat to Naxxar Lions on Saturday, the Stripes could move four points clear should they beat the Paolites.

Birkirkara won twelve of fifteen matches played, losing just one to Hibernians in the first round. Therefore on Sunday, Paul Zammit’s side will seek revenge as a win would give them a more comfortable lead on top apart from putting them six points clear of Hibernians.

A draw would see the Stripes extend the lead to two points with Hibernians moving to just one point behind Valletta. On the other hand, a Hibernians win would put them once again on level points with Birkirkara.

Hibs defeated Rabat 4-1 last week but lost two of the last four matches – to Tarxien and Valletta.

Zoran Levnajic and Marcelo Dias will be back after serving a one-match ban for Hibernians. Joseph Zerafa is ruled out for Birkirkara through suspension.

Meanwhile in the first match, Floriana will be all out for the three points as they take on bottom-placed Rabat Ajax.

Following Naxxar’s shock win over Valletta, the Greens trail by three points to Naxxar and now lie in seventh place. They won four of the last five matches, losing only to Valletta.

Rabat, on the other hand, are currently anchored at the bottom of the table with five points from fifteen matches. They have gone seven matches without a win.

For the Magpies, Dylan Falzon and David Azzopardi will be back after serving a one-match ban but Ivan Carapic is suspended while Jonathan Bajada, Josef Tonna, Adam Smeir and Pavle Velimirovic are all recovering from injuries. Brooke Farrugia and Sunday Eboh will be back for Floriana.

In the first round, Floriana registered a 4-0 win over Rabat.