Valletta, Birkirkara in top-of-the-table clash

valletta-bkara140202pzcValletta and Birkirkara cross swords at the National Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the big-match from the BOV Premier League. A game which may give an indication which way will the 2013/14 Premier League championship will go.

The Stripes lead the way by just two points after a narrow defeat to Hibernians last week. A win would therefore enable them to restore the five-point lead they enjoyed up to last week. But still this game is not a do-or-die clash as there would still be another five games to go until the end of the season.

For the Stripes, it was the second defeat in six matches after a fine run in which they dropped only three points in eighteen matches.

Valletta, on the other hand, are coming from an unbeaten run of ten matches, including a 2-1 win over Birkirkara last month. The first round clash between the two teams ended in a 1-0 win for Birkirkara.

Valletta are expected to be in full strength but Birkirkara will be lacking the suspended Ryan Scicluna.

Meanwhile in the first match, Floriana are firm favourites to return to winning ways as they take on bottom-placed Rabat Ajax.

The Greens drew 1-1 with Naxxar in their last outing but are still second in the Relegation Pool, one point ahead of Qormi and Naxxar and four ahead of Vittoriosa.

Rabat lost seven of the last eight matches and are destined to playing in Division 1 next season. Jonathan Bajada is ruled out through suspension while Dylan Falzon, Dani Pelaez, Adam Smeir and David Azzopardi are injured.

Floriana beat Rabat 4-0 and 3-2 in the first phase.

Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar