Balzan seek win to maintain pressure

Balzan will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to twelve matches as they take on Naxxar Lions in one of the four BOV Premier League matches in programme on Saturday at the Victor Tedesco Stadium and Hibernians Stadium.

Floriana take on St. Andrews, Birkirkara face Sliema Wanderers while Tarxien Rainbows meet Qormi.
Floriana vs St. Andrews, kick-off 14:00 at Hibernians Stadium
Following a 0-2 defeat to Balzan, Floriana hope to bounce back as they take on St. Andrews. However the Saints’ morale is high following a 2-1 win over Pembroke Athleta in their last outing which enabled them to abandon the bottom spot for the first time this season.

Both sides are expected to be in full strength apart from Floriana’s Jurgen Pisani who is ruled out injured.

In the first round, Floriana defeated St. Andrews 3-2 but the second round clash ended in a comfortable 5-0 win.

Birkirkara vs Sliema Wanderers, kick-off 16:00 at Hibernians Stadium
After coming from behind to beat Tarxien 2-1, Birkirkara target a fourth win in five matches as they take on a Sliema Wanderers side desperate for victory after winning one out of the last nine matches and losing six. In their last outing, they lost 0-3 to Valletta.

Cain Attard and Edison Bilbao Zarate return for Birkirkara after missing the clash with Tarxien but Joseph Zerafa is suspended while Mauricio Mazzetti and Nikola Vukanac are ruled out injured. Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Denni, Mandinho and Gary Muir will be back for Sliema after serving a one-match ban.

Birkirkara beat Sliema 3-1 and 2-0 in the previous rounds.

Balzan vs Naxxar Lions, kick-off 14:00 at Victor Tedesco Stadium
Balzan target a tenth win in twelve matches as they face Naxxar Lions who are coming from four heavy defeats in which they conceded nineteen goals including last week’s 0-8 defeat to Hibernians. Balzan, on the other hand, defeated Floriana 2-0.

Dylan Grima and Samir Arab are suspended for Balzan while Ryan Fenech is ruled out injured. Naxxar could not count on captain Andrew Scicluna.

Balzan defeated Naxxar 2-0 and 4-2 in the previous rounds.

Tarxien Rainbows vs Qormi, kick-off 16:15 at Victor Tedesco Stadium
After losing 1-2 to Birkirkara, Tarxien Rainbows will be all out to return to winning ways as they take Qormi who are coming from eleven straight defeats.

Alex da Paixao Alves, Sergio Fernandez Prendes and Alex Nilsson are unavailable for Tarxien. Emerson Vella and Clifford Gauci are suspended for Qormi.

Tarxien defeated Qormi 4-1 and 4-0 in the previous league encounters and 4-1 after extra-time in the FA Trophy.