The BOV Premier League title 2018/19 will be at stake on Saturday evening as Valletta take on Hamrun Spartans and Hibernians face Balzan in two of the three matches which bring down the curtain on this season’s championship.
Lying two points ahead of Hibernians, Valletta start as slim favourites for the title but Hamrun Spartans, like Balzan, have everything to play for as the fourth place, which could mean a spot in the UEFA Europa League is also at stake.
A win for Valletta would hand them the title while in case of a draw and a win for Hibernians, the Citizens and the Paolites would end their commitments on level points and a championship decider would be necessary. Hibernians, on the other hand, would claim the title if they beat Balzan and Valletta lose to Hamrun.
On the other hand, the battle for fourth place sees Hamrun lying in fourth place on 45 points, followed by Balzan on 43 and Sliema on 42.
Should they beat Valletta, Hamrun would secure fourth place while in case of a draw, they would still finish fourth if Balzan fail to beat Hibernians. Balzan have to beat Hibernians, hoping that Hamrun lose to Valletta, to clinch fourth place. In case of a win for Balzan and a draw for Hamrun, a decider would be necessary to determine fourth place.
Sliema’s only chance is to beat Pietà, hoping that Hamrun lose to Valletta and that Balzan fail to beat Hibernians and in that case, they would end their commitments on level points with Hamrun, therefore forcing a decider for fourth place.
Valletta take on rivals Hamrun Spartans at the National Stadium, kick-off at 16:00. The Citizens lost just one out of the last twelve matches and are coming from three positive results – a draw with Gzira and wins over St. Andrews and Tarxien. Hamrun, on the other hand, are unbeaten in six matches with three wins and three draws.
In the first round, Hamrun had defeated Valletta 1-0.
Hibernians host Balzan at the Hibernians Stadium, kick-off at 16:00. The Paolites lost just one out of the last ten matches – a 1-3 defeat to Qormi two weeks ago. Balzan, on the other hand, are unbeaten in six matches with three wins and three draws.
In the first round, Balzan and Hibernians shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
At the Centenary Stadium, kick-off at 16:00, Sliema Wanderers face relegated side Pietà Hotspurs. The Wanderers lost ground in the battle for fourth place in recent weeks after losing two out of the last three matches against Birkirkara and Balzan. Pietà, on the other hand, lost fourteen out of the last fifteen matches.
In the first round, Sliema registered a 3-0 win.