New signing Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro scored twice as Hibernians registered a comfortable 4-1 win over ten-man Valletta at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The Paolites moved temporarily on top the BOV Premier League table before Hamrun Spartans play take on Gudja.
Hibernians, therefore, extend their positive run to seven matches while Valletta suffer a third defeat in four matches.
Jurgen Degabriele put Hibernians ahead after just five minutes after intercepting a back pass by Aguirre for Camilleri and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
To make matters worse, Shaun Dimech was sent off for a sliding tackle on Degabriele.
However, Valletta levelled matters on the 21st thanks to a corner from the right by Ryan Fenech which beat goalkeeper Calleja Cremona.
Five minutes in the second half, Hibs regained the lead courtesy of Dunstan Vella who tapped the ball home following an assist from the left by Gilmar.
Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro made it 3-1 on 68 minutes with a perfect first time effort from the left after receiving a through pass by Tiago Adan Fonseca.
Hibs scored the fourth goal on 77 minutes as he received a through pass by Sergio Raphael dos Anjos and controlled the ball in style on the edge of the area, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and heading home inside the empty net.
VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camilleri (779 Sheldon Mackay), Triston Caruana, Shaun Dimech, Eslit Sala, Wellington de Oliveira (79′ Kyrian Nwoko), Rowen Muscat, Leandro Aguirre, Ryan Fenech (62′ Santiago Malano), Mario Fontanella (72′ Matteo Piciollo), Lucas da Silva Ribeiro Campos (79′ Ryan Tonna).
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Kieran Paul Fenech.
Coach: Antonio Jose Cardoso MendesHIBS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Leandro Almeida (82′ Matthew Ellul), Sergio Raphael dos Anjos, Jurgen Degabriele (75′ Jake Grech), Bjorn Kristensen (82′ Ayrton Attard), Dunstan Vella, Zachary Karl Grech, Gabriel Izquier Artiles, Andrei Agius, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (82′ Jose Wilkson Teixeira), Tiago Adan Fonseca (70′ Imanol Iriberri).
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Matthew Farrugia.
Coach: Stefano SanderraReferee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Duncan Spencer
Fourth Official: Andrea Sciriha
Yellow Cards: Almeda, Artiles, Fenech, Aguirre, Raphael
Red Cards: 11′ Shaun Dimech
BOV Player of the Match: Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro
