Gzira United will be aiming for an eighth consecutive win as they take on Zejtun Corinthians at the National Stadium in one of the four BOV Premier League matches in programme on Saturday.
Seven wins in their last seven matches enabled them to close in on the top two and now lie two points behind Hibernians and four behind Hamrun. A win would put them, at least temporarily, in second place. Zejtun, on the other hand, share the fifth place from bottom with Floriana. They lost their last game to Birkirkara but earned eleven points from the previous five matches in three wins and two draws.
Vitor Vieira is ruled out for Zejtun as he serves a suspension.
In the first round, Gzira defeated Zejtun 2-1.
In another match at the National Stadium, Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara cross swords in a direct clash for fourth place. The Stripes leapfrogged Sliema thanks to a 2-0 win over Valletta on Wednesday to register their fourth win in five matches and now lead the Blues by one point. Sliema, on the other hand, are unbeaten in four matches thanks to two wins and two draws.
Birkirkara could not count on the suspended Enrico Pepe.
Sliema defeated Birkirkara 2-1 in the first round.
In the first match at the Centenary Stadium, Tarxien Rainbows will be hoping to return to winning ways as they take on bottom-placed Senglea Athletic.
Tarxien are second from bottom but lie thirteen points ahead of Senglea who are still chasing their first win after twenty matches. The Rainbows lost four out of the last five matches and last week’s 0-7 defeat to Santa Lucia led to the resignation of coach Winston Muscat who has now been replaced by Steve D’Amato.
Zachary Cassar and Eduardo Rosado are ruled out through suspension for Senglea and Tarxien respectively.
In the first round, Tarxien defeated Senglea 5-0.
In another match at the Centenary Stadium, Floriana take on Gudja United. Two teams desperate for points in their bid to climb out of the danger zone as Gudja are currently tenth on 24 points and Floriana joint-eleventh on 23.
Gudja failed to win any of their last six matches, collecting just one point in a draw while Floriana returned to winning ways as they beat Senglea 2-0 in their last outing after a winless streak of ten matches.
Gudja will be without the suspended Llywelyn Cremona while Diego Venancio serves a one-match ban for Floriana.
Floriana defeated Gudja 2-1 in the first round.
All matches are being played behind closed doors. but fans are able to watch games thanks to the live-streaming service being offered by the Malta Football Association at https://live.mfa.com.mt/ apart from the usual two weekly matches which are broadcast on TVM 2 and/or TSN.