Another two matches from the BOV Premier League will be played on Saturday as Mosta face Birkirkara at the National Stadium and Floriana take on Santa Lucia at the Tony Bezzina Stadium, kick-off at 20:00.

Birkirkara and Mosta were involved in the UEFA Europa Conference League this summer and therefore Saturday’s clash will not be their first official outing this season. The Blues defeated Spartak Trnava 3-2 in the first leg of the first qualifying round but were eliminated after losing 0-2 away from home. The Stripes, on the other hand, eliminated La Fiorita thanks to a narrow win at home and a 1-1 draw away from home but were then eliminated from the second qualifying round by Olimpija Ljubljana on penalties following an away 0-1 defeat and home 1-0 win.

When the league was interrupted last season, Birkirkara were fourth last season while Mosta were lying in sixth place.

For Birkirkara, Daniel Fernandes, Leandro Aguirre, Jeferson Fernandes Macedo, Diego Venancio, Ryan Scicluna and Jed Valletta joined the club while Johann Bezzina is back after a spell on loan with Mosta. Mosta, on the other hand, signed signed Ivan Doric, Romeu Romao, William Donkin, Johnson Nsumoh, Luis Riascos, Luiz Igbineweka and Okosi Edhere.

Both sides aim at doing better than last season. Birkirkara will be hoping to be among the challengers for the title while Mosta aim at going a step further than last year and securing a top four finish.

Meanwhile Floriana and Santa Lucia is a clash between another two teams hoping to improve over last year’s performance.

The Greens had a most disappointing campaign last year, placing joint-tenth just one year after being crowned champions. The Greens strengthened their squad with the signing of Bulgarian goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov, veteran Manolito Micallef, Oulaid El Hasni, Emiliano Callegari Torre, Christian Rutjens and a number of promising youngsters like goalkeeper Andreas Vella, Zachary Cassar, Adam Magri Overend and Owen Spiteri. The new coach is Gianluca Atzori.

Santa Lucia, on the other hand, signed Julani Archibald, Jurgen Pisani, Vito Plut, Patrick Silva Mota, Francisco Eliomar Rodrigues Farias, Jan Tanti and two promising youngsters Jamie Carbone and Emerson Camilleri.

Their eighth-place finish was the best so far in the history of the club but Oliver Spiteri’s side aims to doing better with a top-six finish.