Following a fine win over Valletta, leaders Hibernians seek another three points as they take on Birkirkara in one of the three BOV Premier League matches in programme on Saturday. Gudja United cross swords with Balzan while Hamrun Spartans take on Sirens in the other two matches.
At the Centenary Stadium, kick-off at 14:00, Gudja United take on Balzan.
Three points separate the two teams with Gudja lying in the seventh place on 23 points and Balzan ninth on 20. Four wins from their last five league matches, including last week’s 1-0 win over Hamrun lifted Thane Micallef’s side out of the danger zone and now lie just outside the top six. This match turns out to be a six-pointer with a win putting them on track of securing a top-six finish and a defeat would see them sharing the 23-point mark with Balzan. Balzan are coming from four consecutive defeats and therefore a win is a must in order to restore their chances of making it to the top six. They collected just one point from the last six matches, their last win going back to mid-December.
Neil Tabone is ruled out as he serves a one-match ban.
In the first round, Balzan defeated Gudja 1-0.
At the National Stadium, kick-off at 16:00, Hibernians face Birkirkara.
The Paolites maintained their unbeaten record with a 4-1 win over Valletta last week to stay four points clear of second-placed Floriana. However this was only the second win in five matches. Birkirkara are currently third on 31 points, nine points behind the Paolites. They won two out of the last five matches, losing one and obtaining two draws including last week’s 1-1 draw with Sirens.
The Stripes will be without the suspended Kurt Zammit
In the first round, Birkirkara and Hibernians shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
At the Centenary Stadium, kick-off at 18:00, Sirens take on Hamrun Spartans in a clash between two teams chasing a top-six finish.
One point separates the two teams with Hamrun sharing fourth place with Gzira on 27 points, followed by Sirens on 26. The St. Paul’s Bay side lost just one game out of the last seven, earning twelve points in the process thanks to three wins and three draws, including last week’s 1-1 draw with Birkirkara. Hamrun, on the other hand, have gone five matches without a win, earning three points in draws with Balzan, Birkirkara and Floriana but losing to Gzira and Gudja. The latter defeat led to the removal of coach Mark Buttigieg and the appointment of Branko Nisevic as his replacement.
Sirens could not count on the suspended Diego Albanese.
In the first round, Hamrun defeated Sirens 1-0.
| Sat 19-Feb-2022 | Gudja United FC vs Balzan FC | 14:00 | Centenary Stadium |
| Sat 19-Feb-2022 | Hibernians FC vs Birkirkara FC | 16:00 | National Stadium |
| Sat 19-Feb-2022 | Sirens FC vs Hamrun Spartans FC | 18:00 | Centenary Stadium |