A highly-anticipated clash is on the cards in this weekend’s second week of Assikura Women’s League action as Hibernians and Mġarr United will square off.

Last season, these two teams sparked an intriguing rivalry as both Mġarr and Hibernians were fighting for a third-place finish in the championship. Eventually, after two wins and a draw, it was the Greens who claimed the third spot. The Paolites, on their part, made amendments for their league’s winless run against the Greens by dumping out Mġarr from the Knock-Out in the semi-finals.

The two teams launched their campaign with victories as Hibernians beat Valletta 3-0 while Mġarr survived a scare to beat San Ġwann 2-1. Both Hibernians and Mġarr are expected to feature some new faces in their squad for this weekend’s clash after their latest transfer announcements. Keith Gouder’s Hibernians have unveiled Natalee Geren, an American defender who most recently was at Austin Rise FC. On the other hand, Mġarr welcomed two Brazilians in midfielder Luana Cabral and former Swieqi United forward Fernanda Peinado.

Elsewhere, Valletta open this weekend’s slate of fixtures when they face Mtarfa at the Centenary Stadium. Both teams were on the losing end in week one as they eye their first points of the season. Valletta will be buoyed by the arrival of forward Marcelle De Oliveira from Brazil. Mtarfa, on their part, have also brought in numerous foreigners as they look on to improve on last year’s six-point tally.

In the other game of the weekend, Lija Athletic and San Ġwann will be also vying to cancel their zero from their points tally. Jethron Azzopardi’s Lija Athletic lost to champions Birkirkara in their first appearance in the senior women’s league since 2014/2015. San Ġwann, though, gave Mġarr United a run for their money as they lost 2-1 with newly-signed Andela Kricak scoring the goal for Julian Camilleri’s team.

Birkirkara and Swieqi United, another key clash in Matchday 2 of the women’s league, will not be played this weekend to allow the Stripes more time to prepare for next week’s UEFA Women’s Champions League home clash against Breznica of Montenegro.

Meanwhile the Assikura Women’s Youth League kicked-off this week with San Gwann holding last year’s champions Birkirkara, in a 2-2 draw. Swieqi United registered a comfortable 5-1 win over SKMM while Valletta beat Hibernians 2-1.

On the other hand, in the BNF Women’s Under-16 League, Lija Sliema beat Santa Lucia 7-0, SKMM defeated Gudja United 4-0, Hibernians beat Birkirkara 2-0 while Valletta and San Gwann shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.