The stakes are high as Birkirkara and Swieqi United will rub shoulders against each other in this week’s Top Four clash between the two Assikura Women’s League title challengers.
Pacesetters Birkirkara lead the way with 45 points but after last week’s stalemate against Mġarr United, their gap was cut down to five points.
This comes after Swieqi took advantage from Birkirkara’s slip to beat Hibernians and move to 40 points.
With a five-point gap and two direct encounters yet to be played, the title race is still open with the Owls looking to bust it wide with a victory – which would be their second in four encounters against the Stripes.
Karima Abdulai’s goal had handed the Owls a last-gasp win in the first round tie before the two teams tied in a goalless stalemate in the second round game during the regular season games.
In their first head-to-head in the Top Four, Abdulai was on the scoresheet again but this time Marta Grosso replied as the two teams drew once again.
In between, Birkirkara beat Swieqi during December’s Super Cup to lift the first silverware of the season.
Swieqi, currently guided by Dorianne Theuma, hit Hibs for three in last week’s game with Malta international Jade Flask on the scoresheet as she continues to gain more minutes following her lengthy absence due to an injury.
In 18 matches, the Owls have scored 12 wins with 63 goals in the process – Karima and Salamatu Abdulai add up to 35 goals between them, with the latter topping the league’s scoring charts.
On the other hand, Birkirkara boast both the best defensive record (3 goals conceded) and the strongest attacking statistic (77 scored).
Italian midfielder Marta Grosso is the club’s best scorer with 14 goals.
Jose Borg’s side picked up 14 wins from 18 outings as they eye a seventh straight title.
In the other Top Four match, Hibernians and Mġarr take on each other as the two teams are vying for a third-place finish in this section.
Last week’s draw against Birkirkara propelled the Greens to move five points away from Hibernians with the Paolites falling to the Owls.
The two teams produced some of the most nerve-wrecking games this season with Hibernians winning twice while sharing a six-goal draw in their first round matchup.
Hibernians are on 35 points with 11 wins while Mġarr follow them with nine wins and 30 points, with four picked up in their last two games – a victory over Swieqi and the draw against Birkirkara.
Elsewhere, Valletta top the Bottom Four section as they lead with 30 points.
Denis Guerra’s team face Mtarfa, the only team without a single point but who are at the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat against San Ġwann.
San Ġwann, on their part, are second with 16 points, three ahead of this weekend’s opponents Lija Athletic.