Another four teams will be in action on Saturday in the 360Sports Malta Premier as Floriana take on newly-promoted Melita while Naxxar Lions cross swords with Hibernians.
After taking the runner-up spot in the BOV Premier League last season and end up as losing finalist in the IZIBET FA Trophy, Floriana will be all out to do better this season by winning one of the major honours.
Led by new coach Darren Abdilla, the Greens were already in action in the UEFA Conference League earlier this summer, eliminating Tre Penne of San Marino with a 4-2 aggregate score before bowing out of the competition with a 0-5 aggregate loss to SC Vitoria Guimaraies.
Apart from the departure of Mauro Camoranesi and the arrival of Darren Abdilla, Floriana had a number of changes in the squad. Georgi Kitanov, Sean Mintoff, Nemanja Andrijanic, Adam Magri Overend, Maksim Volodzko, Ulises Arias, Lorenzo De Grazia, Christos Rovas, Matheus Souza and Willis Furtado are no longer with the club. New arrivals include goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi, Fernandinho, Thiaguinho Santos, Anthony Obonogwu and Franklin Sasere.
Facing them on Saturday will be newly-promoted Melita who will be making a return to Premier League football after winning the BOV Challenge League last season.
Clive Mizzi was confirmed as coach and although the club will rely mainly on club products, the squad was strengthened with the signing of David Xuereb, Kurt Bondin, Ensell Attard and William Legault along with goalkeeper Aleksander Lubik, Aldair Simanca, Marc Van de Bovenkamp, Jose Barragan and Jade Clark. On the other hand, veteran Julian Galea will not be part of the squad.
Retaining their Premier League status will undoubtedly be the main objective of Melita.
Like Melita, Naxxar Lions were one of the two newly-promoted sides last season and they achieved the objective of retaining their status after placing joint-sixth last season.
George Vella was confirmed as coach but the squad went through a number of changes, mainly due to the number of Brazilian players who moved elsewhere. Joao Moura, Maicon, Elizeu, Wiian Marcilio and Pablo left the club but these were replaced by Kemmu Degran Jackson, Pedro Vitor, Luan Sergio, Caxambu, Matehus Taumaturgo and Gustavo Barbosa along with a number of young players, namely Myron Micallef, Matthias Fenech, Kayne Haber and Kane Abela. Goalkeeper Matthias Debono and Nikolai Micallef will spend another season at the club.
The main objective for the Lions remains that of retaining Premier League status.
Hibernians, on the other hand, will be hoping to challenge at least for a spot in the UEFA Conference League after a most disappointing campaign last season.
Branko Nisevic was confirmed as coach. The club brought in Dexter Xuereb, goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez, Federico Falcone and four Brazilian players Pedrao, Kleiton, Khevin Fraga and Miullen while Ibrahim Kone, Samuel Okoh, Ferdinando Apap, Zachary Grech, Robert Bairam, Artem Radchenko, Claudio Bonanni, Rodney Antwi and Sime Zuzul are no longer with the club.
| Sat 17-Aug-2024 | Floriana FC vs Melita FC | 18:00 | Tony Bezzina Stadium |
| Sat 17-Aug-2024 | Naxxar Lions FC vs Hibernians FC | 20:15 | Tony Bezzina Stadium |
Floriana vs Melita
Referee – Ezekiel Barbara
Ass Refs – Duncan Sultana, Vasil Vasilev
Fourth official – Fyodor Zammit
Naxxar L. vs Hibernians
Referee – Daniel Portelli
Ass Refs – Mitchell Scerri, Mark Ciantar
Fourth official – Eman Grech