Floriana to be crowned champions or should we have to wait for Final Four? … all the permutations

Premier League
by Antoine Busuttil

Floriana could be crowned champions this evening should they beat Birkirkara at the National Stadium in one of the final three matches from the 360Sports Malta Premier Top 8 on Wednesday.

Floriana lead the way with Marsaxlokk on 26 points, one ahead of Sliema Wanderers and Hamrun Spartans and three ahead of Birkirkara. The Greens have a better record in the direct encounters with Marsaxlokk and even in case Marsaxlokk manage to beat Hamrun Spartans at the Ton Bezzina Stadium, Floriana would be crowned champions.

A draw could even be enough for the Greens should Marsaxlokk vs Hamrun end in a draw and Sliema Wanderers fail to beat Mosta at the Centenary Stadium.

Otherwise, Floriana would have to settle for the Final Four where the top two teams in the Opening Round and the top two teams in the Closing Round will battle out for the title in two semi-finals and a final. If there is a team who finished in the top two places in both the Opening and Closing Rounds, the fourth team would be either Sliema Wanderers or Hibernians since they have the third-best and fourth-best records in the League Phases of the Opening and Closing Round

Ironically, if Birkirkara lose to Floriana, they would be assured of a spot in European football this summer. But with a win or a draw, they would stay on track to win the championship in the Final Four which would be necessary to determine the title, except in the case of a draw between Marsaxlokk and Hamrun and Sliema failing to beat Mosta.

Should Marsaxlokk win, they would be assured of qualification for the UEFA Conference League in case of a Floriana win.  In case of a win for Marsaxlokk and Floriana fail to beat Birkirkara, the Southseasiders would make sure of a place in the Final Four. 

In case of a draw for Marsaxlokk, they would still finish second in case of a win for Floriana and Sliema failing to beat Mosta or a Otherwise, they would take a place in the Final Four in case of win for Birkirkara. However they would be out of contention in case of a draw between Floriana and Birkirkara and a win for Sliema.

For Hamrun Spartans to reach the Final Four, they need to beat Marsaxlokk or even settle for a draw if Birkirkara beat Floriana and Mosta defeat Sliema. However, they would be assured of European football should they beat Marsaxlokk, Floriana defeat Birkirkara and Sliema fail to beat Mosta.

Sliema Wanderers, on the other hand, would be sure of playing in Europe this summer if in case of a Floriana win and they beat Mosta. Otherwise, they would enter the Final Four in case they beat Mosta, Floriana vs Birkirkara ends in a draw and Marsaxlokk win or Birkirkara win and Marsaxlokk vs Hamrun ends in a draw.

Sliema could also make it to the Final Four in case of a draw or even a defeat if both Birkirkara and either Hamrun or Marasxlokk win; with a draw if Birkirkara win and Marsaxlokk vs Hamrun ends in a draw.

Meanwhile the only chance for Hibernians, who despite ending in the Bottom 6, still have the fourth best record of points obtained in the League Phases of the Opening and Closing Round, to enter the Final Four would be with draws for both Floriana vs Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk vs Hamrun and a win for Sliema Wanderers.

Floriana vs BirkirkaraMarsaxlokk vs HamrunSliema vs MostaFinal Outcome
FLO winMXL winSLI winFloriana champions. Marsaxlokk 2nd.
Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk qualify for European football
FLO winMXL winSLI MOS drawFloriana champions. Marsaxlokk 2nd.
Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk qualify for European football
FLO winMXL winMOS winFloriana champions. Marsaxlokk 2nd.
Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk qualify for European football
FLO winMXL HAM drawSLI winFloriana champions. Sliema second.
Birkirkara, Sliema qualify for European football
FLO winMXL HAM drawSLI MOS drawFloriana champions. Marsaxlokk 2nd.
Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk qualify for European football
FLO winMXL HAM drawMOS winFloriana champions. Marsaxlokk 2nd.
Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk qualify for European football
FLO winHAM winSLI winFloriana champions. Sliema second.
Birkirkara, Sliema qualify for European football
FLO winHAM winSLI MOS drawFloriana champions. Hamrun second.
Birkirkara, Hamrun qualify for European football
FLO winHAM winMOS winFloriana champions. Hamrun second.
Birkirkara, Hamrun qualify for European football
FLO BKR drawMXL winSLI win1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Sliema.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Sliema
FLO BKR drawMXL winSLI MOS draw1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Floriana.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Sliema
FLO BKR drawMXL winMOS win1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Floriana.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Sliema
FLO BKR drawMXL HAM drawSLI win1. Sliema, 2. Floriana.
Final Four: Floriana Birkirkara, Sliema, Hibs
FLO BKR drawMXL HAM drawSLI MOS drawFloriana champions. Marsaxlokk 2nd.
Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk qualify for European football
FLO BKR drawMXL HAM drawMOS winFloriana champions. Marsaxlokk 2nd.
Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk qualify for European football
FLO BKR drawHAM winSLI win1. Sliema, 2. Hamrun.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Sliema, Hamrun
FLO BKR drawHAM winSLI MOS draw1. Hamrun, 2. Floriana.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Hamrun, Sliema
FLO BKR drawHAM winMOS win1. Hamrun, 2. Floriana.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Hamrun, Sliema
BKR winMXL winSLI win1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Sliema.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Sliema
BKR winMXL winSLI MOS draw1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Sliema.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Sliema.
BKR winMXL winMOS win1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Birkirkara.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Sliema
BKR winMXL HAM drawSLI win1. Sliema, 2. Marsaxlokk.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Sliema, Marsaxlokk
BKR winMXL HAM drawSLI MOS draw1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Sliema.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Sliema
BKR winMXL HAM drawMOS win1. Marsaxlokk, 2. Hamrun.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk, Hamrun
BKR winHAM winSLI win1. Sliema, 2. Hamrun.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Sliema, Hamrun
BKR winHAM winSLI MOS draw1. Hamrun, 2. Sliema.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Hamrun, Sliema.
BKR winHAM winMOS win1. Hamrun, 2. Birkirkara.
Final Four: Floriana, Birkirkara, Hamrun, Sliema

In cases where teams end their commitments on level points, the direct encounters are taken into consideration.

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