Valletta FC and Gzira United are poised to meet on Saturday in what promises to be an exhilarating 88th edition of the Meridianbet FA Trophy Final.
The two sides will be facing each other for the fourth time this season, having already met on three occasions in the Maltese top flight. Valletta emerged victorious twice, while the other encounter ended in a draw.
The Final will kick off at 16:00hrs at the National Stadium, with tickets available from tickets.mfa.com.mt.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA
On Friday, the MD-1 press conference was held at Centenary Hall, where both sides underlined their determination to conclude the campaign with silverware. The conference was addressed by the coaches and captains of both teams.
Valletta coach Thane Micallef remarked that although the team had less preparation time due to their league commitments, the squad had made the most of the week leading up to the Final.
“The atmosphere within the team is very positive. We delivered a number of strong performances on our route to the Final, and we are looking forward to this encounter,” he stated.
Micallef added that Valletta have remained competitive across all three competitions they participated in this season.
“I have seen the team play positive, attacking football, and recent performances have highlighted several encouraging elements. Looking back on the campaign as a whole, it has been a good season for us, and we want to finish it on a strong note,” he continued.
Gzira United coach Darren Abdilla described the Final as a major opportunity for the Maroons to conclude the season successfully.
“This Final is a chance to try and replicate the success we achieved in the past, and we will do all we can to win this trophy,” he said.
“Many things can happen in a Final. We have a very good atmosphere within the dressing room, and the players have worked extremely hard to reach this stage. We know what we expect from them, and I hope we can reap the rewards of all the work we have done throughout the season,” Abdilla added.
In the Semi-Finals, Valletta edged past Birkirkara FC, while Gzira United required extra-time to overcome Naxxar Lions FC and secure their place in the showpiece event.
Valletta have previously competed in 29 FA Trophy Finals, winning the competition 14 times and ranking as the third-most successful club in the tournament’s history. Gzira United’s only previous appearance in the Final came in 1973, when the Maroons lifted the trophy following a second replay.
Valletta captain Brandon Paiber stated that it has been a positive season for the club, highlighted by their Jubilee Cup triumph earlier in the campaign as well as their performances in the league.
“We were the only team to reach the latter stages of every competition this season. After the disappointments against Floriana FC and Hamrun Spartans FC in the league campaign, the team is determined and motivated to put things right by ending the season positively,” he said.
Gzira United captain Gabriel Bohrer Mentz described the Final as a huge opportunity for the Maroons to end the season with silverware, while also securing qualification for European competition next season.
“The atmosphere inside the dressing room is excellent and everyone is very excited ahead of this Final. Every player is focused on fighting for the badge and doing everything possible to come away as winners,” he remarked.
Micallef emphasised that Valletta are determined to showcase their attacking qualities and entertain supporters as they aim to finish the season on a high, while Abdilla noted that although Gzira United achieved several objectives throughout the campaign, lifting the Meridianbet FA Trophy remains the club’s ultimate target.
Saturday’s Final represents the climax of the domestic football season and offers supporters the opportunity to enjoy one of the standout fixtures on the Maltese football calendar.
Tickets for the Meridianbet FA Trophy Final are available through the Malta FA ticketing portal.