Mount Etna’s lava originates from Malta Escarpment
● 19th day spread between today and tomorrow – no matches on Sunday ● Valletta meet bottom placed Lija ● Revived B’Kara now face Sliema as Gzira meet Hamrun ● TarxienNaxxar is a direct relegation clash
The Bank of Valletta Premier League enters the 19th round of matches this weekend which is spread over two days only – three matches today and the remaining four tomorrow.
There will be no matches on Sunday (Carnival Sunday).
League leaders Balzan kept their three-point lead over second placed Valletta the past weekend, but now they face another expected strong challenge, this time from Floriana.
The citizens should be considered overwhelming favourites to overcome bottom club Lija this evening. Third placed Birkirkara and Gzira will be in action tomorrow facing Sliema and Hamrun respectively.
At the other end of the table, the Tarxien-Naxxar encounter is definitely the most important as it is a direct clash for survival, but St Andrews also face a tough clash against the improved Mosta.
Senglea are so far five points above the relegation zone, but can still be dragged into the survival battle. Today they meet their Cottonera rivals Hibernians.
The match of the weekend is undoubtedly the Balzan-Floriana clash to be played tomorrow.
As already said, Balzan kept their momentum at the top, keeping their distance (three points) from second placed Valletta, after the goalless draw on Sunday afternoon.
The leaders now face another strong challenge, as Floriana do not intend to relinquish their chance of fighting till the end to get into next season’s Europa League, having been surprisingly eliminated from the FA Trophy.
At present, they are occupying 5th place on 32 points, two behind joint third placed Birkirkara and Gzira.
Last weekend, they did well to beat a strong effort from Hamrun Spartans, showing new energy as they were determined to shrug off a disastrous run which saw them losing several points.
Against Balzan, it will not be easy to gain the three points. The latter are a compact and balanced side and, on their part, will be determined to extend their current 16-match positive run.
Valletta should find little or no difficulty at all in disposing of bottom placed Lija, for whom only a miracle will suffice to save their status among the elite.
Birkirkara and Gzira will be doing everything to continue their battle for third place.
The Stripes are an emerging new force in the Premier League – they have won all their last seven matches and have moved rapidly up the standings after a very disappointing start to the season .
Tomorrow they will certainly aim to make it an 8th victory on the trot, but the inconsistent Wanderers might be a hard nut to crack.
The Blues have also dropped several points in recent matches, but a victory against the Stripes will enable them to bridge the gap between them to just two points.
Gzira seem to have an easier task when facing mid-table placed Hamrun Spartans. The latter do not seem to have any more interest in the proceedings.
But the Maroons will certainly have to play much better than they did against St Andrews last Friday when only a late goal enabled them to take away a point.
At the other end of the standings, St Andrews will be facing Mosta this evening and they will be hoping to repeat the dose as they did against Gzira to register another positive result in their efforts to stave off relegation.
But the most important clash is the Naxxar-Tarxien direct clash tomorrow.
At present, Naxxar are 12th on 14 points, one below St Andrews, while Tarxien are in 13th place on 11 points.
While Naxxar lost 2-0 against a vastly superior Birkirkara the past weekend, Tarxien fought gallantly to draw 2-2 against Senglea after playing for most of the match in 10 men.
The latter have a tough game against rivals Hibernians and will do well to gain as much points as possible. As already said, they might still be dragged into the relegation battle with eight matches still to be played.
Against the champions, it will not be easy, even if the Paolites are passing through a lean moment which has seen them dropping to sixth, two points behind Birkirkara and Gzira.
If they are still entertaining hopes of finishing second or third, they must show improvement as quickly as possible.
Today
Centenary Stadium 7pm St Andrews-Mosta
6pm Lija Ath.-Valletta 8pm Hibernians-Senglea Ath.
Tomorrow
National Stadium, Ta’ Qali 2pm Birkirkara-Sliema W. 4pm Balzan-Floriana
2pm Tarxien R.-Naxxar L. 4.15pm Hamrun S.-Gzira U
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