Important weekend for top clubs Balzan, Valletta

It is a very important weekend in the Bank of Valletta Maltese Premier League as the 22nd round (of 26) continues on Saturday and Sunday.

The programme includes two very important matches at the top of the standings as leaders Balzan face third placed Birkirkara tomorrow and second placed Valletta meet sixth placed Hibernians on Sunday.

A glance at the standings after 21 rounds sees Balzan leading Valletta by one point. Birkirkara are third, five points behind Balzan, Gzira fourth two points behind the Stripes, Floriana fifth a further two points behind Gzira and Hibernians are sixth, five points behind Birkirkara.

This weekend’s two top clashes could be decisive in some way or another. And there are several possibilities.

If Balzan win against Birkirkara, then they would have made a giant step towards their first ever title win. On the other hand, a Birkirkara victory will open the issue wide, bringing the Stripes to just two points adrift of the leaders with four more matches yet to be played.

And, of course, if Valletta win on Sunday against Hibernians, we might also see Valletta taking sole leadership (always if Balzan drop some points).

Moreover, it is also a fact that both Birkirkara and Hibernians need the points as they are still very much interested in the third place which means a berth in next season’s Europa League.

It is a very interesting scenario which should guarantee two very keenly contested matches which should attract sizeable crowds to the National Stadium at Ta’ Qali.

The remaining matches for the top clubs are as follows:

Balzan: v. Birkirkara, Mosta, Tarxien, Senglea Ath. and Hibernians.

Valletta: v. Hibernians, St Andrews, Hamrun, Floriana and Gzira U.

Birkirkara: v. Balzan, Tarxien, Hibernians, St Andrews and Hamrun S.

Gzira U.: v. Mosta, Senglea, Naxxar, Sliema and Valletta.

Floriana: v. Senglea, Naxxar, Sliema, Valletta and Lija Ath.

Hibernians: v. Valletta, Lija, Birkirkara, Tarxien and Balzan.

The Balzan-Birkirkara match seems to be the most important clash of the weekend.

If Balzan manage to beat the Stripes, they will certainly eliminate the latter from the title hunt and I am sure they (Balzan) will be aiming for victory today in the knowledge that they have three relatively ‘easy’ encounters before finally facing Hibernians to conclude their programme.

But it will not be easy against a Birkirkara team which has gone through a very positive 10-match run (nine wins and a draw). In fact, the Stripes are well aware that a victory tomorrow will see them moving closer to the same Balzan and Valletta, depending on the latter’s result of their match against Hibernians on Sunday.

Another scenario is also possible. If Balzan and Valletta emerge winners from this weekend’s encounters, it will be a two-horse race for the title. But the hunt for the third place will get more interesting with Gzira, Floriana and possibly also Hibernians remaining interested till the very end.

This will be Mario Muscat’s debut as Hibs coach after the sacking of Mark Miller earlier this week. If Hibernians lose against Valletta, it will be very difficult for them to finish third even if mathematically, they still have a chance.

However, fourth placed Gzira and fifth placed Floriana are both expected to win their weekend clashes – the Greens face Senglea tomorrow while Gzira meet Mosta on Sunday.

If Birkirkara lose and Floriana and Gzira win their matches, then, Gzira will move into third place, one point ahead of Birkirkara and two over Floriana.

And let us not forget that the relegation battle is still far from being decided apart from the fact that Lija Athletic are almost doomed.

St Andrews, Naxxar and Tarxien are fighting hard to avoid the Drop. And they are expected to be tough nuts for any opposition in their determination to save their status.

The following is the remaining programme for the relegationhaunted clubs: St Andrews (17): v. Sliema, Valletta, Lija, Birkirkara and Tarxien R. Naxxar L. (16): v. Hamrun S., Floriana, Gzira, Mosta and Senglea. Tarxien R. (15): v. Lija, Birkirkara, Balzan, Hibernians and St Andrews. Lija Ath. (5) : v. Tarxien (played last night), Hibernians, St Andrews, Hamrun S. and Floriana.

From the above programme, at least on paper, it is evident that the most difficult are those facing Tarxien Rainbows and St Andrews who still have to face three clubs from the top half apart from having to face each other in a final showdown on the last day. Senglea are not yet completely out of the relegation zone, but they have what seems to be a healthy 7-point lead over second from bottom Tarxien Rainbows. St Andrews tomorrow face Sliema while Naxxar take on Hamrun.