Gzira face Floriana in another tough test tomorrow

● Joint leaders Hibernians and third placed Valletta ready to pounce on an eventual slip by the Maroons

The Bank of Valletta Premier League continues this weekend with the 11th round of matches starting today and finishing on Sunday.

Joint leaders Gzira and Hibernians will possibly remain in their exalted position, but the Maroons seem to have a tougher opponent in Floriana while the Paolites will be facing relegation-threatened Qormi.

Third-placed Valletta take on mid-table St Andrews and are expected to remain firmly in contention.

The most balanced match should be the Balzan-Hamrun clash this evening, but the PietaTarxien encounter on Sunday afternoon also promises to be a keenly contested relegation battle.

There are no direct clashes at the top of the standings, but the Pieta-Tarxien clash involves two clubs interested in the battle to avoid the drop.

THE HIGHLIGHT

As already said, the highlight of this weekend’s programme is today’s Balzan-Hamrun S. clash.

Both teams have had their ups and downs since the start of the season and this has kept them away from the leading trio with Balzan fifth on 18 points and Hamrun 6th with the same number of points, but an inferior goal difference.

Despite their current placing, both teams are still battling for a place in European football next season and this is the reason why this encounter should be a keen and balanced match from start to finish.

Balzan were stunned recently when they lost 2-0 against St Andrews, but then recovered when beating Tarxien Rainbows 3-1.

The Spartans have gone three matches unbeaten, winning nine precious points with victories against Birkirkara, Qormi and Senglea.

RELEGATION BATTLE

The Pieta-Tarxien match on Sunday also promises to be a tightly contested encounter.

Tarxien are presently occupying 10th place on 12 points, while Pieta are right behind them, but on 10 points.

It is a clash where the two teams will be seeking the three points to move further up the table in an effort to distance themselves from relegation trouble.

Both have shown improvement in their recent matches although Tarxien lost 3-1 against Balzan after winning two successive encounters against Qormi and Senglea.

On their part, Pieta are on a three-match unbeaten run, having beaten Floriana 2-1 and registered draws against Gzira and St Andrews.

THE OTHER MATCHES

At the top, the most difficult tie for the leading trio is that facing the Maroons who come up against Floriana.

The Greens, who have had a disastrous start to the season have replaced coach Luis Oliveira with Guido Ugolotti and will be hoping to have a fresh positive start under the Italian’s charge.

The Maroons figured in a goalless draw against Valletta in their last encounter, but that match confirmed that their challenge for the title is to be taken seriously.

Co-leaders Hibernians and third placed Valletta should find little difficulty in keeping up the pace at the top as they face teams from the lower end of the standings.

Hibernians will be facing the struggling Qormi team, while Valletta face St Andrews who are sitting pretty in mid-table on 13 points.

In the other two matches, Sliema should be able to beat bottom placed Senglea to maintain their chase to the leading clubs while Birkirkara will be aiming to return to winning form against Mosta, despite some internal confusion.

Today

Bank of Valletta Premier League 7pm Balzan-Hamrun S.

Bank of Valletta first division 7pm Swieqi U.-Qrendi

Bank of Valletta first division 7pm Pembroke Ath.-Naxxar L.

Bank of Valletta second division 6pm Siggiewi-Mgarr U. 8.15pm Marsaxlokk-Luqa SA.

Tomorrow

Bank of Valletta Premier League 2pm Senglea Ath.-Sliema W. 4.15pm Valletta-St Andrews

Bank of Valletta Premier League 2pm Mosta-Birkirkara

4pm Floriana-Gzira

Bank of Valletta first division 2pm Mqabba-Sirens

4.15pm Vittoriosa S.-Zejtun C.

Bank of Valletta second division 2pm Fgura U.-St George’s 4.15pm Mellieha-St Venera L.

Bank of Valletta third division 2pm Kirkop-Zurrieq 4.15pm Ghaxaq-Mtarfa

Sunday

Bank of Valletta Premier League 2pm Pieta H.-Tarxien R.

4pm Qormi-Hibernians

Bank of Valletta first division 1pm Marsa-Lija A.

3.15pm Gudja U.-Sta. Lucia 5.30pm Zebbug R.-San Gwann

Bank of Valletta second division 2pm Zabbar SP-Kalkara 4.15pm Rabat Ajax-Melita

Bank of Valletta third division 2pm Msida SJ-Ta’ Xbiex 4.15pm Attard-Mdina K.

Monday

Bank of Valletta third division 6pm Marsaskala-Gharghur 8.15pm Xghajra T.-Dingli S.