League issue may become wide open as Floriana face arch rivals Valletta in weekend’s top clash
• Hibernians ready to pounce if Floriana falter against Valletta • Santa LuciaGudja and Mosta-Senglea are ‘hot’ relegation clashes
A highly interesting weekend is in store for local football enthusiasts this weekend as the League issue may become wide open if current leaders Floriana drop points from their clash with arch rivals Valletta.
In fact, with the Floriana-Valletta match being the first match to be played tomorrow, 2nd placed Hibernians will have the advantage of knowing exactly what they will have to do when facing Sirens, joint 4th placed with Gzira.
Moreover, the programme includes two ‘hot’ relegation clashes – Sta Lucia v Gudja and Mosta v Senglea – to be played today.
Also on the card this weekend is the Sliema-Gzira derby, the game between Hamrun and Tarxien, and another ‘derby’ between neighbours Balzan and Birkirkara, which will be played on Monday evening.
TOP CLASH
There is no doubt that the City and Suburban derby between arch rivals Floriana and Valletta is the main attraction this weekend.
Not only because of the great rivalry which exists between the two sides, but also because of the current positions being occupied by the two clubs.
After 15 matches, Floriana are leading the standings with 34 points, five points ahead of Valletta.
It is obvious that the citizens cannot afford to lose this match if they are to continue challenging for the title till the end. And not even a draw might satisfy them as they would remain a clear five points behind the Greens.
The latter are also in need of all the three points to keep their distance from second placed Hibernians, who are four points adrift. So they are well aware that they also cannot afford to drop points.
In their last matches before last weekend’s FA Trophy programme, Valletta beat Sliema 21, while Floriana defeated Balzan 3-1. They also reached the quarterfinals of the Trophy with Floriana defeating a stubborn Senglea side 2-0 after extra time and Valletta overcoming S In this sector of the standings, 2nd placed Hibernians will certainly be most interested spectators in the match that precedes their encounter with Sirens. In any scenario, that is, if Floriana win, draw or lose, the Paolites will be expected to go all out to grab the three points, although they will be more motivated to do so if the Greens falter completely. And it is a fact that at present, Hibernians are the team showing most consistency and their current good form, especially with the return of Jurgen Degabriele, has convinced me that they can be considered as the most potential challengers for the title, of course behind league leaders Floriana. I do not expect them to drop any points against Sirens, but Steve D’Amato’s side, in joint 4th place with Gzira, just two points behind the Paolites, will not be throwing in the towel easily. RELEGATION ISSUE Although Tarxien seem to be already doomed – they have just one point from 15 matches and are a massive 13 points behind Sliema and Sta Lucia – it is obvious that this issue is far from decided. With the 13th placed side also relegated automatically, the 13th placed will have to play a decider against the 3rd placed in the first division to secure their place in next year’s Premier League. With this in mind, it is pertinent to note that six teams are separated by just five points with so many matches (11) still to be played. These are Hamrun and Mosta (19), Gudja and Senglea (15), Sliema and Sta Lucia (14). This weekend Sliema have a tough task facing neighbours Sliema in a derby clash. The struggling Blues need to return to winning form as quickly as possible if they are to avoid trouble, but against the Maroons, they have to be at their very best. Gzira are now under new coach Paul Zammit after the dismissal of Giovanni Tedesco soon after the club’s surprise defeat at the hands of lowly Sta Lucia. After that defeat, the Maroons cannot afford to miss the bus against the Blues as they intend continuing their challenge for the title. The Sta Lucia-Gudja and MostaSenglea clashes should be worth watching. All four clubs are in need of the points and it is in these direct matches that they would be expected to go all out to collect all the points at stake. OTHER MATCHES Hamrun Spartans should be able to beat bottom placed Tarxien to move away from the ‘hot’ zone, at least temporarily. Hamrun did well to beat Swieqi last week to reach the FA Trophy quarterfinals. That victory must be considered as a boost as their last League win dates back to 21 October, when they beat Hibernians 2-1. In the other match next Monday, neighbours Balzan and Birkirkara face each other in what should be a balanced encounter. Who knows, it might be another dramatic game as that played in the first round when the result was a 3-3 draw, with Balzan saving a point thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from former Stripes goalkeeper Naumovski. Both sides did well to reach the quarterfinals of the Trophy last weekend with Birkirkara defeating Mosta 2-1 and Balzan ousting Sta Lucia 2-0. Centenary Stadium Bank of Valletta Premier League 2pm Sliema W.-Gzira U. 4.15pm Sta. Lucia-Gudja Hibernians Stadium 2pm Hamrun S.-Tarxien R. 4pm Mosta-Senglea Victor Tedesco Stadium 2pm Mqabba-Pieta H. 4.15pm Qormi-St George’s Luxol Stadium 2pm Xghajra T.-Zabbar SP 4.15pm Melita-Mgarr Sirens Stadium 2pm Ghaxaq-Kirkop 4.15pm St Venera L.-Siggiewi Basketball Ta’ Qali pavilion 9.15am Depiro-Shamrock Stars 11am Siggiewi-Starlites Mazars 12.45pm Hibernians-Luxol 4.15pm Luxol-Hibernians Handball University Sports Hall 12.30pm Luxol OCMKAloysians S. 1.30pm Swieqi YP-HMS 3pm Kavallieri RS2-Hamrun GM 4.30pm ETE Valletta-La Salle Tomorrow National Stadium 2pm Floriana-Valletta 4pm Hibernians-Sirens Centenary Stadium 11am Naxxar L.-Swieqi 1.15pm Pembroke-Lija Ath. 3.30pm Zebbug R.-Zejtun C. Victor Tedesco Stadium 11am Marsa-Luqa SA 1.15pm Zurrieq-Mellieha 3.30pm Kalkara-B’Buga SP. Luxol Stadium 2pm Ta’ Xbiex-Marsascala 4.15pm Dingli S.-Attard Sirens Stadium Bank of Valletta third division 2pm Msida SJ-Mdina K. 4.15pm Mtarfa-Gharghur Basketball Ta’ Qali pavilion MAPFRE Women’s league 12.45pm ARMS Depiro-Starlites GiG 2.30pm Luxol-Hibernians 4.15pm Gzira Athleta-Starlites GiG Handball University Sports Hall 11am Kavallieri RS2-La Salle 12.30pm Luxol OCM-Swieqi YP 2pm Aloysians M-Kavallieri RS2 Monday Football National Stadium 7pm Balzan-Birkirkara