Relegation issue to be decided, Hamrun to be crowned Champions

BOV Premier League 2023/24 Match Day 26 Preview

Sliema Wanderers v Sirens (Today, Centenary Stadium, 18h)
The last Match Day of the 2023/24 Premiership campaign will be opened this evening with the encounter between the two Blues, Sliema Wanderers and Sirens. Nothing but pride will be at stake as the Wanderers will seal off a splendid season, in which they returned to the top of Maltese football after a few struggling years, returning to play European Cup football after an absence of ten years. They need to be wary however of Sirens, who might have been relegated into the second tier but Sliema’s solitary goal victory in the reverse fixture was only their second win over the St Paul’s Bay based side in eight mutual encounters. Sirens have the upper-hand with three games while the other three ended in a draw. Apart from this little piece of history, Sirens are on a three-match unbeaten run, in which they recorded two wins apart from a solid two all draw with Birkirkara last weekend. Both teams have no suspension issues and are expected to field one or two youngsters in their final league clash, also with an eye on Sliema’s upcoming FA Trophy Semi-Final game with Birkirkara next week Wednesday.

Valletta v Gudja United (Today, Centenary Stadium, 20h30)
Last Sunday, 28 April 2024, was a sad day for Valletta Football Club as their dismal season ended in relegation, meaning the proud Citizens will play second tier football for the 2024/25 campaign. Tonight, they will face Gudja United, who will go down as well and who have not won a match in the Premiership since February 2023. The Gudjans will do everything to end this season with at least one win, while Valletta would surely want to do the same to leave the Premiership with their heads held high. It will be quite a task for Valletta for sure, as their record against Gudja is weighing towards the Blues, who won no less than five of the previous nine mutual Premier League encounters. In fact, the Lilywhites’ 1^st round 3-0 victory was only the third ever MPL win for the club from the capital over Gudja. They have Brandon Paiber missing due to suspension, while Renzo Kerr-Cumbo can field their strongest possible eleven, at least there are no bans on the side of Gudja.

Marsaxlokk v Balzan (Tomorrow, Victor Tedesco Stadium, 19h)
It has been quite a while since the Victor Tedesco Stadium hosted a Premier League match, but there is good reason for it as four matches need to be played simultaneously tomorrow night in order to give the Relegation battle a fair outcome. While Marsaxlokk has made the fourth place their own, Balzan could need at least a point from this match to avoid a possible Relegation Decider. From all four teams, Balzan have the best papers being three points above Mosta who are currently on a relegation spot.
Looking into the history of this game, all points in favour of a positive Balzan result, as Marsaxlokk’s last victory over Balzan was recorded 14 years ago, a 1^st Division game on 21 March 2010 (2-0), while the last Marsaxlokk win over Oliver Spiteri’s team in the top flight was recorded on 18 January 2004, over 20 years ago! Balzan won three of the last five mutual games, while the last two ended in a goalless draw. However, looking at Marsaxlokk’s recent splendid form, Balzan would need to dig deep to give the seasiders a match tomorrow night.
Both parties have no suspension issues for this match.

Gzira United v Floriana (Tomorrow, National Stadium, 19h)
Of all four relegation contenders, Gzira United have, on paper, the hardest task. After last week’s disappointing performance against Hamrun Spartans, the Greens will be surely all guns blazing to restore the faith from their loyal supporters. They need to do without the influential Matias Garcia, who is forced to pass this game due to the accumulated yellow cards rule. The Greens are sure of the runners-up spot, on itself a wonderful achievement as not many would have thought before the start of the campaign that this new-look Floriana side could chase for the honours. They are also an FA Trophy semi-finalists and will play the same Gzira side next Tuesday, which means their season can still finish on a high.
The task for Gzira is certainly not an easy one as they technically need nothing but a victory to be sure from the drop, while a draw or defeat would mean the Maroons depend fully on the results of Santa Lucia and Mosta. The team of coach Andrew Cohen have Farid Zuniga missing due to suspension, one of their most steady performers this season.
In the first round fixture, Gzira surprised Floriana with a 1-0 win thanks to a solitary Adam Thaylor goal, a result they would certainly sign for before-hand.

Santa Lucia v Birkirkara (Tomorrow, Centenary Stadium, 19h)
Also Santa Lucia would love to repeat their 1^st round result against Birkirkara, a 2-1 victory obtained in January. With that result, the Saints would be safe from the drop, which would be a remarkable result as the team of coach Alessandro Zinnari had a bad start in the league as their first win was only obtained on match day 9 versus Mosta. Last weekends’ victory over Gzira United was another essential one, the team needs to reload one last time to safeguard their season.
Birkirkara’s draw versus already relegated Sirens last Sunday did not particularly benefit their quest for the fifth spot. Apart from the Stripes, also Naxxar and Hibernians are still in the race for that ranking. Birkirkara obtained just one victory in their last six league matches, a 2-0 victory over Gudja United, not the best of sequences. They might rest one or two players with the mid-week FA Trophy Semi-Final against Sliema Wanderers coming up. Coach Jose Borg needs to do without the suspended Alex Satariano and Edward Sarpong. The Lucians have no suspension issues.
 
Mosta v Naxxar Lions (Tomorrow, Tony Bezzina Stadium, 19h)
The 32^nd derby between Mosta and Naxxar Lions will be decisive for both. The Blues, realistically, need nothing but a victory as a draw would give them a place in the Relegation Decider if Birkirkara beats Santa Lucia. With a win, Naxxar could seal their extraordinary season on a splendid fifth place, a spot nobody would have thought they would finish. In the last seven league matches, the Lions obtained excellent victories over Hibernians, Birkirkara and Valletta, losing just once against Sirens. They step into this fixture as favourites as Mosta obtained just one win in their last six games, beating Hibernians 3-1 two weeks ago. The Blues need to step up their game and rise to the occasion to extent their 13 consecutive year stay in the Premier League by another year.
The reverse fixture in January ended in a goalless draw. Looking at the previous 31 encounters, the neighbours keep each other well in balance, with 13 Mosta victories, against twelve for Naxxar and six draws. Mosta have Jake Vassallo missing in defence, as the Malta Under-21 international needs to sit out a one-match ban due to the accumulated yellow cards rule.

Hamrun Spartans v Hibernians (Saturday, National Stadium, 14h)
The eventful 2023/24 Premier League season will come to a close on Saturday with the match between champions Hamrun Spartans and rivals Hibernians. The Spartans will go all-out to win their 20^th league game this season, while Hibernians have a fifth place to fight for, apart from a possible prestigious result. The Peacocks had a turbulent season to say the least, in which their goals were most definitely not achieved.
In January in the 1^st round fixture, Hamrun beat Hibernians by the odd goal in three, which was their fourth consecutive victory over the Paolites in the Premier League. Hibernians’ last win over the Spartans was recorded in the Quarter-Final of the 2021/22 FA Trophy, a hard-earned extra time 2-1 victory. In the Premier League we need to go back to the 2021/22 campaign to record Hibernians’ last positive result, a 1-0 win obtained on 21 November 2021.
Both sides have no suspension issues for this clash, which will bring down the curtain on another historic Premier League campaign.