Valletta play Lija, Marsa face Tarxien in top clash

BOV Challenge League Match Day 2 Preview

Swieqi United v Santa Lucia  (21.09.24, Victor Tedesco Stadium, 15h)
Match Day 2 of the 2024/25 BOV National Challenge League will embark in Hamrun tomorrow afternoon when Swieqi and Santa Lucia cross swords. Swieqi are coming from a convincing win over Zurrieq while the Lucians had to swallow a bitter pill, being beaten 5-0 by Marsa. Swieqi are therefore the favourites to bring the three points home.

The team of Pablo Doffo have no player issues for this clash which means they could field their strongest possible starting eleven. Santa Lucia have been trying to bring several new players abroad this week but it needs to be seen if their registrations are submitted in time. Jan Tanti is still not fit but on the positive side, Jamie Sixsmith is fully recovered and should start.

The two met on 14 previous occasions, mostly in the 3^rd Division, with each team winning five games and producing four draws. However, Swieqi’s last victory dates back from 2013, with the Lucians winning two from the last five mutual encounters, while the other three ended in a draw.

Marsa v Tarxien Rainbows (21.09.24, Victor Tedesco Stadium, 17h30)
The second game at the VTS is the one between Marsa and Tarxien Rainbows, who both started their campaign with convincing victories. Although it is early days, the clash can be seen as one between promotion contenders, as both sides clearly made their intentions clear this summer. Marsa demolished Santa Lucia 5-0 last Sunday while Tarxien obtained a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Mtarfa on the opening match day.

Both sides have no suspension or injury issues and should be therefore able to start with their strongest possible team. That means plenty of attacking power as both coaches, Saviour Debono Grech (Marsa) and Jacques Scerri for the Rainbows, have done well to bring in lots of strength up front.

Although the match has been played 55 times in all competitions, Tarxien managed to beat Marsa last in a league match in 2008. They did beat Marsa in the FA Trophy in February 2022, a 2-0 victory in a 1^st round clash. Three of the last four Challenge League games ended in a draw, while Marsa beat Tarxien 1-0 in the 2^nd round if the 2021/22 campaign.

Zebbug Rangers v Mgarr United (21.09.24, Centenary Stadium, 18h)
The first game at the Centenary Stadium tomorrow night is that one between Zebbug and Mgarr, who are both in search for the first league victory. While Zebbug shared the spoils with Senglea on MD1 (1-1), Mgarr were undone by Gudja who managed to beat the Northerners 1-0. A shock result as the Mgarr clan had done their homework well this summer by creating a competitive team. Therefore, the Greens cannot wait to bounce back from this unexpected defeat.

Zebbug coach Rodney Bugeja is without defender Lesley Cassar-Jackson, who had to be replaced injured early in the match with Senglea, while several players received knocks and their fitness levels will be tested on the day itself. On the other hand, Mgarr look to be on full-force, as coach Brian Spiteri has no suspension or injury issues.

From 14 previous meetings, Mgarr won just once, a 2-0 victory in 2009 during the 2008/09 2^nd Division campaign. In fact, the Rangers won no less than nine, the other four ended in a draw. Both met last in the 2021/22 NCL, with the first-round game ending in a 0-0 draw while Zebbug won the return fixture 4-0.

Gudja United v Sirens (21.09.24, Centenary Stadium, 20h30)
The late Saturday night kick off at the Centenary will be the clash between two relegated sides from the Premier Division, Gudja and Sirens. While Gudja are in high spirits after their hard-earned victory over Mgarr United (1-0), the St Paul’s Bay side have to re-group after their defeat against hot favourites Valletta.

Both teams struggled in pre-season and have, in comparison with most other teams in the Challenge League, a rather small squad to their proposal. However, with Orosco Anonam at the helm at Gudja and Steve D’Amato with Sirens, both clubs possess two intelligent coaches, who can bring the best out of their players. We contacted D’Amato for this match; “Thiago Nonato, Cameron Dalli and Leonardo de Bortoli all were not involved in the match against Valletta and are all facing a fitness test tonight (Friday), while Gilberto Carrara got injured last match and still a bit doubtful”. Anonam confirmed that goalkeeper Jake Pisani and winger Joseph Attard are still sidelined with injuries; “The Sirens game will be another test to the team, which will be a difficult game for both teams. We have a complete new team with just four players remaining from last season but all players have been given ample time to settle down in pre-season”.

Gudja and Sirens played each other in the Premier Division the last five seasons but quite remarkably, the Gudjans never managed to beat Sirens in any of the eight meetings (D2, L6). Gudja did beat Sirens in the 2022/23 FA Trophy (1-0), but in the league we have to go back to 2010 in the 3^rd Division for the last Gudja victory (3-1, 13.05.2010). That means that, in the league, Sirens are on a 10 consecutive match unbeaten run (W8, D2) since 16.12.2018, a sequence which Sirens would love to prolong.

St Andrews v Senglea Athletic (22.09.24, Victor Tedesco Stadium, 15h00)
On Sunday afternoon, St Andrews and Senglea will clash in what will be their 18^th meeting in history. Both camps can look back on a satisfying opening day, with ‘Luxol’ beating Fgura United (1-0) while Senglea played out a one-all draw with Zebbug.

Coach Jose Borg of St Andrews and Senglea mentor Robert Cassar should have no player availability issues for this clash. In comparison to MD1, Cassar can include three new foreign recruits, two Ghanese and a Senegalese, who are all expected to be at least in the match day squad. There are no suspension issues for any of the two sides.

From the 17 previous meetings, Senglea won 7, St Andrews 6 while the other four ended in a draw. From the last six mutual encounters however, St Andrews won just one game, with Senglea winning six. The very first encounter between the two was played during the 1990/91 1^st Division campaign (08.12.1990), with John Stivala scoring the only goal for Luxol.

Mtarfa v Fgura United (22.09.24, Victor Tedesco Stadium, 17h30)
The second VTS kick off will be the meeting between newly promoted side Mtarfa and Fgura United, who are now established Challenge League participants as they are in their sixth consecutive season in the second tier of the Maltese football pyramid. Both teams suffered defeats in their opening games, Mtarfa against Tarxien (0-2) while St Andrews proved too strong for Fgura last Saturday night (0-1).

Kevin Vella’s side could include new-recruit Gabriel Costa who was impressive in pre-season. The 20-year-old Brazilian is nursing an injury however and it needs to be seen if he will me include in the match day squad. Mtarfa, this season under new coach Ivan Casha, is a transformed side compared to their splendid 2023/24 Amateur League campaign as, apart from a few youth players, Casha needs to deal with a complete new team, which obviously needs time to glue. When contacting Casha, he shared a few lines with us; “We will have to react since we are not happy with the performance against Tarxien. It will be a very difficult game vs Fgura as we know that Fgura are very organised team with experienced players in the Challenge League. There will be some changes that we think will give us more stability in the approach to the game. We have 2 injured players that will not feature in the game and there is one addition to the squad that will be included.

Mtarfa never managed to beat Fgura United in the eight attempts done, with Fgura winning six and there two draws. The two most recent meetings were during the 2022/23 NCL campaign, with Fgura winning the 1^st round match 2-0 while the return fixtures ended in a goalless draw.

Valletta v Lija Athletic (22.09.24, Centenary Stadium, 20h30)
The Lilywhites passed their baptism of fire in the second tier of Maltese football with flying colours last weekend as they beat Sirens 3-0 with a convincing display. A victory which gave the Valletta faithful the confirmation that the team carried on their pre-season form into the league. Next up is Lija Athletic, who lost their first game, quite unnecessary, against Pieta’ Hotspurs by the odd goal in three.

Lija, again coached by Joe Galea this season, have some problems as their top signing, Trinidad & Tobago international striker Rundell Winchester, is still injured. Same counts for midfielders Courage Omoruanzoje and Jake Jovanoski. Bradley Sciberras should be back on midfield however and even made a few minutes last Saturday, he is recovering well. No player worries for Thane Micallef, who saw his team in impressive form last Sunday and hopes to keep the momentum in his squad.

Valletta have a 100% record against Lija Athletic as they won all their 12 previous competitive games against the club from middle Malta. However, the last meeting in the 2020/21 Premiership was perhaps one the closest ever, with Valletta defeating Lija by the odd goal in three. Therefore, anything but a Valletta victory would be historic.

Pieta’ Hotspurs v Zurrieq (22.09.24, Centenary Stadium, 20h30)
Match Day 2 will come to a close with the Pieta’ Hotspurs versus Zurrieq encounter, which will kick off after the Valletta v Lija match at the Centenary Stadium. Pieta’ did well to beat Lija Athletic last Saturday in a balanced encounter, while Zurrieq simply had no reply against Swieqi United that same day, a scrappy display which needs a lot improvement.

For the match against Zurrieq, Pieta’ team manager Sheldon Grech confirmed no injuries as the team has been training well this week and looks perfectly ready for the encounter. Coach Manuel Caruana could make one or two tactical changes in the starting line-up however, as he has a full squad to his disposal. Zurrieq coaching tandem Francis Cassar and Mark Miller had a bit of homework to do this week but have at least no major injury or suspension worries for this match and should expect their team to bounce back in style on Sunday night.

Last season, both met three times with Pieta’ winning the first two with an identical 2-0 score, while Zurrieq proved to be the better side last March, winning 3-0. This was Zurrieq’s first victory since beating Pieta’ 3-0 in the 2^nd round of the1994/95 Premier Division campaign. Looking at the over-all balance, Pieta recorded six wins in the previous 11 mutual games and Zurrieq won five. Never in Maltese football history, an official competitive senior clash between the Hotspurs and Zurrieq ended in a draw, a remarkable statistical fact.