Floriana meet neighbours Valletta, tough test for the Spartans

Birkirkara v Hamrun Spartans (Today, National Stadium, 14h)
This is one of the three stand out fixtures at this weekend, deemed as a curtain-raiser ahead of their Super Cup showdown next Friday. The winners of the two major honours last season go head to head for the first time in this campaign, with different run-in ahead of the 90 minutes rolling for both sides.
Birkirkara are currently enduring a terrible patch with a poor run of results leading to Giovanni Tedesco stepping down after their most recent defeat to Naxxar Lions last weekend. That loss has followed other unfavourable results in their recent run also losing to Mosta and Marsaxlokk. The Stripes will surely be looking to make amends and this against the Champions could be the perfect opportunity for them in terms of motivation and desire to bounce back and return to winning ways.
Brian Chetcuti will fill in the void of Tedesco on the Birkirkara bench for the time being.
Luke Montebello’s goal from the 12-yard penalty spot was the fine margin in their last match against Marsaxlokk, earning them three points they strived for to stay level on points at the summit with Floriana. Luciano Zauri’s side has not yet reached their highest standards yet in terms of style of play in this defining season for them to cement their status as the best in the country, they are notching up wins but not necessarily convincing over the 90-minute in matches. Therefore, today against a fired-up Birkirkara they must be on top of their game to secure the all-important three points in this nail-biting encounter.
Both coaches have no suspension issues and could therefore field their best team. Hamrun’s last victory over Birkirkara dates back to May 2022 (1-0), as last season both rivals played out two goalless draws in the league while Birkirkara was the best team in the Trophy quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory.

Santa Lucia v Mosta (Today, Centenary Stadium, 14h)
Standing alone on Saturday at the Centenary Stadium is the match between Santa Lucia and Mosta.
Saints are buoyed by the last gasp draw against Valletta, they are playing with high spirits and endeavour, it’s time for them now to start converting draws into victories, having shared the spoils three times in their last four outings.
Mosta will be all guns blazing to try and bounce back from the miserable performance and awful defeat they suffered in a 3-0 defeat to Gzira last time round. Between these two it is always a balanced encounter with Mosta emerging always winners with a one goal margin in four out of their last five encounters between them. In fact, Santa Lucia have never beaten Mosta in the Premier Division, as their only victory ever over the Blues arrived during the 1995/96 1^st Division campaign (2-1), their only win in 14 attempts against Mosta.
Both Alessandro Zinnari and Mosta coaching tandem Joe Grech and Mario Muscat have a full squad available, albeit no suspension troubles.

Balzan v Sirens (Today, National Stadium, 16h15)
Today’s last game is one between two teams who have not won for quite a while. Sirens are still in the chase for their first league win this season as they are now standing alone at the bottom of the standings. The team of coach Steve D’Amato have recently showed signs of improvement as in recent match against Hibernians they created some good opportunities and held the possession of the ball well. Their transition play was fruitful, ultimately, they lost narrowly but in terms of performance they will surely take the positives out prior to the 90 minutes against Balzan on Saturday.
Balzan have recently lost their winning touch, their strong start in this campaign has seemingly faded, with only one win under their belt in their last five matches. The league table is so equal that Balzan are now closer to the sides at the bottom after their strong side that saw them flirting with the big boys, therefore the three points later today is imperative for the Reds in their bid to return to winning ways. They have Montenegrin defender Momcilo Raso missing, serving a one match ban, while Sirens have no suspension issues.
Although Sirens won their very first MPL encounter with Balzan (4-2) back in 2019, the St Paul’s Bay side have not beaten Balzan ever since, with five Balzan victories in the last six mutual encounters.
 
Naxxar Lions v Gudja United (Tomorrow, Centenary Stadium, 11h)
Naxxar Lions are the in-form side at the moment, six games on the trot undefeated, an absolutely staggering run for a side doomed for the chop by few prior to the start of the league. They will face a tricky test up next as Gudja United will be seeking their first league win, with five draws from eight matches the return thus far since campaign got underway.
Confidence is sky high for Naxxar Lions, they are coming from two astonishing wins against two highly regarded sides in the form of Balzan and Birkirkara, they will surely have to work on their mental approach this week, fully aware that Gudja will also be hitting the ground running in their pursuit to secure their first win and somewhat shake-up their current league position.
While George Vella’s Lions have no suspension worries, Gudja need to do without Karl Micallef and Abou Toure, two influential players for Jesmond Zammit’s team.
The last time both teams met was in January in last season’s FA Trophy, a 1^st round game with Gudja beating Naxxar by the odd goal in three. The last time Naxxar beat Gudja was during the 2013/14 1^st Division campaign, a 4-1 second round victory (6.4.14), thanks to an Anderson Mendes Ribeiro brace and strikes by Andre Rocha da Silva and Daren Falzon.

Floriana v Valletta (Tomorrow, National Stadium, 14h)
As always, this is a fixture of the highest magnitude, not just for this weekend but over the entire season. Throughout history, the Floriana against Valletta derby clash is deemed as an epic encounter between two sides who in every contest between them is always ensured a strong turn out from fans of both sides and football followers on the islands in general.
Depending on the current table, Floriana have to date the upper hand, they occupy top of the table, have navigated some great quality in matches, wherein consistency for the Greens has so far been fundamental.
Against Valletta nonetheless is always a different prospect as the Lilywhites will surely rise to the occasion, moreover are still wounded from their last gasp unexpected draw they conceded at the weekend against winless Santa Lucia.
Floriana coach Mauro Camoranesi need to do without Tunisian centre-back Oualid El Hasni, an influential figure for Floriana during the past seasons, who is suspended. Enzo Potenza, Camoranesi’s counter-part, has a full squad to his disposal as there are at least nu suspension issues for the 53-year-old Italian Valletta mentor.
Valletta have not beaten Floriana in their last six outings, including one in the Trophy, with Floriana winning five plus one draw. The last victory of the Citizens over the Irish was recorded on 2 February 2020 (1-0). Remarkably, Valletta have not found the net against Floriana in their last five Premier Division games, which were two 3-0 defeats, 2-0, 1-0 and a goalless draw.

Gzira United v Marsaxlokk (Tomorrow, Centenary Stadium, 14h)
A strong start for Marsaxlokk was followed by three defeats in their last four league matches, a sequence which surely has troubled seasiders coach Winston Muscat.  The 90 minutes ahead tomorrow are significant for Marsaxlokk as this could be the perfect opportunity for them to get back their winning habit, they so embraced in the opening matches of this campaign.
Gzira United, riding high on the wave of victory, gears up for their next challenge, ensuing their comprehensive win last Sunday over Mosta. Darren Abdilla’s team is in mid-table, three points in this encounter would see them resume their progress and keep pushing up in the league standings.
While Gzira can field their best team, Ryan Scicluna is missing for Marsaxlokk, serving a one-math suspension. Last season, both teams played out a goalless draw in the 1^st round, while the Maroons beat the seasiders 3-0 in the return. Marsaxlokk’s last victory over Gzira dates back to 2012, an odd goal in five win during the 2012/13 1^st Division campaign.

Hibernians v Sliema Wanderers (Tomorrow, National Stadium, 16h15)
With 267 previous encounters, the Hibernians versus Sliema Wanderers encounter is the second most played fixture in the history of Maltese football, behind the old firm clash between the Wanderers and Floriana, played last Saturday. A balanced affair is anticipated between two sides who are not really title challengers but in with a shout for European places come end of season.
Hibernians have recently stormed back superbly with two straight wins albeit against sides near the bottom, results that followed a pretty mediocre run of results for the Paolites. Both teams are equal on 13 points, therefore a victory is hugely important for the winner of this clash to further propel them towards a more favourable league position.
Sliema Wanderers will surely be resolute in this fixture to put aside their recent defeat to old rivals Floriana and maintain their status as one of the most impressive and dynamic teams so far this season.
There are no suspension issues for Hibernians coach Branko Nisevic and counter-part Paul Zammit for the Wanderers. The encounter returns after a season absence, with Hibernians winning the last three MPL games, one 3-0 victory and two identical 1-0 wins. On 20 September 2020, Sliema recorded their last win over the Peacocks in the Premier League (3-1). On that day, the goals came from Juri Cisotti and a brace by Jean-Paul Farrugia for the Wanderers, with Ferdinando Apap replying for Hibernians.