City need win to keep third-place hopes alive

It has been an inadequate season by Valletta`s standards. Fourth in the league with only one match to go, the outgoing champions are faced with a must-win scenario if they are to keep alive their hopes of forcing a third-place play-off against rivals Birkirkara. The latter enjoy a three-point lead on the Citizens going into tomorrow`s final encounter against newly-crowned champions Hibs.

This evening at 5, Georgi Deanov`s troops take on a Sliema Wanderers side assured of second place but eager to lift their spirits as the Rothmans Trophy quarter-finals beckon. Sliema figured in an inert goalless draw with Birkirkara last Monday, the day after the title issue was settled with Hibs` 2-0 victory over Floriana.

Both sides have some important players missing for today`s clash. Deanov is hampered by the suspension of Kamil Dvorak but more discomforting was the news that the Czech midfielder has to undergo a knee cartilage operation which should keep him sidelined for 15 days. Dvorak will only be able to play for Valletta again this season if they reach the latter stages of the KO competition.

Midfielder Ivan Zammit is still recovering from similar knee surgery but Nicky Saliba, banned for the last game against Hamrun which ended 1-1, is expected to return to Valletta`s starting line-up today.

Jeff Wood, Sliema`s coach, cannot bank on the suspended Brian Said and David Camilleri while Noel Turner is also out of contention with a broken toe. Striker Nenad Veselji picked up a knock during training this week and is also expected to skip today`s meeting with his former club.

On a more positive note, skipper Luke Dimech returns from suspension and the solid performance of youngster Josef Mifsud in last Monday`s goalless draw with Birkirkara will also have pleased Wood, always eager to promote young talent.

Mifsud is expected to be confirmed at centre-half while a couple of other youngsters may also be given a chance to stake a claim for a first-team place ahead of the KO quarter-finals.

Today`s match provides former Valletta striker Danilo Doncic with one last chance to set a new record for number of goals scored in the Premier League. He needs one goal to surpass his 32-goal Premier League mark.

Previous results - Sliema vs Valletta 3-0, 1-2, 2-1.

Naxxar`s farewell

Naxxar Lions will bid farewell to Premier League football this afternoon when they square up to Pietà Hotspurs. The Lions` Division One fate was sealed last Sunday when they lost 2-1 to Marsa.

Lions` player-coach Edmund Lufi is expected to confirm his faith in young players after the club parted company with its foreign players. Although today`s match with Pietà has no importance for the Lions in terms of Premier League standings, they should make the most of it given that, like their opponents, they are in the Trophy quarter-finals.

The Hotspurs` positive streak came to an end last Saturday when an Ilir Pelinku solitary goal gave Lija an unlikely win over a changed Pietà side that included several young players.

Patrick Curmi, the Pietà coach who spearheaded his team`s successful survival bid, is expected to recall the established players for today`s match. Ivan Woods is suspended but midfielder Sandro Zammit Fava is back in the frame after serving a three-match ban.

Previous results - Pietà H. vs Naxxar L. 0-1, 0-2, 2-1.