Fight for European qualification takes centre stage

Valletta's elevation to the summit of Maltese football has been the main talking point in local football since the Citizens secured their title success last weekend but just behind them, three teams are embroiled in a compelling fight for qualification to European competitions.

With the newly-crowned champions crossing swords with the resurgent Sliema Wanderers on Saturday, Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk will be looking to steal a march on the Blues with a win over Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans respectively between today and tomorrow.

Birkirkara snapped a two-match losing run with a potentially crucial 2-0 win over top-three rivals Marsaxlokk last weekend. The Stripes are regarded as firm favourites to keep their winning momentum going against a Floriana team whose interest in the league campaign effectively ended with their making sure of a top-six place back in February.

Given that only two points separate the three challengers for automatic entry into European competitions next season, Birkirkara, second on 30 points, know that victory is a must for them to stay clear of Marsaxlokk (29) and Sliema (28) ahead of the final round of Premier League matches next week.

Birkirkara coach John Buttigieg is unlikely to make drastic changes from the team that started Saturday's 2-0 win over Marsaxlokk. However, the one-match ban imposed on wing-back Joseph Zerafa, scorer of Birkirkara's opening goal last weekend, means that Buttigieg cannot retain the same eleven.

The Stripes' joy at dismissing Marsaxlokk's challenge has been tempered with the news that Antoine Zahra has again fallen victim to misfortune as medical tests have revealed that the former Malta midfieder suffered another knee cruciate injury in his side's 2-1 loss to Valletta.

On the plus side, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza is back in the frame after serving a one-match suspension.

Mindful of the tight nature of the race for a top-three position, Buttigieg is hopeful that his team keep hold of second place before the final batch of matches.

"There are two matches left to play but the teams are so close to each other that the issue regarding European qualification could well be decided on the final day," Buttigieg said.

"As far as we're concerned, it's important that we win this match as defeat at this stage would undermine our chances of finishing second or third."

Buttigieg acknowledged that the win over outgoing champions Marsaxlokk has raised spirits at Birkirkara but he was also quick to point out that the next match is always the most important.

"Getting back to winning ways after two consecutive defeats has boosted our morale but the match against Marsaxlokk is in the past," Buttigieg said. "We are fully focused on our next game against Floriana and determined to prevail and consolidate second place in the standings."

Floriana went down 2-0 to rivals Valletta last weekend despite the latter playing the entire second half with ten men after the sending-off of Frank Temile who received a one-match ban yesterday. Coach Danilo Doncic is undoubtedly keen for his team to stop the rot as they look to gain a morale-booster ahead of the FA Trophy semi-finals.

Captain Christian Cassar will return for Floriana after missing the derby through suspension while Serbian defender Darko Krsteski is also in line for a recall to the squad. Trevor Cilia is also confident of receiving the medical green light to resume playing after recovering from a hand injury.

Christian Caruana is still sidelined with a leg injury while Manuel Sevasta, Clifton Ciantar and Ryan Darmanin are doubtful after picking up knocks on Sunday.

Results so far: Birkirkara vs Floriana 3-2, 0-0, 2-0.

Other matches

Mqabba vs Msida St Joseph (today at 6 p.m., National Stadium).

Msida St Joseph coach Patrick Curmi is widely expected to name several young players in his first XI today after the Saints made sure of retaining their Premier League status with a 3-1 win over Hibs.

For their part, bottom-placed Mqabba have nothing left to play for bar pride after their relegation fate was sealed several weeks ago. Last Saturday, Mqabba failed to improve their chances of avoiding bottom spot after a 1-0 defeat to fellow relegated side Pietà Hotspurs.

Patrick Borg will miss today's match for Msida due to suspension but Adrian Farrugia is available after seeing out his ban against Hibs. A win for Msida today would lift them one point above the Paolites who are in action tomorrow.

Results so far: Msida vs Mqabba 4-3, 1-2, 4-2.

Hibs vs Pietà Hotspurs (tomorrow at 6 p.m., National Stadium).

Hibs will be eager to recapture their winning touch after their perfect start to the Relegation Pool came to a halt with a 3-1 loss to Msida.

Coach Robert Gatt must make do without goalkeeper Mario Muscat, who has a knee problem, and Timothy Fleri Soler who is unavailable as he is currently doing his A-Level exams. There is also a question mark over the fitness of Adrian Pulis and Ben Camilleri.

Although Pietà have already been demoted to Division One, their win over Mqabba, courtesy of a Martin Deanov goal, suggests that the Hotspurs are keen to bow out of the Premier League on a positive note.

For tomorrow's clash with Hibs, Pietà coach Carmel Busuttil is sure to be without Karl Pulo and Bulgarian defender Rumen Galabov who were both given a one-match suspension yesterday.

Results so far: Hibs vs Pietà 2-0, 2-0, 2-1.

Ħamrun Spartans vs Marsaxlokk (tomorrow at 8 p.m., National Stadium).

Back-to-back defeats have derailed Marsaxlokk's bid to claim the runner-up spot but the Blues can still reach their revised target if they win their remaining two matches and Birkirkara fail to get maximum points from theirs. However, Marsaxlokk's top priority is to hang on to third place as this would all but guarantee them a place in the UEFA Cup.

Midfielder Peter Pullicino returns for Marsaxlokk after suspension forced him out of Saturday's loss to Birkirkara. Trevor Templeman has made good progress in his rehabilitation from a knee injury and could be in the squad today but Gareth Sciberras is out for the rest of the season with an eye injury. Charlò Magro is suspended.

Ħamrun Spartans coach Marco Gerada will again treat this match as part of his team's build-up for the FA Trophy semi-finals, the draw of which will be made on Monday evening.

Gerada's team tomorrow is not expected to differ much from the one that cut a good figure in a 5-3 defeat to Sliema.

Results so far: Ħamrun vs Marsaxlokk 1-0, 7-3, 1-3.

Playing on Saturday (National Stadium): 5 p.m. Valletta vs Sliema W.