Six teams target first victory in league

Vittoriosa Stars vs Qormi (today at 17.00, National Stadium).
Vittoriosa Stars and Qormi are in search of their first points in the 2010/11 Premier League after both suffered defeats in their opening matches.

Newly-promoted Vittoriosa were on the receiving end of a 3-0 loss to Valletta while Qormi went down 3-1 to rivals Ħamrun.

Winston Muscat, the Vittoriosa coach, must make at least one change to his starting team as midfielder Carlos Emanuel Campagnoli is suspended after seeing red in Sunday’s defeat to the Citizens.

Qormi have filed the registration of Nigeria forward Abubakar Bello-Osagie who is expected to make his debut today. Stephen Azzopardi, the Qormi coach, has no selection problems.

Birkirkara vs Floriana (today at 19.00, National Stadium).
Birkirkara’s come-from-behind 4-1 victory over Sliema last Monday can only have lifted their morale ahead of this match against Floriana.

The Stripes’ resources have been further decimated by the injury to goalkeeper Ezequiel Lovizon. He is likely to be out for up to four months after fracturing his arm.

Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, is still without suspended quartet Shaun Bajada (who is also recovering from an ankle injury sustained in Malta’s 2-0 loss to Latvia), Paul Fenech, Patrick Borg and Nikola Vukanac. Midfielder Alan Tabone is also sidelined with a broken finger.

On the positive side, winger Karl Pulo is available to face the Greens after serving his one-match ban.

Floriana will be looking to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat to Hibs.

Todor Raykov, the Floriana coach, was disappointed with his team’s performance in their opening game, especially in the opening 25 minutes when Hibs scored twice to effectively seal victory.

Christian Caruana is doubtful as he has yet to fully recover from an ankle problem but otherwise, Raykov has a full squad at his disposal.

Ħamrun Spartans vs Tarxien Rainbows (tomorrow at 17.00, National Stadium).
Ħamrun go into this match with spirits sky-high after their 3-1 dismissal of Qormi. As for the Rainbows, they will be looking to improve on their below-par showing in the goalless draw against Marsaxlokk.

Steve D’Amato, the Ħamrun coach, is expected to field the same team that began Saturday’s curtain-raiser but forward Marcelo Pereira is rated as doubtful after picking up a bad knock against Qormi. Serbian flank defender Johann Vukanic is still unavailable.

Tarxien coach Noel Coleiro is boosted by the return of Mark Tanti and Ryan Mintoff who missed the Marsaxlokk game with injuries. Brazilian midfielder Sergio Pacheco may skip this match due to a hamstring strain.

The Rainbows are still awaiting the all-clear from FIFA to register Brazilian forward Daniel Mariano Bueno.

Marsaxlokk vs Sliema Wanderers (tomorrow at 19.00, National Stadium).
Marsaxlokk and Sliema have their sights firmly set on victory after both failed to win last weekend. The southerners drew 0-0 with Tarxien in their first match since being promoted back to the top flight while the Wanderers threw away a one-goal lead and lost 1-4 to Birkirkara.

Winger John Mintoff is out for Sliema after receiving a one-match ban for his red card in Monday’s game.

Striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza is still on honeymoon while Alex Muscat, Roderick Bajada and Steve Bezzina are sidelined with injuries.

Patrick Curmi, the Marsaxlokk coach, is not expected to make significant changes to the team he fielded last Sunday but striker Alfred Effiong could be in line to start against Sliema.