Valletta sent a stern warning to rivals Hibernians ahead of Saturday’s showdown as they over-powered fierce rivals Floriana 2-0 in a one-sided derby at the National Stadium last weekend to preserve their three-point lead at the top of the standings.
Watched from the stands by UEFA president Michel Platini, the Citizens turned up the power on this particular occasion with a dominant performance against their arch-rivals.
William Barbosa put the Citizens ahead with a superb execution from a free-kick after 14 minutes before Denni rubber-stamped Valletta’s authority with a second goal soon after as the leaders all but settled the match by the end of the first half.
Valletta utility man Roderick Briffa said victory was another clear sign that the champions are hitting top gear at the right time.
“Beating Floriana last weekend was a very important result for us ahead of the match against Hibs,” he said.
“We knew that we had to take all points from the derby to make sure that we go into our next match with our three-point advantage intact and we managed to do that with a strong first-half display.
“In my opinion, the team has shown great improvement in recent weeks and that is a clear sign that we are nearing peak form... that could be a crucial factor in our bid to retain the title for a second year running.”
In the past few weeks, Briffa revelled in his preferred role in central midfield and on Saturday he was one of the best performers on the field of play.
Still, the likely suspension of defender Steve Borg will inevitably see Briffa revert to right-back. The 30-year-old has no problems in switching roles as long as it befits the team.
“It’s an open secret that I enjoy myself most playing in midfield,” the former Birkirkara and Sliema player said.
“I am able to express myself better in midfield as I have more space to manoeuvre and can concentrate better on the team’s attacking play.
“But at the same time I have no problems in playing wing-back. It’s a position that I’m very used to, having been deployed in that role with the national team for the past six years.
“For me, the most important thing is that I’m able to give a contribution to help the team be successful in whichever position I’m ordered to fill.”
Saturday’s clash is being labelled by many as decisive to determine the new BOV Premier League champions.
Victory would put Valletta within touching distance of a 21st championship. Briffa wants his team to all but close the issue this weekend.
“We have a score to settle with Hibernians,” he remarked.
“They are the only team we have failed to beat this season so we want to straighten that record out.
“Victory would put us firmly on our way with only five matches to go. Surely, we will do everything in our power to reach that objective also for the fans.
“Things are looking pretty good for us. In the last two matches we have played some excellent football and hopefully we can continue that against Hibs.”
BOV Premier League statistics
Scorers, red cards
Balzan Youths: Pedrinho 12 (1 pen), Ciantar 6; Bright 5; Forace 2, Grima 2; Tasic, Camilleri, Farrugia, Bernardes, Pace.
Own goal: Camilleri (vs Ħamrun).
Red cards: Pedrinho (vs Qormi, vs Mqabba), Francica (vs Hibs; vs Sliema; vs Floriana), Forace (vs Tarxien), C. Ciantar (vs Valletta, vs Floriana), Guga (vs Valletta), Tasic (vs Floriana), Farrugia (vs Hibs).
Birkirkara: Avila Perez 12 (1 pen); Jorge 5; Cilia 4 (3 pens), Haruna 3; Grech 2, Pereira 2, Vella 2 (1 pen), Bajada 2, Mifsud Triganza 2 (1 pen.); Buhagiar, Zerafa, Muscat, Fenech, Camilleri, Vukanac.
Red cards: Decesare (vs Mosta), Grech (vs Qormi), Avila Perez, Bajada (vs Mosta), Decesare, Pereira (vs Hibs).
Floriana: Caruana 6, Grabowski 6, Woods 6 (2 pens); Micallef 3; Cassar 2, Mintoff 2, J. Borg 2, Darmanin 2, Sodje 2; Odwong, Farrugia, C. Borg, Alandson, Licari, Doffo.
Own goal: Everton (vs Tarxien).
Red cards: Amamoo (vs Sliema); Bartolo (vs Birkirkara, vs Balzan), Akoto (vs Qormi, vs Birkirkara); Micallef (vs Birkirkara); Pisani (vs Hibs); Caruana (vs Balzan).
Ħamrun Spartans: Ribeiro 12; Grima 8, Shields 8 (2 pens); Sammut 5; Calabretta 3; Luis Silva, Toneto Porcari, Agius, Polli, Hartvig.
Own goal: Bugeja (vs Floriana).
Red cards: Agius (vs Balzan), Polli (vs Birkirkara), Sammut (vs Balzan), Borg (vs Qormi).
Hibernians: Edison 20 (2 pens); Failla 12 (1 pen); Cohen 7; Lima 5; Pisani 4, Dias 4; Anizoba 3, Herrera 3; Caruana 2, Soares 2.
Own goal: Grima (vs Mqabba).
Red cards: Pulis (vs Valletta), Dias (vs Birkirkara).
Marsaxlokk: Deanov 4; Templeman 3 (2 pens), Farrugia 3; Lattes 2; Pedrozo, Kokavessis, Campagnoli, Oladotun, Caruana, Stoskovic.
Red cards: Templeman (vs Hibernians), Brincat (vs Qormi), Valeriani (vs Valletta), Templeman (vs Qormi).
Mosta: Obiefule 23 (3 pens; 10 goals for Marsaxlokk); Zammit 5 (1 pen); Martin 3, Mvondo 3; Aboulezz 2; Arilson, Borg, Bajada.
Own goal: Buhagiar (vs Birkirkara).
Red cards: Ossok (vs Hibs); Tisbi (vs Qormi), Martin (vs Tarxien), Raimy (vs Mqabba), Zammit (vs Sliema).
Mqabba: Mamic 10 (2 pens); Mazzitelli 7 (1 pen); Nwoba 4; Muscat 2; Azzopardi, Briffa, Potezica, Bonnici, Timotic, Sammut, Calleja.
Red cards: Mazzitelli (vs Marsaxlokk), Mamic (vs Hibs), Timotic (vs Hibs), Psaila (vs Qormi), Fenech (vs Mosta).
Qormi: Jorginho 12 (2 pens); Farrugia 11 (5 pens); Bello Osagie 5; Nwoke 4; Bondin 2; Bartolo, Sciberras, Caio, Caruana, Thackray.
Red cards: Duff (vs Birkirkara), Jorginho (vs Floriana), Sammut (vs Sliema).
Sliema: Mitev 8 (4 pens); Lima 4, Bajada 4; Lattes 3 (1 pen), Frendo 3, Jorge 3; Bogdanovic 2, Mifsud Triganza 2, Ani 2, Eyenga 2; Scerri, Galabov, Fenech, A. Muscat, Cilia, Mifsud.
Red cards: Scerri (vs Hibs, vs Balzan), Grech (vs Floriana), Mitev (vs Marsaxlokk; vs Balzan), Mifsud (vs Hibs, vs Tarxien), B. Muscat (vs Birkirkara, vs Qormi), Eyenga (vs Balzan), Gatt Baldacchino (vs Birkirkara).
Tarxien: Bueno 9 (1 pen); Ricardo 7 (1 pen); Pulo 2, Mayasi 2 (1 pen), Anonam 2, Galvao 2, Carabott 2; Everton.
Own goal: Pereira (vs Birkirkara).
Red cards: Anonam (vs Mosta), Costa (vs Balzan; Mosta), Caio (vs Valletta), Everton (vs Balzan)
Valletta: Denni 11; Barbosa 10 (1 pen); Effiong 9, Zongo 8; Mifsud 7 (1 pen); Borg 4 (1 pen), Cekulajevs 4; G. Agius 3, Briffa 3; Pace 2, Caruana, E. Agius, Scerri (pen).
Red cards: G. Agius, Borg, Fenech (vs Hibs); Effiong (vs Birkirkara).
Fixtures, standings
Saturday: National Stadium – 15.00 Sliema vs Floriana; 17.00 Hibernians vs Valletta.
Monday: Tedesco Stadium – 18.00 Marsaxlokk vs Tarxien; 20.15 Balzan Youths vs Birkirkara.
Tuesday: Hibs Stadium – 18.00 Ħamrun vs Mqabba; 20.00 Mosta vs Qormi.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 26 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 64 | 20 | 38 |
| Hibernians | 26 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 63 | 19 | 35 |
| Birkirkara | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 40 | 32 | 26 |
| Floriana | 26 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 38 | 27 | 24 |
| Sliema W. | 26 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 39 | 32 | 20 |
| Balzan Y. | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 35 | 51 | 17 |
| Qormi | 26 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 39 | 40 | 21 |
| Ħamrun | 26 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 42 | 56 | 20 |
| Mosta | 26 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 30 | 41 | 16 |
| Mqabba | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 30 | 46 | 16 |
| Tarxien | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 30 | 47 | 15 |
| Marsaxlokk | 26 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 28 | 67 | 9 |