[attach id=309085 size="medium"]Valletta’s Hamza Barry (left) and Birkirkara’s Gareth Sciberras vie for possession. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar[/attach]

Birkirkara chase 14th league victory, City need win to narrow gap

Backed by an astounding run of 13 successive league wins, Birkirkara will be aiming to further embellish their status as the leading team in the Premier League tomorrow when they face Valletta at the National Stadium (kick-off 4pm).

Six points to the good at the top, Birkirkara have outshone all opposition this season but with Valletta probably the only team with a realistic chance of challenging them for the championship, the Stripes will be relishing the prospect of inflicting another significant blow to their rivals’ hopes.

While tomorrow’s game is not a make-or-break affair for both sides, especially for the table-topping Stripes, coach Paul Zammit believes that his team’s performance could provide an indication about their ability to sustain their title march in the Championship Pool.

“For classification purposes, and given the format of our league, this game has the same importance as the others we’ve played so far,” Zammit told Times of Malta.

“Our aim was to collect as many points as possible in the second round to put ourselves in a strong position at the start of the Championship Pool.

“But when the points are halved, the teams will get closer to each other.

“We’re playing Valletta and, at the moment, these two clubs have the strongest teams in the league.

“It’s a big occasion, one where we can truly gauge our consistency.

“There is rivalry between the two clubs and, for the last 10 years, Birkirkara-Valletta has been the most attractive fixture in the local football calendar.

“We’re aware of the importance attached to this fixture.”

With Birkirkara chasing a 14th consecutive win, Zammit paid tribute to his team’s consistency.

“I can’t but mention the great efforts of my squad,” Zammit said.

“We have won 15 consecutive games, 13 in the league and two in the FA Trophy.

“I have no problems in saying how proud I am of my players. It’s not easy to win so many games and to cope with the pressure of winning week in week out.

“I’m very happy to be working with this group of players.

“It’s thanks to their abilities and commitment that we are in such a strong position but I’ve been reminding them that the race is far from over.

“It’s like we are halfway through a marathon. We are first but not there yet... there’s a long way to go.

“You always have ups and downs during a season but I believe we’re well prepared for this.

“It always boils down to the character of the team, not only in how you react to results but also in overcoming difficult moments during games.

“The Valletta game is another tough test . We have a lot of respect for our opponents who have a lot of quality in their squad but we prefer to focus on our team.”

Although Valletta are regarded as Birkirkara’s sole rivals for league glory, Zammit is not writing off the likes of Hibs, Sliema Wanderers and Mosta.

“Valletta are capable of challenging for the honours,” Zammit said.

“They will always be a threat because of the stature of the club and the strength of their team.

“Like everyone, I’m surprised at the situation Hibs find themselves in. I admired Hibs because they had a strong base but they have struggled in the last few weeks following the departure of two important players (Rodolfo Soares and Marcelo Dias).

“I also believe that Sliema and Mosta will be dangerous opponents in the Championship Pool... they can take points off the other teams.”

Zammit can’t name the same team that started the 3-1 victory over Tarxien on Monday as left-back Joseph Zerafa is out after receiving a one-match ban.

The Birkirkara coach also has injury concerns over Serbian Nikola Vukanac (ankle), Shola Shodiya Haruna (hamstring) and Edward Herrera (quad).

Brazilian striker Ronaille could make his bow for Birkirkara after joining the champions on loan from Tarxien with Demba Toure moving in the opposite direction.

While the six-point cushion has alleviated the pressure on Birkirkara ahead of tomorrow’s eagerly-awaited match, not so can be said of Valletta.

With two matches to go before the start of the Championship Pool, Valletta are faced with a must-win scenario to maintain the pace with the leaders and banish the gathering scepticism about their title prospects.

Coach Mark Miller, who is now sharing first-team duties with Dutch coach Andre Paus, made it clear that Valletta can’t afford to slip up tomorrow.

“We can’t lose this game,” Miller said. “A draw would be the worst result, meaning that a defeat would amount to a disaster for us.

“We have to be concentrated and do what we’ve been doing in the last few games... scoring chances, creating chances and defending well.

“The players have been training well. They know that this is a very important game for the club and we’ve got to try and win it.

“We will be up for the challenge but we have a disadvantage as we will be without Denni and Lateef (Elford-Alliyu). They are our strikeforce.

“We’re going into the match without an out-and-out striker. We have Jean Pierre (Mifsud Triganza) who has been struggling when starting games but made an impact when coming off the bench.”

Apart from Denni and Elford-Alliyu, Valletta, who trounced Rabat Ajax 6-1 in their last outing, are still missing defender Luke Dimech while Jason Lee Vandelannoite is doubtful.

Birkirkara look to have supplanted Valletta as the strongest outfit in the top flight thanks to their sound teamwork and tactical organisation but Miller was having none of that, blaming injuries for his team’s struggles to match their rivals’ consistency.

“Birkirkara are not much different from last season,” Miller said.

“The other sides have dropped points and there were a number of matches when they (Birkirkara) played teams who were missing key players.

“They haven’t had many injuries this season and the consistency comes from being able to keep the same team. Birkirkara have fielded the same defenders and if your defenders play together all the time, it helps a lot.

“People forget that we had Hamza Barry out for three months and what would Birkirkara do if they had a number of players out injured.”

Although Paus’s appointment cast doubts over Miller’s future, the Englishman put on a brave face.

“I think it will have a positive effect on the team,” Miller said of Paus’ arrival.

“When a new face comes in, he brings fresh ideas. We’re putting two heads together to try and improve the team.

“It’s a growing relationship, a day-by-day process. We’re getting to know each other as persons and technicians but we have the same philosophy in that we both like attacking football.”

Besides the arrivals of Paus and Ted van Leeuwen, who has been named technical director, Valletta have also recruited five new foreign players.

Goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili and midfielder Irakli Maisuradze, both Georgia internationals, could be in line to make their debut tomorrow.

Valletta have also completed the registration of Nigeria-born striker Abayomi Owonikoro, who has a Georgian passport, Brazilian Alan da Silva Souza and Vladimir Razulov, from Moldova.

First round: Birkirkara vs Valletta 1-0.