[attach id=241006 size="medium"]Tarxien’s Daniel Mariano Bueno goes down under the challenge of Valletta captain Roderick Briffa. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]
As the election fever slowly begins to subside, the attention of local football fans switches back to the Premier League which resumes this evening with four games.
Having spurned the chance to open up a three-point gap at the top after a goalless draw with Sliema, champions Valletta will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Europa League chasers Tarxien Rainbows, themselves on a high after a 3-0 victory over Mosta.
The stalemate with Sliema has turned up the heat on Valletta ahead of their clash with Tarxien this evening at the Hibs Stadium (8pm) but coach Mark Miller played down suggestions that his team are under greater pressure.
“There’s always pressure at Valletta,” Miller told The Times. “We have to accept that and live with it.
“They (the players) know what they have to do, they have to perform.”
Miller envisages a defensive approach from Tarxien who managed to take a point off the Citizens after their second-round meeting ended 1-1.
“I know what’s coming,” Miller said. “Tarxien will play a defensive game and try to catch us on the counter. They have the players to do that.
“It’s a question of being careful at the back and being good at breaking them down with more creative movement from our forwards.”
Pre-season forecasts installed Valletta as favourites to complete a treble of consecutive titles but they have failed to vindicate their status so far as they are only one point ahead of Hibs with Birkirkara third, two points adrift.
The proximity of the leading three teams allied with Sliema’s sustained progress has raised the prospect of a gripping title contest. Asked if he expects this season’s race to go down to the wire, Miller said: “On past history, this season seems like it will go down to the wire but a lot of things can determine the out-come in football.
“If you look at what happened to Manchester United, it was the referee who decided their fate (in the Champions League match against Real Madrid).
“We’re one of the strongest teams in the league, if not the strongest.
“We have to apply ourselves in the right way and we believe that we can win the championship. It will be disappointing if we don’t. At the end of the day, it’s down to the players because they are on the pitch.
“In the last game (against Sliema) we were unlucky with the oppor-tunities.
“We created the chances but didn’t score. You can play for three hours but if you don’t put the ball in the net, it’s useless.”
Brazilian midfielder William Barbosa is out for Valletta as he must serve a one-match ban. Nigerian winger Abubakar Bello-Osagie is recovering from injury along with long-term absentee Steve Borg.
Tarxien coach Clive Mizzi reckons his players must be at their best if they are to deny the champions.
“It’s a difficult match, certainly tougher than our last two games,” Mizzi said.
“Valletta have reinforced their squad in January and are playing better. We will try to take something from the match. If we manage to get a point, it will be an important one for us ahead of our match against Sliema Wanderers.”
The 3-0 victory over Mosta kept Tarxien in the running for a fourth-place finish but Mizzi warned that Valletta are a tougher proposition compared to their last opponents.
“The result is the most important thing but you also have to consider the strength of the opposition,” Mizzi said.
“With respect to Mosta, they are looking somewhat demoralised and that happens to many teams who play in the Championship Pool.
“We can’t get carried away. We did a lot of good things in the Mosta game but we also made mistakes and if we want to gain points against the likes of Valletta, Birkirkara and Sliema, who are our direct rivals, we must do better.”
Serbian defender Branislav Timotic is still recovering from a back problem but Mizzi is buoyed by the return of Brazilian Andre-zinho who missed the Mosta game due to suspension.
Previous results: Valletta vs Tarxien 1-0, 1-1.
Football fixtures
Today
Hibs Stadium: BOV Premier League 6pm Ħamrun Spartans vs Qormi; 8pm Tarxien Rainbows vs Valletta.
Tedesco Stadium: BOV Premier League 6pm Floriana vs Rabat Ajax; 8.15pm Balzan vs Melita.
Centenary Stadium: BOV Division One 6pm Naxxar Lions vs Pietà Hotspurs; 8pm. Lija Athletic vs Dingli Swallows.
Luxol Stadium: BOV Division One 6pm Birżebbuġa St Peter’s vs Vittoriosa Stars; 8.15pm St Andrew’s vs Gżira United.
Pembroke: BOV Women’s Division Two 8.15pm Raiders vs Kirkop United.
Żebbuġ: BOV Womens’ Division Two 8.15pm Sta Venera Yellow Blues vs Lija/Iklin.
Tomorrow
National Stadium: BOV Premier League 6pm Birkirkara vs Mosta; 8pm Hibernians vs Sliema Wan-derers.
Centenary Stadium: BOV Division One 6pm Gudja United vs Marsa-xlokk; 8pm Mqabba vs Żejtun Corinthians.
Charles Abela Stadium: BOV Division Two 6pm Kirkop United vs Żebbuġ Rangers; 8.15pm Siġġiewi vs Pembroke.
Sirens Stadium: BOV Division Two 6pm Mġarr United vs Sta Venera Lightnings; 8.15pm Żurrieq vs St Patrick.