With only two points separating Birkirkara and Floriana, their final encounter at the National Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 3 p.m.) could have a a decisive impact on the race for third spot and qualification to the Europa League.
High on confidence after their 5-0 trimming of Balzan extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches, Birkirkara will be striving to tighten their grip on third place as a win would send them five points clear of Floriana.
The Greens have less margin for error as a defeat would all but shatter their European hopes while a draw would leave them two points behind Birkirkara with only four games remaining.
Midfielder Gareth Sciberras reckons Birkirkara must win tomorrow if they are to remain masters of their own fate.
“It’s a six-pointer in the race for third place,” Sciberras said. “If we win, we would gain a significant advantage ahead of the remaining four league games. It would all depend on us then as, with a five-point lead, our fate will remain in our own hands.
“In the last month-and-a-half, we’ve been playing well. We’re on a positive run and it has come at the right time. Our season had been like a rollercoaster but we found our feet just before the Championship Pool started.
“We improved our consistency and we have been making it harder for other teams to break us down.
“Our confidence is high, especially after our last game (against Balzan), but this match is a totally different proposition.”
Sciberras is bracing himself for a difficult outing. “Floriana are a compact team, very aggressive,” the Malta midfielder remarked.
“We have to match them and keep our tactical organisation because we also have players of individual quality who can make the difference.”
A berth in the Europa League has long represented Birkirkara’s chief target after the Stripes’ travails in the opening five months of the season scuppered their hopes of challenging for the title.
Sciberras admitted that a place in Europe would rescue Birkirkara’s season but insisted that they should aim higher.
“This is my first year with Birkirkara,” Sciberras said.
“Expectations are high because Birkirkara are always expected to challenge for the main honours.
“This season, we slipped out of the title race and we’ve been knocked out of the Trophy... this is not normal for a club of Birkirkara’s stature.
“We started the season badly and struggled for consistency. Thanks God, we bounced back and we’re now fighting to finish third, possibly second, and qualify for Europe. If we manage to reach this target, we can look back on this season and say we did OK.”
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit is set to have a full squad at his disposal tomorrow as midfielder Paul Fenech has recovered from an ankle problem.
Runners-up in the league and winners of the U*Bet FA Trophy last season, Floriana have no chance of emulating those achievements this term as they have been eliminated from the KO and trail second-placed Hibs by eight points.
Like Birkirkara, their revised objective is to claim third place and to this end, tomorrow’s direct encounter is vital to their hopes.
“The way I see it this has to be regarded as the most important game of our season,” Floriana’s Swedish winger Andre Grabowski told The Times.
“If we want to finish third and play in Europe next season, only the three points matter for us.”
After coming unstuck in the derby against Valletta, Floriana reasserted their European credentials with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Sliema Wanderers last weekend.
“There is a very good atmosphere within our squad,” Grabowski said.”We’ve trained well. We were pleased with our win over Sliema but now it’s the Birkirkara game that really counts.
“Birkirkara have been playing very well in the last two months. They’ve come good in the Championship Pool, winning against us as well as Hibs.
“Without doubt, this is not going to be an easy game.”
Joe Brincat, the Floriana coach, must make do without the suspended Christian Caruana while Joseph Borg is doubtful.
Grabowski’s improving form has further raised Floriana’s optimism as the Swedish winger, who has Polish parents, had been the inspiration behind their nine-match unbeaten run in the first phase of the championship.
“I feel very good,” Grabowski, who is keen to stay in Maltese football beyond the end of the season, said.
“I’m happy that I played the whole match and helped the team win against Sliema. I’m in good form.”
Results so far: Floriana vs Birkirkara 0-3, 1-0, 1-3.
City out to maintain title march
Valletta vs Balzan Youths (today at 3 p.m., National Stadium).
Having opened a six-point lead at the top after their 3-2 win over Hibs, Valletta should move a step closer towards winning the title this afternoon when they meet Balzan.
The only downside for Valletta is that they will be without regular keeper Andrew Hogg who is sus-pended. Captain Gilbert Agius could also skip this game as he is still recovering from a minor hamstring strain.
Nigerian striker Alfred Effiong is back in the frame after seeing out a three-match ban.
For Balzan to cause an upset, they’d need to step up their game by several notches as their performances in the Cham-pion-ship Pool have been substandard.
In fact, they have leaked 22 goals in their last five games.
Their cause has not been aided by injuries and suspensions.
Left-back Clifton Ciantar is ruled out by injury while Jonathan Francica, who has missed the last games through suspension, and Yessous Camilleri are doubtful.
Brazilian playmaker Pedrinho is another player with a 50-50 chance of facing Valletta.
Results so far: Valletta vs Balzan 2-0, 2-0, 7-2.
Qormi vs Marsaxlokk (today at 5 p.m., National Stadium).
Motivation for Qormi to take three points should stem from their determination to make amends for a shock 1-0 defeat to the faltering Marsaxlokk in their last meeting as well as their need to keep their survival bid on track after their 2-0 upset to Mosta.
Midfielder Luke Sciberras is suspended for Qormi while flank defender Jonathan Bondin aggravated a rib injury against Mosta.
On the positive side, coach Stephen Azzopardi is boosted by the return from suspension of Abubakar Bello-Osagie. Captain Joseph Farrugia is expected to recover from an ankle problem.
Bottom of the table with six points, Marsaxlokk are virtually doomed.
Defender Jonathan Xerri is out for the Blues following his sending-off in the 2-0 loss to Tarxien.
Results so far: Qormi vs Marsa-xlokk 3-1, 2-1, 0-1.
Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs (tomorrow at 5 p.m., National Stadium).
Although their title hopes have taken a hit after the loss to Valletta, Hibs will be striving to stay in the race by beating Sliema whose own Euro slot bid suffered a blow last weekend after a 3-1 defeat to Floriana.
Brazilian midfielder Jackson Lima returns from Hibs after serving his one-match ban.
Edward Herrera is doubtful with a swollen ankle.
Sliema coach Danilo Doncic can’t name his strongest team as defender Josef Mifsud is suspended and Cleaven Frendo has knee trouble.
Doncic is hoping that Rumen Galabov, Andrew Decesare and Danail Mitev shake off injuries in time to line up against the Paolites.
Results so far: Hibs vs Sliema 3-3, 1-1, 2-1.
Mqabba vs Tarxien (Monday at 6 p.m., Hibs Stadium).
This is a high-stakes game for relegation strugglers Mqabba and Tarxien Rainbows.
Tarxien were hardly con-vincing in their 2-0 win over Marsaxlokk while Mqabba fluffed a hatful of scoring chances in a 0-0 draw with Ħamrun Spartans.
Patrick Curmi, the Tarxien coach, must make at least one change from the Marsaxlokk game as Orosco Anonam is suspended.
Midfielder Mark Tanti is nearing the end of his recovery from injury.
Mqabba will also be without a key player as defender Branislav Timotiv has been ruled out by a one-match ban.
Results so far: Mqabba vs Tarxien 2-3, 1-1, 0-1.
Ħamrun Spartans vs Mosta (Monday at 8 p.m., Hibs Stadium).
Ħamrun Spartans and Mosta will be aware that victory would provide a massive boost to their hopes of retaining their top-flight status.
The Spartans are unbeaten in five Relegation Pool matches but they looked somewhat jaded and short of inspiration in a 0-0 draw with Mqabba.
Coach Stefan Sultana will demand an improved display from his team in what promises to be a tough match against Mosta.
Dene Shields is facing a race against time to shake off the injury that kept him out of Tuesday’s game while Matthew Gauci is out of the picture as he must serve the one-match he incurred in an U-19 competition earlier this week.
David Camilleri is also carrying a slight injury but should recover while Gaetan Spiteri returns from suspension.
Mosta made it two wins on the trot after their defeat of Qormi in their previous match. Their victory came in coach Steve D’Amato’s 100th game in charge of a Premier League team.
For Monday’s clash, D’Amato must cope without Serbian midfielder Predrag Mirceta, sus-pended, while Dyson Falzon could miss out as he has been sick all week.
Results so far: Ħamrun vs Mosta 1-0, 2-2, 2-2.