It was business as usual for Maltese football last weekend after all the hype surrounding Juventus's training camp here.
The focus was back on the race involving a clutch of teams who have been fighting hard for much of the last four months to secure a place in the Champion-ship Pool.
Saturday saw Marsaxlokk and Sliema Wanderers ease their Relegation Pool worries with victories over Floriana and Hibernians respectively.
In the first match, the champions made hard work of defeating Floriana who played more than 75 minutes with a player less after the early dismissal of defender Owen Bugeja for a foul on the advancing Julio Alcorse.
It looked as though Marsaxlokk were in for an easy outing after taking an early two-goal lead through Alcorse and Mark Barbara but Floriana rallied to reduce the gap with a goal from Ryan Darmanin two minutes from half-time.
The Greens created a string of scoring opportunities in the second half but Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Debono thwarted their efforts with a series of fine saves.
The champions punished Floriana's failure to take their chances with two late goals. Malcolm Licari made it 3-1 with a well-taken shot from close range and Gareth Sciberras's scrambled effort was deflected into the net by Floriana goalkeeper Simon Agius for a final 4-1 scoreline.
Sliema Wanderers edged Hibs 2-1 to obtain their first victory in four matches and join Floriana on the 24-point mark, four behind leaders Valletta who were not in action last weekend.
The Blues laid the foundations for their victory with two goals early in the second half from Brazilian Andre Rocha Da Silva, his first for Sliema, and captain Brian Said.
Hibs pulled a goal back 11 minutes from time when Edmond Agius's shot took a deflection off Said and flew past the helpless Murphy Akanji.
On Sunday, Msida sprung a surprise when coming from behind to beat Hamrun Spartans 2-1.
Veteran striker Stefan Sultana gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead early in the match but second-half goals by Tyrone Farrugia and Pedro Dos Santos Calcado - Pedrinho - crowned Msida's comeback.
Victory for Msida enabled them to improve one position in the bottom part of the standings. Their bold effort on Sunday ended a positive run of nine matches without a defeat for the Spartans.
In Sunday's second match, Birkirkara cruised to a 2-0 win over Pietà and dislodged Hibs from sixth place. David Ahmed Sylla opened his Birkirkara account on the half hour and another foreign player, Danish defender Ron Hartvig, sealed the points for the Stripes with a 57th minute header.
Premier League statistics
Birkirkara: Hartvig 4; Mifsud Triganza 3, M. Galea 3, Bajada 3; Tabone 2 (1 pen.); Tamboulas, Yanchev, T. Paris, Fenech, Anastasi, Sylla.
Floriana: Darmanin 6; Micallef 4; C. Caruana 3, Mifsud 3 (moved to Hibs), Krsteski 3 (1 pen.); Brincat 2, Cilia 2; M. Caruana, Bolasie, Sevasta, Cassar. Red cards: M. Brincat (vs Mqabba); Krsteski (vs Sliema); Gauci (vs Hibs); Cassar (vs Mqabba); Bugeja (vs Marsaxlokk). Missed penalty: Mifsud (vs Msida).
Hamrun: Spiteri 7; Sultana 6 (2 pens); Effiong 5; Ryan Fenech 2, Mangion 2; Briffa, Roderick Fenech, Cucciardi. Own goal: Conceicao (vs Marsaxlokk). Red cards: Ryan Fenech (vs Pietà); Timotic (vs Birkirkara); Briffa (vs Pietà).
Hibernians: Scerri 6; Cohen 4 (1 pen.); Alcorse 2 (moved to Marsaxlokk); Doffo, Agius, Edafe, Chukunyere, Failla, Mifsud. Own goal: Said (vs Sliema). Red cards: Failla (vs Floriana), Edafe (vs Floriana).
Marsaxlokk: Licari 6; Barbara 5; Frendo 4; Gomes 2, Sammut 2 (1 pen.); Pullicino, Da Silva, Camenzuli, Templeman, Pace, Alcorse. Own goals: Borg (vs Msida); Agius (vs Floriana). Missed penalty: Gomes (vs Sliema). Red card: Conceicao (vs Pietà).
Mqabba: Pereira 6 (1 pen); Zarb 2, Silva 2 (2 pens); Gatt Baldacchino, Calleja, Nogueira. Red cards: Pereira (vs Birkirkara); Psaila (vs Birkirkara).
Msida SJ: Doding 6 (2 pens); Pedrinho 5; A. Farrugia 2, Borg 2; Baldacchino, Ogbonna, Magri, T. Farrugia. Red cards: A. Farrugia (vs Birkirkara); Brincat (vs Hibs); Pedrinho (vs Mqabba); Spiteri (vs Marsaxlokk); Doding, Cachia, Grima (all vs Sliema); Bartolo (vs Valletta). Missed penalties: Doding (vs Hibs); Pedrinho (vs Marsaxlokk).
Pietà Hotspurs: Herrera 4; Deanov 3; Kondev 2 pens, Deliminkov 2; Galabov, Goodlip, Q. Refalo. Red cards: Aquilina (vs Valletta); Kondev (vs Marsaxlokk); Montfort (vs Msida); Q. Refalo (vs Hamrun). Missed penalties: Kondev (vs Msida), Herrera (vs Hibs).
Sliema: Barbara 5 (1 pen.); Madzar 4; Woods 3 (1 pen.), Said 3; Briffa 2; Milovanovic, Muscat, Bajada, Anonam, Bartolo, Da Silva. Red cards: Bajada (vs Hamrun); Pace (vs Birkirkara). Missed penalties: Woods (vs Birkirkara); Barbara (vs Floriana).
Valletta: Monesterolo 10 (2 pens); Zammit 8; Temile 3; Scicluna 2, Agius 2, Backhaus 2; Giglio pen., Mattocks, Bondin, Mifsud. Red cards: Zammit (vs Pietà); Mattocks (vs Mqabba); Monesterolo (vs Floriana); Bezzina (vs Hibs). Missed penalties: Monesterolo 2 (vs Pietà).
Next fixtures
Saturday (National Stadium)
Marsaxlokk vs Hibs 2 p.m.
Valletta vs Hamrun 4 p.m.
Sunday (Tedesco Stadium)
Pietà H. vs Floriana 1 p.m.
Sliema vs Mqabba 3 p.m.