Malta will compete in the second half of the second Eurovision Song Contest semi-final after a draw was held in host city Tel Aviv on Monday.

Michela Pace earned the right to represent Malta in the Eurovision when she emerged triumphant in the debut season of X-Factor last week.

While the song the 18-year old singer will perform on the night has yet to be decided, it is now known that she will sing on May 16, hoping to place among the first 10 countries, who will book a place in the Grand Final two days later.

The draw means Malta finds itself in what could be a tricky semi-final. The full line-up features Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Moldova, Latvia, Romania, Denmark, Armenia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Norway, Russia, Netherlands, Croatia and Lithuania.

As in previous years, countries were separated in the draw based on historical voting patterns, with those considered likely to vote for each other if grouped together placed in separate pots.

Malta has failed to qualify for the final in both of the previous two editions, with singers Claudia Faniello and Christabelle falling at the first hurdle.

The last time the country made the final was in 2016 with Ira Losco and the song Walk on Water. It has only cracked the Top 10 once in the last decade,
when Gianluca Bezzina placed eighth in 2013.