The weekend programme is definitely highlighted by the top of the table clash between league leaders Hibernians and their immediate followers Birkirkara. At present, Hibs have 22 points while Birkirkara are second on 18. It is a very interesting situation which sees the Stripes aiming to beat the Paolites and therefore closing the gap to just one point. On the other hand Hibernians will be aiming to return to winning form after having dropped their first points of the season in the 1-1 draw against neighbours Tarxien in the derby last week- end.
Champions Valletta FC seem to have a good chance of recovering some lost ground as they face lowly Naxxar Lions who, like Zebbug, are still seeking their first victory of the season. The other matches seem to be pretty balanced and it is some- what difficult to predict the out- comes, especially in the matches between Premier newcomers Pieta and Zebbug R. and the Qormi-Tarxien encounter. The top match is, however, this afternoon's clash between Hibernians and Birkirkara which is being played at the Hibernians Stadium.
Hibernians, despite drawing against Tarxien last week, are still unbeaten, but will have to be on full alert against Birkirkara who showed their best form so far this season when they beat none other than Valletta 2-0 the past weekend. In that match, the Stripes showed their firm intentions of making a very strong challenge for this season's title and it is obvious they are bound to become stronger when 'newcomer' Shola Shodiya integrates with his former and new team-mates, thus making Paul's Zammit's squad a really formidable one.
The Paolites are certainly aware of the Stripes challenge. Coach Branko Nisevic will certainly be adopting a prudent approach. He will be lacking the services of striker Marcelo Dias who is ruled out through suspension. Valletta will have central defender Luke Dimech missing through suspension in tomor- row's match against Naxxar. However, the champions should have more than enough guns to tame the Lions and also taste some revenge for last season's surprise 2-1 defeat.
Naxxar, still searching for their first win of the season, have been very inconsistent so far and even in their last match against Zebbug, they squandered a healthy-looking 3-1 lead before having to content themselves with just one point from a 3-3 draw. The Pieta-Zebbug clash is ex- pected to be a highly balanced match. Zebbug are also searching for their first win of the season. If they win, they will finally get off the bottom of the stand- ings, overtaking the same Pieta and Naxxar, who have the match against Valletta tomorrow, in hand. The Qormi-Tarxien clash is also expected to be a close affair. Qormi have won their last two encounters convincingly (4-0 against Mosta and 4-2 against Floriana).
Their attack has proved to be prolific in these two matches and the Rainbows will have to show full concentration in de- fence to keep Effiong & Co at bay. The Rainbows are also very enthusiastic after having held powerhouse Hibernians to a 1-1 draw in the derby. They are at present occupying a healthy mid-table position and they are showing clear intentions that they want to move higher up the standings this sea- son, possibly with an Europa League berth on their minds. So far in eight matches, they have lost only one, but in the process, they have become the draw kings with five to their credit. To realise their dream, they must start winning more matches. The struggling Floriana will have to lift their spirits and emerge from what is appearing to be a crisis when they meet an- other struggling side, Mosta, this afternoon.
Both sides are passing through a dull patch at present with Floriana losing 4-2 to Qormi and Mosta going down to Sliema 4-1 in their encounters the past weekend. The in-form Sliema also seem to have a relatively good chance to move further up the table. Having won their last three matches - the last one last week with new coach Stephen Azzopardi at the helm - they now eye a fourth win against Balzan as they aim for a top three placing.
If they win, they will join the same Balzan on 15 points. But the third place will rely on what Mosta will be able to do this afternoon against Floriana. If Mosta win, then it is the latter who will be third behind Birkirkara.