The Bank of Valletta Premier League enters its second week in a row with seven matches being played between Friday and Saturday.

Today at Ta' Qali's national stadium, Sliema will be facing rivals Floriana. At the Victor Tedesco Stadium in Hamrun, it will be Senglea-Mosta and St Andrews-Tarxien R.

Tomorrow, at Ta' Qali, there should be the two big matches of the weekend - Gzira-Hamrun and Valletta-Hibernians. At the Victor Tedeseco Stadium, Birkirkara take on Pieta Hotspurs, while Balzan come up against Qormi.

Although only one round of matches has been played so far, it is evident that there is a strong element of balance between the teams in this season's competition.

In actual fact, there was only one big surprise - the 0-3 defeat suffered by champions Valletta at the hands of Sliema Wanderers.

I do not consider the victories registered by Birkirkara and Hamrun over Balzan and Floriana respectively as surprises. The Stripes and the Spartans are both well equipped to challenge seriously for this season's title of champions.

What is also evident, despite it being so early, is that some teams, especially Senglea, Mosta and Tarxien, might find the going tough. They need some strengthening in various departments to be able to fight to avoid the Big Drop.

 

'OLD FIRM' CLASH

The programme starts with the 'Old Firm' clash between Sliema and Floriana Friday evening.

The Wanderers could not have had a better start as they outclassed champions Valletta to the tune of 3-0, thus confirming my claim last week that they can be considered as potential challengers.

The Blues were impressive against the citizens. If they manage to beat Floriana today for a second consecutive victory, I am sure they will look forward with confidence towards a most successful season.

On the other hand, the Greens swallowed a bitter pill after going down to Hamrun Spartans 2-0. The Greens had to bow their heads to the team led by their former coach Giovanni Tedesco and now will have to win back their confidence to try and rebuild their fortunes with a win against the Wanderers.

 

TWO TOP CLASHES TOMORROW

There are another two top clashes tomorrow.

In the first encounter, a strengthened Gzira United side, 4-1 winners against Tarxien last week, take on a resurgent and much improved Hamrun side, 2-0 winners against Floriana.

It should be a highly balanced encounter between these two teams who showed good form in winning their opening match.

Without any shadow of doubt, they will both be eyeing a second consecutive win as both are aiming high.

The Valletta-Hibernians clash could have been labelled as the match of the weekend, after City's debacle last week against Sliema and Hibs last gasp win against newly promoted Pieta Hotspurs, it must be given second preference.

Both Valletta and Hibernians were quite unimpressive in last week's matches and they will have to show much better form if they are to challenge for the title.

Valletta were found wanting at the back, while the Paolites lacked a real striker as they struggled to go past a well organised Pieta defence.

 

OTHER MATCHES

Birkirkara will also be aiming for a second consecutive win when they face Pieta tomorrow.

The Stripes did well to beat championship contenders Balzan in their opening clash. Against Pieta, they are favourites to land another three points, but they must be aware that the Hotspurs are not a team to be ignored, judging from their great-hearted second half performance against Hibernians.

Balzan face the other newly promoted team Qormi, also tomorrow.

Balzan must have felt they did not deserve to lose all the three points against Birkirkara, but that is now past history and they must look forward to start a new life with a victory over the Yellow/Blacks.

The latter started on a positive note, defeating Senglea Athletic, but it is evident that against a stronger side like Balzan, Qormi will certainly have to show improvement.

Today, Senglea face Mosta in a match between two teams who failed miserably in their opening encounters.

Mosta were not playing so badly against St Andrews in the first half, but when they suffered two quick goals, they fell to pieces.

Senglea played with a relatively new formation from that of last season, but they also have to strengthen their squad if they are to repeat last year's feat.

Tarxien also need to reinforce their squad after being outclassed by Gzira last week. They now face a St Andrews side full of confidence after a classy 3-1 win against Mosta with their trio of Atkinson, Butler and Brown showing they are among the best foreigners on the island.

 

Weekend programme

Today

National Stadium Ta' Qali

7pm Floriana-Sliema W.

Victor Tedesco Stadium

6.30pm Senglea Ath.-Mosta

8.45pm St Andrews-Tarxien R.

 

Tomorrow

National Stadium Ta' Qali

6.30pm Gzira U.-Hamrun S.

8.30pm Valletta-Hibernians.

Victor Tedesco Stadium

6.30pm Pieta H.-Birkirkara

8.45pm Balzan-Qormi