Sliema Wanderers’ relentless march at the top of the standings continued the past weekend and with a five-point lead over second placed Valletta, they are already close to another title win this season.
The Blues could move even closer to that win by tomorrow if, as expected, they beat Marsaxlokk this afternoon, and Valletta falter tomorrow in their difficult match against Hibernians.
It is a situation which is favourable to the Wanderers who, by winning this afternoon, will be putting a lot of pressure on Valletta.
The Blues’ coaching tandem of Edward Aquilina and Hugh Caruana will have to do without their midfield supremo Stefan Giglio who is suspended. But on the other hand, even Marsaxlokk’s Marinov will be without Cleaven Frendo and Malcolm Licari, also banned.
The Valletta-Hibs clash is obviously the most important clash of the weekend and the citizens are likely to go all out in search of the three points if they are to maintain their challenge for the title in the knowledge that the final three matches could then prove to be decisive.
Valletta still have to meet Sliema, who also have matches against Birkirkara and Hibernians before the end of the campaign, while the citizens will have matches against Floriana and Birkirkara as well.
Of course, nothing has been decided yet, but this weekend’s results could produce a clearer picture of what the outcome will be in the near future.
In the other Championship Pool clash, third placed Birkirkara will be facing Floriana in tomorrow’s first match on the card.
After the recent dramatic Trophy match in which Birkirkara turned defeat into a victory, one expects another interesting clash between these two sides, even if the Greens have failed to beat the Stripes in at least one of the four encounters they have played this season.
In the Relegation Pool, Msida SJ and Pieta Hotspurs face each other in today’s first match at Ta’ Qali.
A Pieta win will push the two bottom clubs – St Patrick and Lija – into deeper trouble as the gap between the top two and these two clubs will get bigger with just three matches to go.
On the other hand, a victory for Msida will provide the latter with the assurance of their place among the elite next season.