Floriana, Sliema in ‘Old Firm’ clash tomorrow; Valletta face Marsaxlokk on Monday

Champions hope to bounce back against St George’s

The Bank of Valletta Premier League resumes this weekend after the short break allowed for the two Euro 2008 Championship qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey.

And it should be a strong return with some very interesting clashes in store for local enthusiasts.

The programme starts today with the Marsa-Hibernians clash to be followed quickly by the match between Birkirkara and St George’s.

Tomorrow, the first match will be that between current leaders Msida St Joseph and Pieta Hotspurs, while in the match that follows, the ‘Old Firm’ partners of Floriana and Sliema meet in what should be the match of the weekend.

The match between Valletta and Marsaxlokk on Monday should also be worth watching.

Hibernians returned to winning form by beating Sliema in their last match after having been crushed by Floriana 4-1.

The Paolites, however, are still far from showing convincing form on the field of play. They just hope that the return from injury of striker Andrew Cohen will help them to return to their former glories.

Against Marsa, it will not be easy. The Red Blues were unlucky to have started the season with a narrow defeat against Msida with a late goal. They then figured in a draw against fellow-newcomers St George’s.

Now they are hoping to go one better even if they have received a setback to their hopes of success this season with the announcement that goalkeeper Ivan Casha will be leaving the club because of a new job at Emirates Airlines.

If they are to be successful, the Blues also have to find ways and means of scoring as after the opening two matches, they still have to score their first goal.

In the second match this afternoon, champions Birkirkara should be considered favourites to beat newly-promoted St George’s, despite having crashed to a heavy 5-1 defeat against Msida on the second day of the competition.

The Stripes will still have to field a depleted formation with so many injured players among their ranks. However, there is a possibility that Jonathan Holland might be able to be declared fit to play today.

St George’s have had a somewhat unlucky start to the season, losing to Sliema narrowly and then getting just a point from the clash against Marsa.

The team also has to score its first goal and they are pinning their hopes on the form of Brazilian striker Bizu to start scoring the goals that matter.

Tomorrow, current leaders Msida, the only team with maximum points after the opening two matches, will be taking on bottom placed Pieta Hotspurs and should be considered firm favourites to collect another three points.

After their most impressive 5-1 drubbing of the champions, the Saints now hope to maintain their momentum, not just to keep on top of the standings but also to move closer to making sure of their place in the Championship Pool when the second phase arrives.

Pieta have had a most disastrous start to their campaign so far and it is probably the first time in the club’s history that they started a season with two

5-0 defeats.

The team has to show considerable improvement if they are to start moving up the table.

In the second match tomorrow, Sliema and Floriana revive their ‘Old Firm’ rivalry in a clash which already carries a lot of importance for both sides.

Sliema have lost their last clash against Hibernians and will now wish to return to winning form while Floriana, after their 2-2 draw with rivals Valletta, hope to continue with their current good form by beating their arch rivals and remaining close to the top of the standings.

The Greens have started the season with a bang. Considering their performances last season, the fact that they already have four points from their opening two matches shows that the Greens are aiming high this season.

Tomorrow evening’s clash between Valletta and Marsaxlokk should also be an intriguing affair.

The two sides are seeking to be among the protagonists this season and their opening performances seem to have confirmed their aims.

Marsaxlokk recovered quickly after their opening day’s defeat against Birkirkara to thrash Pieta, while Valletta, led by Bank of Valletta Player of the Month for August Sebastian Monesterolo, have scored seven goals and suffered only two in their opening two matches in which the Argentine striker scored six goals to help his side earn four points.

The season is still in an early stage but certain clubs are already under pressure to perform well and deliver. Otherwise, they might find themselves in dire straits in the not too distant future.