The old city and suburban rivals, Valletta FC and Floriana FC will kick-off the 2007-2008 Bank of Valletta Premier League on 25 August when they meet in the opening match of the first day’s programme.

The draws were made yesterday at the Centenary Hall at Ta’ Qali.

Champions Marsaxlokk will start their defence of the title with a match against Pieta Hotspurs, soon after the Valletta-Floriana opener.

The two newly-promoted clubs, Hamrun Spartans and Mqabba, will be facing each other in their first commitment on their return to the Premier Division.

The other first day’s matches are: Hibernians-Birkirkara and Sliema W.-Msida SJ.

There will be some stoppages to the championship, mostly in view of Malta’s commitments in the Euro 2008 qualifiers and also because of the staging of the international tournament in February 2008.

The following is the sequence, match by match, for each club:

MARSAXLOKK: Pieta H., Msida SJ, Hamrun S., Birkirkara, Floriana, Hibernians, Mqabba, Sliema W., Valletta.

SLIEMA W.: Msida SJ, Hamrun S., Birkirkara, Floriana, Hibernians, Mqabba, Valletta, Marsaxlokk, Pieta H.

BIRKIRKARA: Hibernians, Mqabba, Sliema W., Marsaxlokk, Pieta H., Msida SJ, Hamrun S., Valletta, Floriana.

VALLETTA: Floriana, Pieta H, Hibernians, Msida SJ, Mqabba, Hamrun S, Sliema W., Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk.

HIBERNIANS: Birkirkara, Floriana, Valletta, Mqabba, Sliema W., Marsaxlokk, Pieta H., Msida SJ, Hamrun S.

MSIDA SJ: Sliema W., Marsaxlokk, Pieta H., Valletta, Hamrun S., Birkirkara, Floriana, Hibernians, Mqabba.

FLORIANA: Valletta, Hibernians, Mqabba, Sliema W., Marsaxlokk, Pieta H., Msida SJ, Hamrun S., Birkirkara.

PIETA H.: Marsaxlokk, Valletta, Msida SJ, Hamrun S., Birkirkara, Floriana, Hibernians, Mqabba, Sliema W.

HAMRUN S.: Mqabba, Sliema W., Marsaxlokk, Pieta H., Msida SJ, Valletta, Birkirkara, Floriana, Hibernians.

MQABBA: Hamrun S., Birkirkara, Floriana, Hibernians, Valletta, Sliema W., Marsaxlokk, Pieta H., Msida SJ.

First Division

Mellieha-Marsa; Mosta FC-Dingli S.; Tarxien R.-Senglea A.; St George’s-St Patrick; Qormi FC-Vittoriosa S.

Second Division

Melita-St Venera L.; Lija A.-St Andrew’s; B’Buga SP-Mgarr U.; San Gwann-Sirens; Naxxar L.-Balzan Y.; Zurrieq-Rabat A.

Third Division Section A

Mdina K.-Zejtun C.; Xghajra T.-Siggiewi; Fgura-Zebbug R.; Mtarfa-Attard; Ghaxaq-Qrendi

Third Division Section B

Luqa SA-St Lucia; Gudja U.-Gozo FC; Kalkara-Kirkop; Gharghur-Pembroke; Gzira U. bye.