With the election fever over now, all sporting eyes will return to local activities with a particular eye on the Bank of Valletta Premier League.

Between today and tomorrow, we will have the opening four matches of the second phase – three from the Championship Pool and one from the Relegation Pool.

In today’s matches, Mqabba meet Pieta Hotspurs in the opening Relegation Pool match, while in the Championship Pool, Floriana take on second placed Marsaxlokk.

Tomorrow, Birkirkara will be meeting Sliema Wanderers while league leaders Valletta face Hamrun Spartans.

A glance at the standings – the points have been deducted by half before the start of this second phase – shows Valletta on 18 points, followed by Marsaxlokk on 17, Sliema on 16, while Floriana, Birkirkara and Hamrun S. are all on 14 points. In the Relegation Pool, Hibernians will start with 13, Msida will have 11, Pieta 8 and Mqabba just three points.

At this stage, it is therefore evident that all the six teams are still in contention for the honours and I expect a veritable challenge from all of them. Only four points separate the six clubs and victories for Birkirkara and Hamrun today will definitely complicate the issue as it would bring the clubs even closer to each other than they are.

This evening Marsaxlokk will be aiming for the three points which should catapult them to first place, two points ahead of Valletta. But the latter – and Sliema – will be expected to bounce back tomorrow when they will play their match in this round.

But it is obvious that Marsaxlokk, Valletta and Sliema will be eager to get the three points from these commitments, to distance themselves from the remaining opponents.

One thing is clear. From now on, there will be no more easy matches for any team, especially those at the top.

Despite everything, however, Marsaxlokk, Valletta and Sliema remain favourites against Floriana, Hamrun and Birkirkara.

The three sides, however, have not been very impressive in the second round of the first phase, although Marsaxlokk – in recent matches – probably showed more consistency. However, they still obtained the desired results and that means they are all still on track.

Their opponents, Floriana, Birkirkara and Hamrun, have been inconsistent with the Stripes showing deficiencies in their attack which definitely lacks the required punch.

The Greens have had a rather disastrous second round where after finishing the first round as title contenders, they had to struggle to avoid dropping to the Relegation Pool.

The Spartans, have had a leaky defence which let in five goals against Birkirkara and four against Valletta, but are boosted by their great performance in the 1-1 draw against Hibernians with which they earned their berth in the Championship Pool.

In today’s Relegation Pool clash, Pieta cannot afford to miss any of the three points on offer against bottom placed Mqabba if they are to retain their hopes of making a fight out of it till the very end.

Programme

Today

Ta’ Qali: 6pm Relegation Pool Mqabba-Pieta H.; 8pm Championship Pool Floriana-Marsaxlokk

Tomorrow

Ta’ Qali: 6pm Championship Pool Birkirkara-Sliema W.; 8pm Valletta-Hamrun S.