The Premier League resumes this weekend with a full programme that includes the top-of-the-table clash between joint leaders Valletta and Qormi on Monday evening.
It is a match in which both sides will be aiming for a victory to maintain their positive start to the season as well as taking the sole leadership of the standings.
At present, the two teams have collected 10 points each and they are followed by Birkirkara on nine, Tarxien on seven, Hibernians six, Floriana five, Sliema W. three, Msida SJ one point and Hamrun S. and Dingli S. with no points.
The weekend card also includes today’s Msida-Tarxien and Sliema-Hamrun matches, as well as tomorrow’s encounters, that is, Floriana-Dingli and Hibernians-Birkirkara.
On the whole it is a weekend which promises a lot. And it will not be surprising to see some changes in the classification come Monday evening.
Msida and Tarxien open the programme this afternoon. Both teams go into the match full of enthusiasm especially after their latest results. Msida managed a very prestigious goalless draw against none other than Valletta, while Tarxien produced a super performance to annihilate Sliema Wanderers.
It is not easy to forecast a result here as a lot depends on the form of the day of both teams, but it is obvious that Msida will be trying to use the same methods they used to stop Valletta, and perhaps be more adventurous against a team less quoted than the citizens like Tarxien.
The Rainbows have had a fantastic start – two wins, one draw and one defeat – and hope to continue with their positive trend even today. It is an open secret that they are targeting a Top Six place this season. There is still a long way to go but their enthusiastic bunch of players will go places if they keep their feet to the ground.
In the match that follows, Sliema will be trying to gain the confidence of their fans after their disappointing performance in the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tarxien.
The Wanderers are aware that they need a victory against the Spartans to lift their morale, but the Spartans will not be staring at their opponents.
Hamrun, in fact, have been somewhat unlucky in their opening three matches and I expect them to give Sliema a very good run for their money this afternoon as they seek to earn their first points or points of the season.
The Spartans will have Marcelo Pereira missing through suspension.
Tomorrow, the programme opens with the clash between Floriana and Dingli. The two sides will also be seeking the three points from this clash, although Dingli will have to fight harder than they did in their last match - the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Birkirkara.
On their part, Floriana will be searching for a second consecutive win which will lift them up the standings into a healthier place. After their 1-0 win over Hamrun, Irish coach Roddy Collins hopes his side gains momentum with another good win.
The second match tomorrow between Hibernians and Birkirkara promises to be a keen encounter. At present the Stripes lead the Paolites by three points, but the champions still have a match in hand and can recover.
However, they can do that today by beating the Stripes, even if they will have to improve on their previous showing when they were beaten 3-1 by Qormi.
The Stripes seem to be going from strength to strength. After their initial defeat at the hands of Valletta, Paul Zammit’s young side has now registered three consecutive wins and appear to be improving with every match they are playing.
Against Hibernians it will not be as easy as it was in the last three matches, but if they win again, then it would be as a sort of warning to all other title contenders.
On Monday evening, the titanic battle between Valletta and Qormi ought to attract quite a large crowd at Ta’ Qali national stadium.
The two sets of supporters are expected to be there at full strength and a true footballing atmosphere is expected to prevail throughout the 90 minutes.
Valletta will be eager to return to winning form after being surprisingly held to a goalless draw by lowly Msida St Joseph in their last game.
Against Qormi, the citizens will have to find ways and means of how to find their way past the defence, something they failed to do against Msida.
The Yellow Blacks are another team going from strength to strength. I never imagined Jesmond Zerafa’s team to occupy such an exalted position after four matches in which they won three and drew the other one, remaining unbeaten.
Their hero is undoubtedly Brazilian striker Camillo Da Silva who has scored two consecutive hat-tricks in the last two matches.
Valletta will have to pay particular attention to this very skilful, intelligent and talented striker who has already made a name for himself not only at Qormi, but also in Maltese football. In my opinion, he is the best foreigner so far in this season’s Premier League.