League leaders Valletta will be meeting Hibernians tomorrow with a good chance of maintaining their triumphant march at the top of the standings.
In the meantime, the battle for the Top Six berths remains quite interesting. In fact, at present, apart from Valletta and possibly Tarxien, who seem to be almost assured of a place already, we have a set of six teams with six points separating them and considering that eight matches still have to be played by almost all the clubs, then one would not be exaggerating to say that anything can happen.
Although the battle for the league title might sound to be already over – Valletta are everyone’s firm favourites – the other issues remain interesting and even the teams near the bottom end of the table will be eager to improve their position in this second round in the hope of avoiding having to play in the Relegation Pool.
The programme opens today with the Qormi-Vittoriosa clash, a match between two teams both eager for precious points. Qormi are at present occupying seventh position on 11 points and the Stars are the bottom club with six points.
A victory for Qormi will certainly push Stephen Azzopardi’s side a good way up the table while three points for the Stars will give them more hope in their battle to stay among the elite even if they might have to play in the Relegation Pool. A draw will leave both sides disappointed.
In the match that follows, even Sliema and Marsaxlokk will be eyeing the three points. Sliema are third from bottom on 10 points while Marsaxlokk hope to return to winning form after having their fine start to the season arrested.
In their last three matches, Marsaxlokk failed to maintain the pace at the top and have now dropped to a mid-table place after gaining just one point from their last three matches.
Sliema, on the other hand, have not been very impressive either. Their last victory dates back to 18 October, a narrow 1-0 win over Vittoriosa Stars. Since then they only collected three points from six matches – three draws and three defeats. No wonder they are occupying such a lowly position.
Mark Marlow’s side certainly has to improve a lot if it is entertaining hopes of making it to the Top Six.
Tomorrow’s matches should be also be interesting with Floriana facing Birkirkara in the opening match and Valletta taking on Hibernians in the final match on the programme.
Floriana and Birkirkara are also in need of important points to lift themselves further up the table. They both cannot continue dropping more points if they wish to remain challengers for the title in the second phase of the competition, that is, when the points are halved.
Both teams are coming from two draws each and will now be hoping to return to winning form.
In the final match, Valletta hope to maintain their impressive march at the top with another victory, this time at the expense of the most disappointing team so far this season, that is, Hibernians.
The Paolites had quite an impressive start and someone had even labelled them as the next Malta champions, but after their 2-2 draw against the same Valletta, the side has gone from bad to worse. In 10 matches, they have registered just one win and five draws, while losing four times – one of their worst records for many a season.
Mark Miller’s boys have to pull their socks up and I believe they will be offering decent opposition to the citizens – as they did in the first round – in the hope of improving their lowly position.
However, it will be very difficult as it seems there is no one able to halt Valletta’s great positive run.
Valletta are going from strength to strength, improving with every match. But they will have to be alert against any surprise – coach Jesmond Zerafa and his boys must be aware that despite everything, no team, including Hibernians, can be taken for granted.