Current league leaders Hibernians will be aiming to maintain their winning trend tomorrow against Hamrun Spartans to remain on top of the standings.
The ninth round of matches started yesterday evening with the Valletta-Sliema clash.
Today Tarxien play against Mqabba while Qormi face Mosta in the second match. Tomorrow, Balzan come up against Marsaxlokk before Hibernians take on Hamrun Spartans. The programme comes to a close on Monday with the Floriana-Birkirkara clash. All matches are being played at the Victor Tedesco Stadium in Hamrun.
Before yesterday evening’s match, after all teams played eight games, Hibernians led the standings with 22 points. They were followed by Valletta on 21, Floriana 16, Qormi and Birkirkara on 13 each, Sliema 12, Mqabba 10, Balzan eight, Hamrun and Marsaxlokk seven each, Tarxien and Mosta four points each.
It is evident that Hibernians have a great chance to snatch three more points to continue with their triumphant march at the top. On this occasion tomorrow, they will be seeking their eighth victory in a row – they have not had such a good start for years now.
The Paolites are certainly the most entertaining team at the moment in the local Premier League with striker Marcelo Dias and Luis Edison dos Santos proving to be a big headache to all opposing defences.
No one, possibly not even coach Mark Miller, can make a comparison between this team and that of last season. There is definitely a vast improvement, even if at least half the players were in last season’s squad as well.
Hamrun must certainly be a demoralised team at present, especially after their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Birkirkara last weekend.
Tomorrow, it will be difficult not only because they are facing the leaders, but they will have to do that without the services of Carlo Polli who is suspended.
Today, Mqabba will have to work harder than usual as they face the disappointing Tarxien side, now under the charge of Patrick Curmi, the former Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara coach.
Not only the Rainbows will probably find new motivation, but Mqabba will have five players suspended, among them their top scorer Bojan Mamic. The others are Branislav Timotic, Clayton Micallef, Mark Anthony Psaila and Marco Potezica.
Coach Clive Mizzi, who has worked wonders for the team so far this season, will have to reshuffle his starting line up with such a big number of players missing.
In the second match today Qormi, back to victory last weekend, will be looking forward to overcome the Mosta challenge.
For the Yellow Blacks it will not be easy, but after last week’s impressive 3-1 win against Marsaxlokk, they are looking forward to their forthcoming fixtures with great enthusiasm.
Mosta were also impressive in their unexpected but highly merited 3-2 win against the more illustrious Sliema Wanderers.
In that match – their first victory of the season - Oliver Spiteri’s boys showed signs of a recovery. But one must wait to see whether the Blues can maintain such a positive trend.
This game should be one of the most entertaining matches this weekend.
Tomorrow, Balzan Youths, fresh from their 2-1 win against Tarxien the past weekend – their first on the field of play – will be looking forward to another scalp in the form of the inconsistent Marsaxlokk side.
The Youths have given all their opponents a tough run for their money and they will again be expected to do their utmost to get out of the ordeal with a positive result.
On the other hand, Marsaxlokk can ill afford to lose another match considering their lowly position, especially if those around them continue to win precious points.