Pieta face Swieqi as Żebbuġ take on Żurrieq in Challenge League opener

Pieta Hotspurs and Żebbuġ Rangers will open their bid for an immediate return to Premier League football with clashes against Swieqi United and Żurrieq as the draws of the Challenge League were held on Tuesday.

The Hotspurs and the Rangers lost their top-flight status last April and will be looking to stay in contention for promotion in the 16-team championship.

This season, the Challenge League is being contested by 16 teams, with the top two-placed teams winning promotion to the Premier League while the bottom four teams will end up playing in the National Amateur League.

The championship will kick off in the weekend of September 16 and will come to a close on April 28.

All 16 participating teams will face each other once in a round-robin format in the first round before they will be split into two sections.

The first six-placed teams will be competing the Top 6 while the remaining ten teams will feature in the Play-Out.

Senglea Athletic will open their campaign with Msida St Joseph while Żejtun Corinthians play against Marsa.

Tarxien Rainbows, who just missed out on promotion last season, open their campaign against Melita while Lija Athletic face Luqa St Andrews.

OPENING FIXTURES

Senglea A. vs Msida SJ

Żejtun C. vs Marsa      

Swieqi vs Pieta H.       

Żebbuġ R. vs Żurrieq  

Melita vs Tarxien R.    

Attard vs Żabbar SP    

Fgura vs St Andrews  

Lija Ath. vs Luqa SA