Five points separate the two teams, with a couple of matches left.
In a highly-anticipated clash, Birkirkara and Swieqi United will cross swords for one final time in this league campaign in a match that can have a decisive say on the fate of the 2023/2024 title.
With just five points separating them and two games left, the stakes have never been higher in the women’s national championship in recent years.
Birkirkara are eyeing a 12th title, their seventh in a row and should they avoid a defeat against the Owls they will be declared champions on Thursday.
On the other hand, Swieqi, winners of last year’s domestic cup, will be determined to grasp this opportunity with both hands having seen their title chances increase suddenly.
In fact, the Owls were trailing the Stripes by eight points until a couple of weeks ago before Birkirkara were stunned by Hibernians and combined with Swieqi’s win over Mġarr, the gap was cut to just five.
In last week’s matches, both Birkirkara and Swieqi secured important victories that kept them five points distant from each other.
Italian midfielder Marta Grosso scored the winning goal that handed Birkirkara a narrow victory over Mġarr United while Swieqi cruised to a 6-2 win over Hibs with Ghana international Salamatu Abdulai scoring a hat-trick.
Both Grosso and Abdulai are their club’s best scorers with the Italian on 15 goals while the Ghana player leads the league’s scoring charts with 23.
The two sides have already met on four occasions in this championship with one victory each – Swieqi winning 1-0 in the first round and Birkirkara triumphing 3-1 in the fourth, while there were also two stalemates (0-0 and 1-1).
In addition, Birkirkara defeated Swieqi 2-1 in December’s Super Cup final with American player Arianna Del Moral grabbing both goals for the Stripes.
As per team news, Birkirkara will be without the services of Malta international defender Charlene Zammit who will be serving a one-game ban as a result of her red card against Mġarr United.
On the other hand, Swieqi will welcome back Kaysia Micallef who last week was absent for the matchup against Hibernians having been on a one-week trial with Sampdoria U-19’s.
In the other Top Four encounter, Mġarr United and Hibernians will face each other on Saturday.
In the Bottom Four, Mtarfa face leaders Valletta on Friday while Saturday’s matchup will pit San Ġwann against Lija Athletic.
CUP DRAW
Meanwhile, the Malta FA has released the dates for the four quarter-finals that will launch this season’s Assikura Women’s Knock-Out competition.
Top Four teams Mġarr United and Hibernians will take on each other on Friday, April 12 at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off: 8.30pm).
In the other Friday’s match which will be played simultaneously at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, leaders Birkirkara will face Bottom Four side Lija Athletic.
The semi-final picture will be completed on Saturday when Mtarfa face holders Swieqi United at the Mġarr Ground while Valletta face San Ġwann – kick-offs at 2pm and 4.30pm respectively.
THIS WEEK’S LEAGUE’S FIXTURES
THURSDAY
Birkirkara vs Swieqi United – 20.15, Centenary Stadium.
Mtarfa vs Valletta – 20.30, Victor Tedesco Stadium.
SATURDAY
San Ġwann vs Lija Athletic – 14.00, Mġarr Ground.
Mġarr United vs Hibernians – 16.30, Mġarr Ground.
