The stage is set for the biggest match in the 2023-24 season when leaders Ħamrun Spartans take on Floriana in a much-awaited top-of-the-table clash that will decide who will be crowned as Malta champions on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 3pm).
With only two matches to go, the two title rivals are separated by just a point and no doubt the winner of Saturday’s match will be on his way to lift the championship trophy a week on Saturday.
Ħamrun head into the match with a one-point advantage and a win against Floriana this afternoon would hand them mathematical certainty of retaining the title for a second successive season.
Luciano Zauri’s team have been far from their best in the past few weeks, but despite all the challenges they faced, the team showed a lot of character winning the last three matches, despite having to do without some key personnel due to injury and suspension.
However, Zauri today is likely to be boosted by the return of three key players as defender Emerson Marcelina and Roko Prsa are both back from suspension, while Montenegrin forward Uros Duranovic returns after recovering full fitness.
On the other hand, Floriana will be determined to bounce back from last week’s damaging 1-0 defeat to Marsaxlokk that saw them concede top spot in the standings.
Mauro Camoranesi’s team have only one avenue ahead if they are to put themselves back on pole for this year’s championship, beating the Spartans today and come out on top in next week’s final match against Gżira United.
Floriana may have lost their game against Marsaxlokk last week, but prior to that upset the Greens had been in rude health and no doubt they have enough quality in their squad to upstage the Spartans.
In the corresponding first-round fixture, Floriana can regard themselves unlucky to lose the game 1-0 as they had held the edge for much of the encounter and had to be a blunder by goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov that regaled the winner to the Spartans.
On Saturday afternoon, Kitanov will not be available for Floriana as the Bulgarian goalkeeper must serve a one-match ban.
In his place in goal, Camoranesi is likely to turn to Serbian custodian Nemanja Andrijanic who has yet to feature for the Greens since his move in January.
The match is set to be played in front of the biggest crowd of the season as Ħamrun Spartans have managed to sell over 4,000 tickets for the match, while Floriana are close to reaching the 3,000 mark.
Such a huge crowd is likely to provide a fitting atmosphere for this match and one hopes both sides can provide the best spectacle possible.
Sunday’s programme of matches is likely to provide another crucial chapter in the battle against relegation.
In fact, there are three crucial matches that will shed more light on who will join Gudja United and Sirens in the Challenge League next season.
Valletta, buoyed by their win against Balzan, have to win at all costs against Naxxar if they are to keep alive their flickering hopes of salvation.
Failure to take all three points from their match against Naxxar Lions will probably see them suffer relegation if Mosta pick up points from their direct clash against fourth-from-bottom Balzan.
Santa Lucia are also in serious relegation trouble and Alessandro Zinnari’s men must take all points from their clash against Gżira United on Sunday afternoon to give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop ahead of next week’s final matches.
