Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk will have just one target in mind when they face off on Sunday, securing the three points as the two Premier League rivals are desperate for a win that boosts their hopes of qualifying for the Top Six of the Opening Round.
At present, Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk are sharing sixth spot on nine points, two adrift of fifth-placed Sliema Wanderers. But with just five matches to the end of the first phase of the Opening Round, and seven teams in contention, there is little margin for error by either side if they are to secure a place in the Top Six.
Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara head into the match in opposite moods.
The Southerners, after a bright start to the season, suffered back-to-back defeats to Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans, which inevitably disrupted their early momentum, and are keen to stop the rot.
Birkirkara, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last three matches, which were overseen by new coach Gianluca Festa, and will be desperate to maintain that form as they seek to put themselves in a strong position for a top six finish.
Speaking during a press conference, Marsaxlokk coach Vincenzo Potenza said that his major disappointment was not the effort put in by his players, who he described as very good, but the fact that his club is not receiving the same kind of respect that are clubs have enjoyed from match officials.
“We didn’t get carried away when we were top of the standings, and there is no cause for panic in this moment after suffering back-to-back defeats,” Potenza, who was critical of the referee’s decision to award a controversial penalty to Ħamrun Spartans in midweek, said.
“Our performance against Ħamrun Spartans was excellent, and we surely deserved much more. But our hopes of a positive result were compromised by some poor referee decisions.
“We are a small club from a small village, and although we are fortunate to have a president who, on his own, could organise the World Cup, but we are not being shown the same respect as other clubs.
“I believe that responsibility must be shared, not just by us, but everyone involved in football, including the match officials.
“We work hard during the week and should not be unfairly penalised.
“A club like Marsaxlokk deserves the same respect as Birkirkara, Valletta, or any of the so-called big clubs.
“What happens between referees and players during a match should stay on the pitch.
“Marsaxlokk, like the bigger clubs, also deserves credit and respect for its efforts.”
On his part, club captain Niki Muscat said that it was key for his team to build on the positive aspects they showed during recent matches.
“We’re coming from two defeats against Floriana and Ħamrun, but I think we played well,” Muscat said.
“If we can keep building on that, I’m positive. We’re creating chances, though not enough, and if we can add more quality in the final third, I’m sure we can compete with anyone.
“Against Ħamrun, we played very well, credit to them for a phenomenal goal and then came the penalty incident.
“But we must build on the many positives from that performance.
“We dominated possession, we were solid defensively, and now we must keep our motivation to get back on track on Sunday against Birkirkara.”
Stripes reset
On his part, Birkirkara coach Gianluca Festa hailed Marsaxlokk as a very organised side that plays excellent football. He admitted he was not pleased with his team’s performance against Naxxar and expects far better from his players.
“Since I arrived in Malta, my main task has been to find balance within the team,” Festa said.
“Against Naxxar, we lost the basics we had built in the previous two matches.
“Right now, my responsibility is to lift the team both mentally and physically, especially with the challenge of playing every three days.
“Marsaxlokk are a very strong side, but we will do our best.
“The attitude must always be right, taking things one game at a time as we work toward our objectives.
We know we’ll be facing a wounded team coming from two defeats where, in my view, they deserved much more, so we have to be very careful if we want to maintain our unbeaten run since I arrived.”
One player who shone for Birkirkara against Naxxar was goalkeeper Miguel Angel Martinez, who produced a series of fine saves that helped the team preserve their one-goal advantage.
The Stripes goalkeeper said that he is expecting another tough match against Marsaxlokk.
“Playing against Marsaxlokk is always very difficult,” Martinez said.
“They are tactically strong and have a clear footballing identity. We are preparing in the best possible way.
“I was pleased with my performance against Naxxar; they’re a very good team, and we had to dig deep, but the most important thing is that I helped my team get the three points.
“Now we’re looking forward to Sunday’s match.
“As players, regardless of who the coach is, we must take responsibility.
“It’s on us to battle, to fight for results, and to show the right attitude.
“That change in mentality in the last few weeks has been crucial. We understood that responsibility, and it’s helped us change direction.”
