The race for top spot in the YoHealth Malta Premier League Closing Round is set to heat up in the next few days as a series of direct clashes will decide who will make the cut for the decisive second phase of the championship.
Floriana are sitting comfortably at the top of the standings, three points clear of Marsaxlokk and four ahead of Ħamrun Spartans, and seem to be the best-placed team to make it into the Top 6.
The six teams behind them are sandwiched in just three points, meaning that every point won or lost is likely to be crucial in determining who will make it to the top section in the decisive part of the Closing Round.
Tuesday’s three-match programme will see fourth-placed Valletta and fifth-placed Gżira United, who are only separated by a point, facing must-win matches against Żabbar St Patrick and Naxxar Lions.
Valletta looked in good form last Friday when they dispatched Gżira United 2-0 and push themselves into a stronger position for a Top 6 berth.
However, Thane Micallef’s team cannot afford any slip-ups against Żabbar St Patrick, who showed remarkable tenacity in their goalless draw against Malta champions Ħamrun Spartans.
The arrival of former Valletta FC legend Gilbert Agius on the bench of Żabbar St Patrick has had a very positive effect on the Saints, who must maintain the same kind of tactical discipline and tenacity displayed against the Spartans if they are to continue picking up valuable points in their bid to avoid the bottom two places in the standings.
Still, Żabbar will be aware of the tough task they have on their hands as they will be up against a Valletta side that boasts significant firepower with young Andrea Zammit proving to be a significant weapon upfront that complements well the strength of January signing Ahmed Adebayo and the wizardry of Yuri Messias.
Gżira United must pick themselves up quickly from their disappointing defeat to Valletta when they face a dangerous Naxxar Lions side.
The Maroons are coming into this fixture on the back of two successive defeats to Floriana and Valletta, and need to turn the tide quickly if they are to remain in a good spot for a Top 6 berth.
Lack of goals
Gżira’s major concern in the last few weeks has been their lack of goals in key fixtures, netting just one from the last three outings.
Added to that, Gżira must be wary of the threat posed by Naxxar Lions who have the players to hurt the Maroons with their forwards Vinicius and Vitinho collecting some major scalps this season.
The other clash scheduled for Tuesday, between Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers, holds a lot of significance for both sides.
Birkirkara will be setting their sights on getting back to winning ways and maintaining their momentum for a Top 6 finish.
The Stripes are sitting in sixth place on 10 points, two ahead of the eight-placed Sliema Wanderers, and a win today will surely give them much-needed breathing space over the Blues.
Paul Zammit, who was sacked by the Wanderers a few weeks ago, will surely relish the opportunity to hurt his former team’s Top 6 aspirations and ensure the Stripes move closer to the top teams in the standings.
For Sliema, the clash against Birkirkara is likely to be very much a do-or-die clash as failure to pick up all three points could see them drift further away from a Top 6 placing.
That would be a significant blow for a club who have invested so heavily in the summer with a view to challenging for the major domestic honours.
