The battle for the Opening Round title of the Malta Premier League will go down to the wire on Saturday, with league leaders Floriana and reigning champions Ħamrun Spartans locked in a thrilling head-to-head on the final day of the Top Six.
Floriana, who are still coming to terms with Wednesday’s 2–0 defeat to the Spartans, must now protect their slender one-point lead when they face fierce rivals Valletta in the derby at the National Stadium (kick-off 4pm). Victory would guarantee the Greens the Opening Round crown.
Ħamrun Spartans, meanwhile, must take all three points against Sliema Wanderers at the Tony Bezzina Stadium and hope that Valletta manage to deny Floriana a win. Only then would the champions leapfrog Floriana and claim the Opening Round honours.
Saturday’s fixtures also carry added intrigue as Valletta remain in contention for second place. A win over Floriana, combined with an Ħamrun slip-up against Sliema, would force a decider for the runners-up spot.
Sliema Wanderers will also be under the spotlight as they hand a debut to their new coach Pablo Doffo, who recently replaced Paul Zammit.
With so much at stake, the pressure will be firmly on both Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans in what promises to be a tense and dramatic afternoon of football.
Despite their midweek setback, Floriana still hold their destiny in their own hands. Head coach Daniel Portela remained calm in the build-up, insisting his side must stay focused.
“We need to stay calm,” Portela said earlier this week.
“If we lose to Ħamrun, we still had another chance against Valletta. What matters is that we remain focused and make sure we get the three points we need against Valletta.
“I have a lot of faith in my team. They’ve been very consistent this season and hopefully we can finish the job.”
On the opposite bench, Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica praised his side’s performance against Floriana but stressed that the job is far from done.
“We have another very important match against Sliema,” Modica said.
“Against Floriana we showed our strength despite the heavy wind. The team was mature, showed quality and character, and performed well physically.
“On Saturday it’s our duty to deliver another strong performance, and then we’ll see what happens. We need the same focus and application we showed on Wednesday.”
Brazilian striker Jonny was the standout performer against Floriana, scoring a spectacular goal on his return to the Premier League, and Modica was quick to praise his professionalism.
“Jonny has always been professional,” he said.
“He showed great work ethic even when he was out of the squad. We must take advantage of his qualities, but competition within the squad is very high and every player must earn his place.”
Ħamrun could also hand a debut to new signing Demir Ceter, with the Colombian forward eager to make his mark.
“It’s great to join a group that works hard and wants to keep improving,” Ceter said.
“I know Ħamrun have achieved a lot in recent years and I want to help the team reach its targets. It’s a new experience for me, I really like Malta and I’m motivated to grow both as a player and as a person.”
At the Tony Bezzina Stadium, Sliema Wanderers begin a new chapter under Pablo Doffo, who admitted the move came together quickly.
“Everything happened very fast,” Doffo said.
“Sliema approached me on Monday and it’s impossible to say no to a club with such history. When a team like Sliema calls, you can’t refuse.
“At a club like this, the minimum objective is to qualify for European competitions. We’ll give everything, starting against Ħamrun. They are a strong side, especially now that they’ve finished their European commitments, but I believe we can put in a very good performance.”
Veteran midfielder Edmond Agius also spoke ahead of the clash, dismissing claims that Sliema’s season has been a failure and confirming that he plans to retire at the end of the campaign.
“There were expectations, but I don’t believe this season has been a failure,” Agius said.
“We can build on the positives. Of course, it was difficult when Paul Zammit left, but that’s part of football.
“This will be my final season. It’s probably the biggest decision of my life. The club always showed faith in me and I want to give everything to Sliema until the very end.”
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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