by Lija Athletic and Valletta will meet for the first time tonight at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30. Here’s a few key points to look for and the comments from the coaches ahead of the match.
The Fine Detail
There were a number of fixtures which a few will likely have circled ahead of the start of the season and this is probably one of them. Following the split of Raiders Lija FC, the announcement of Raiders to integrate within Valletta, together with the news that Lija Athletic would be competing as a separate outfit, set the stage for an interesting battle. Considering this, the match will feature a number of players on opposing sides who were teammates until last season.
However, questioned about whether they consider the match to have a derby-like feel to it, both coaches downplayed the suggestion. Lija Athletic’s Jethron Azzopardi said, “I consider it a normal match. What happened before is not my concern. The team has been performing well and we will keep the momentum.”
Similarly, Valletta’s coach Denis Guerra said, “It’s a small island so everyone knows everyone. It’s an important game like all other matches, but I do not consider this to be any different to playing any of the other seven teams.”
Match Expectations And Effect of The Venue
Lija Athletic’s Jethron Azzopardi has been very level headed about which battles to fight in previous matches. Last week, the team limited Hibernians to just the one goal advantage, which is likely to be considered by the team as a positive considering the strength of the opposition and the fact that Lija have just three games under their belt. However, there were perhaps opportunities for a draw.
Asked about whether he believes the team can get points against Valletta, Azzopardi said, “Against Hibernians a fair result would have been a draw. The performance was good, but we were not clinical in the chances we had. Valletta have made good additions to the squad that increased their quality, it will be a difficult match for us.”
Meanwhile, Valletta have had a mixed bag of results. The team delivered a strong attacking performance against Mtarfa, where they also enjoyed a clean sheet. However, the side fell to defeats against Hibernians and also Mgarr United.
The match against the Greens also featured a few unlikely mistakes at the back which perhaps showed the inexperience of some of the new members of the squad in the league. At the same time it is rather uncharacteristic of a side that is usually known for its organised defence. Questioned about whether this is something that worries him, Valletta’s Denis Guerra said, “There was some lack of attention in some situations which we are working on. I always say that when the level goes up, the details make a difference. The teams have improved, so the attention to details is important. You make a mistake and you concede a goal.”
Meanwhile, questioned on the importance of heading off to the international break with a win, Guerra said, “All victories are important, but yes, it will be nicer to close before the three-week break with a positive result.”
The match will be contested at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, which will be the first time that a league match will be played there this season. Both coaches were questioned as to how much this affects their preparations. Lija’s Jethron Azzopardi replied, “It is similar to the Centenary Stadium, so lots of space to cover. We have to be tactically disciplined as the last two games.” Meanwhile, Valletta’s coach Denis Guerra noted, “I am familiar because of my past coaching experience but it will be new for the girls. The dimensions are a bit different and we will try to make use of this.”
Kick-off will be at 20:30. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
Lead Images: Lija Athletic / Valletta Women
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