by Valletta and San Gwann will open proceedings at the Mgarr Ground at 14:00 in a mid-table clash that will see Valletta aim to distance themselves in fifth place, while San Gwann hope to down their rivals and pip them to the spot.
Steadily On The Rise
The two sides are neck and neck in the table, with Valletta just edging out San Gwann by two points in the standings. It is a match that holds promise to be an enthralling fixture. Valletta finished their commitments with an impressive defensive display that saw them frustrate Birkirkara for long spells but falling in the final minutes of the match.
Speaking about the display Valletta’s Denis Guerra beamed, “Yes, defensively we were very organised. Attacking-wise we lacked some options, but defensively we really put the training into action and moved very well. They got frustrated and it was a good match for us.”
Probed about the foundation that this gives them as they go into this next match and beyond, Valletta’s coach Denis Guerra spoke of the long-term project. He said, “It is not a matter of today or tomorrow. So in this regard, the foundation is not really the match against Birkirkara within itself, but it is a project that we started many years ago and now we are at a point that we can work tactically. The girls are improving in this regard and we can continue to build.”
Meanwhile, asked about San Gwann’s improvement this year, Guerra praised the opponent, “I am happy that San Gwann have improved as have other opponents, because this continues to increase the level of women’s football, the level of matches and the show on display. I’m sure this will be a very interesting match to watch and that San Gwann will give us a hard time. It’s a very open match.”
Similar to Valletta, San Gwann almost managed to notch another point against Hibernians before the break, but they too saw their efforts undone late in the match.
San Gwann’s coach Julian Camilleri was asked whether he expects the match to be as tight as the table suggests. He said, “We played a friendly before the season, which Valletta won by a big margin but both teams were putting in the hard yards. At the same time, both sides were still recruiting a number of players which changes things. I think we are on a similar level at this point and the winner will be determined based on the effort on the pitch.”
Tactical Battles & Team Sheets
The Yellows were missing Rabab Mhalli in the last match who Julian Camilleri confirms has returned to training with the team following a minor injury. In contrast, probed about their forward Sarah Vella Barberi, Valletta’s Denis Guerra conceded that she will be out until at least December. Their goalkeeper Andressa De Souza Ramos is still not yet fully recovered following the injury picked up against Swieqi United.
A look at the past formations adopted shows that San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri has often fielded a back-three which was supported by the wing-backs depending on the matches. Such systems have at times been fielded by Denis Guerra this season and also in seasons past.
Noting that most coaches in the league often opt for a back-four, this contest presents an interesting encounter in this regard, as the two face an opponent who is well-versed in the system. The two coaches were probed about their thoughts on the effect that this may have on their chances in the match.
Valletta’s Denis Guerra noted the versatility in the system, “It depends, having three defenders means that tactically you are ready to shift into a back-five with the wing-backs dropping in to form the five. Then, with some teams you can have the three, while having the wing-backs pushing a bit higher. In other cases the wing-backs can be very high, so it depends on the opponent and the match being played.”
His counterpart, Julian Camilleri was reluctant to attach his game-plans to any particular system, “Our formation changes depending on the players available, the system that our opponent is using, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. We adapt according to the needs of the game.”
On the other hand, Valletta have been improving their set-piece conversion. Weighed against San Gwann’s willingness to get stuck in and the increased likelihood of conceding a number of free-kicks, San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri was probed on whether they will look to change their approach in this regard to avoid conceding such goals. He said, “No, not really. We are adopting a style of play that we believe in and that plays to our strengths. We must be careful of the proceedings of the match but we will not be changing our approach because of the opponent.”
It all goes off at 14:00 at Mgarr Ground. The match will be followed by another tight clash between hosts Mgarr United and Birkirkara (16:30).
Meanwhile, Lija Athletic will be hosting Swieqi United at the Dingli Ground (13:00), which will be followed by the encounter between Hibernians and Mtarfa (15:30).
Lead Images: Lara Schembri
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[…] Dingli Ground, following the encounter between Lija Athletic and Swieqi United (13:00). Meanwhile, Valletta will be hosting San Gwann at Mgarr Ground (14:00), which will be followed by the clash between Mgarr United and Birkirkara […]