by Valletta and Lija Athletic will play out their final league battle this season at the Charles Abela Stadium at 20:30. Jean Lopes & Jethron Azzopardi discussed their latest matches which saw the two teams swap places in the table, as they eye the final battle in a rivalry that has brewed all year.
The Business End
Valletta and Lija Athletic will head into tonight’s fixture as the only two teams with something to play for in the position in the table within the Bottom Four.
Valletta come into the fixture following a 1 – 0 defeat to San Gwann, which confirmed the changing of the guard at the top position of the Bottom Four since last season. Jean Lopes weighed in on the ongoings in a match where his team had the majority of chances but walked away without the points.
He said, “The match against San Gwann was an interesting match where we managed to play good football and do almost everything we were supposed to do. However, unfortunately we were unable to be effective in scoring goals and San Gwann converted one of the few opportunities they had. What we must do is keep working, and the goals will surely come soon.”
Meanwhile, Lija Athletic continued on their ascendency to overcome Mtarfa by 2 – 0 and fully capitalise on Valletta’s defeat to swap places with the Citizens. Jethron Azzopardi was elated by the performance, “We deserved the win, with a good performance and despite having key players missing. We were very unlucky with hitting three crossbars in the match.”
On Absences
The two teams took to the pitch with further missing faces. Valletta’s Melissa Galea came out of retirement to fill in goal for the absent Gabriella Grima and Kayleigh Vella Barberi. Jean Lopes gave some insight on the absences of the two goalkeepers, “Gabriella had a bad cold in the last match and couldn’t play, but she’s fully recovered. Kayleigh unfortunately suffered an injury during training with the national team and is undergoing intensive treatment to return as soon as possible.”
Lopes also confirmed that Kim Fava has departed Valletta, “Kim has reached an agreement with the team and is no longer part of our team.”
On the other hand, Lija were without Kylie Pantalleresco and Leanne Micallef against Mtarfa, with Jethron Azzopardi confirming injuries for the two will keep them out tonight as well. The team will also be missing Lisa Calleja and back-up goalkeeper Julia Zarb who are away on international duty with the U17 Malta Women’s National Team.
The International Window is set by UEFA, but Jethron Azzopardi lamented domestic fixture plans in not catering for these eventualities, “We had a long international break with plenty of time for international fixtures. I don’t know who is the person that does the planning, but we are always hitting rock bottom when it comes to planning fixtures.”
The two sides will also be dealing with further absences as the Malta Football Association has slapped suspensions to several clubs on failing to produce documentation pertaining to medical examination of individual players. Lija Athletic will be forced to make do without Shakira Bugeja, while Valletta will be missing midfield duo Monique Sultana and Lilou Lucas.
Time To Step Up And Be Counted
Although there is no trophy to play for, tonight presents the final league confrontation between two teams whose rivalry this season was set from the first matchday. Games have been tight affairs this season, with tonight potentially seeing Lija Athletic open a four point gap or lose second place to Valletta if the latter win. Lija Athletic have a further incentive to hit a five-game win-streak.
Ahead of this fixture, the two coaches were prompted on the test they believe their teams face tonight, in terms of the football on the pitch but mostly in terms of character and motivation to fight for every place and point available.
Valletta’s Jean Lopes acknowledged the improvements made by those around them since last year, “I believe that this year all the teams in the Bottom Four came better prepared and proposed a more interesting competition than last year.”
Eyeing tonight’s opposition and the task at hand to stop their foes from getting breathing room in second place, Lopes remarked, “Lija has strengthened and is currently on a very good rise. We must approach the game with great seriousness and focus, so that we can recover the second position.”
Lija Athletic’s Jethron Azzopardi weighed in, tearing into the organisation setting up the league, “To have kept this team motivated playing for nothing was tough enough. These players deserved something in return not just a target. Once again, I would like to point out, how we can improve women’s football, with people planning behind the scenes that are there just for the job and no interest in improving the game?”
The two teams will battle it out at Charles Abela Stadium this evening at 20:30.
Graphic: GM Graphics
Images: Elise Bajada
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