Birkirkara face Balzan in a difficult encounter

by Ayrton Galea - 6th February 2016

Birkirkara FC will be involved in another difficult match in the BOV Premier League match, when on Saturday afternoon they take on Balzan FC.

With the end of the second round approaching, Birkirkara and Balzan, two teams with high aspirations, especially after they significantly strengthened their sides during the January Transfer market, will be seeking to gain important points to keep the pace with the front runners.

The Stripes are third with forty-two points, three over Balzan with thirty-nine point mark and both sides are enjoying a string of unbeaten matches, which adds more weight to this match.

After five consecutive victories in the BOV Premier League, the Stripes' progress was disrupted last Sunday, when they had a goal-less stalemate against Floriana. With Birkirkara dropping two points and Valletta defeating Pembroke, Valletta restored a five-point lead over Birkirkara and three over Hibernians.

Birkirkara have two players, Matija Smrekar and L'Imam Seydi, who are still to make their debut. These two forwards are expecting to give the much needed strength in the attacking department, after the Stripes looked lacking in punch in the attacking department.

During the January Transfer Market, Balzan signed Paul Fenech, Pedro Calcado, goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic and Alan Da Silva Souza. The latter was crowned as the BOV Player of the Month for January, in his first month back in Malta, following a spell with Valletta during the season 2013-2014.

After the goal-less against Pembroke mid-way December, Balzan registered four consecutive wins, and they took maximum points in January. In their last match, two first-half goals by Pedro Calcado and Alfred Effiong enabled them to emerge as winners with a 2-0 score over Sliema Wanderers.

The first-round match saw Birkirkara dominating for long stretches to register one of the league's biggest wins, with a 4-1 score. Birkirkara will be hoping to repeat this feat, while Balzan will be all-out to make amends for their biggest defeat this season.

The match will be played at the National Stadium and will kick off at 14:00.

Come on the Stripes!

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