Under-pressure Stripes all-out to keep top three hopes alive
by Ayrton Galea - 5th March 2016
Birkirkara FC will be hoping to return to winning ways and keep their hopes alive of ending in the first three places of the BOV Premier League, when this afternoon they take on Tarxien Rainbows FC.
After losing to Floriana mid-week, the Stripes will be hoping to regain some grip on their ambitions of finishing in the top three spots once again. They have been struggling for consistency and they will be all out to start finding their feet at the most crucial phase.
Team News
Head Coach Mr. Drazen Besek will be unable to field his best formation. Cain Attard and Edison Bilbao are suspended after picking-up their fourth yellow card in last Wednesday's match against Floriana. Edward Herrera and Nikola Vukanac are still ruled-out injured.
On a more positive note, goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric will be back from a one-match ban after he was sent off in the 1-0 victory over Pembroke Athleta, while Joseph Zerafa and Mauricio Mazzetti are in the last stages of recovery but they are still doubtful for today's match.
Our Opponents
Tarxien Rainbows are enjoying back-to-back positive results following a struggling run of just one victory out of six matches. First they defeated Naxxar Lions with a comfortable score while in the last match, they halted Balzan's winning streak and it was only a last-gasp goal to deny them from an important victory in a 2-2 draw.
Alex Da Paixao Alves will be suspended for today's game after he was sent-off deep into the second-half's stoppage time of the last match.
League Standings
Birkirkara are occupying the fourth-place at the moment after twenty-four matches played and eighth matches away from the end of the this year's league. They have twenty-seven points, nine under leaders Valletta, five under Hibernians, three under Balzan and are on level points with Floriana.
On the other hand, Tarxien Rainbows are also in the hunt for the fourth-place. They are just four points under Birkirkara and Floriana while they are enjoying a comfortable six-point lead over Sliema Wanderers and seven over Mosta and Pembroke Athleta respectively.
Previous Encounters
Birkirkara and Tarxien Rainbows shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first-round match which was played on Friday, 28 August. Nikola Vukanac and Fabrizio Miccoli were the Birkirkara scorers in the match.
A goal by Ryan Camenzuli handed Birkirkara a narrow 1-0 victory in the second-round match which was played on Wednesday, 2 December.
The match will be played at the Hibernians Stadium and it will kick off at 14:00.
Come on the Stripes!
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