Hibernians and Valletta, two clubs steeped in Maltese football history and rivalry, meet on Wednesday evening in a Matchday 4 encounter with both sides looking to strengthen their position in the Premier League.
The match at the Tony Bezzina Stadium, kicking off at 8 pm, also provides an intriguing managerial battle, with Tugberk Tanrivermis and Thane Micallef going head-to-head for the first time.
At 36, Tanrivermis is in charge of Hibernians, while 41-year-old Micallef leads Valletta. The two are among the youngest coaches currently leading major clubs in Maltese football, adding another interesting dimension to an already significant fixture.
Valletta looking to bounce back
Valletta go into the match on six points from their opening three games. The Citizens began their campaign with victories over Zabbar St Patrick and Gżira United, but suffered their first defeat last time out, going down 2-1 to Marsaxlokk. They will now be looking to respond immediately against one of their traditional rivals.
Andrea Zammit has been one of Valletta’s main attacking threats so far, having already scored three league goals this season, while Roko Prša has added two.
Hibernians seeking a return to winning ways
Hibernians have collected four points from their first three matches, with one victory, one draw and one defeat. Their latest outing ended in a 1-1 draw against Zabbar St Patrick, leaving Tanrivermis’ side looking for a response and a return to winning form. Hibernians had opened their campaign with a victory over Sliema before losing to Marsaxlokk.
The Paolites have scored three goals in their opening three league matches, with Boris Druga, Fabian Jankovic and Jamie Jonathan Wahling each finding the net once.
More than just three points
This is a fixture that carries significance beyond the league table.
Hibernians and Valletta have a long-standing rivalry, and their recent meetings have also been closely contested. Last season’s two league encounters produced a 1-0 Valletta win and a 1-1 draw, while the last five league meetings saw two Valletta victories, two draws and one Hibernians win.
Valletta currently have six points whilst Hibernians have four, separating the two sides by two points. Valletta will want to return to winning ways, while Hibernians will be targeting their second victory of the campaign.
With two of Malta’s youngest coaches facing each other on the touchline, Wednesday night’s clash promises another intriguing chapter in one of Maltese football’s traditional rivalries.
