Maltese football will once again be in the European spotlight this evening as Hibernians and Floriana contest their second leg fixtures in the UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round. Both sides face uphill battles but still have it all to play for in their respective ties.
Branko Nisevic’s Hibernians head to the City Arena in Slovakia to take on Spartak Trnava, trailing 2-1 from the first leg. Despite the result, the Maltese side showed resilience and character, and were undone only by a late penalty in the 84th minute. With just a single goal separating the teams, Hibernians know that a strong, disciplined performance this afternoon could see them cause an upset and book a place in the next round of the competition. This game kicks off at 5:30 pm.
A more complicated task awaits Floriana, who host FK Ballkani of Kosovo at the Centenary Stadium at 8:45 pm. The Greens, now under the guidance of coach Daniel Portela, twice let their lead slip in last week’s first leg in Kosovo and ultimately fell to a 4-2 defeat. That result leaves them needing at least a 2-0 win to stay alive in the tie, a difficult, but not impossible challenge.
To do so, Floriana must strike early and avoid conceding, as a goal for Ballkani could prove fatal to their hopes of a comeback. With the backing of home supporters and a tactically sharp approach, the Greens will be looking to make a strong statement on home turf.
