Matchday 4 of the YoHealth Malta Premier brings one of the league’s most anticipated fixtures as Floriana take on Valletta in a fierce derby at the National Stadium on Tuesday, kick-off at 18:45.
It’s been nearly five years since Valletta last beat Floriana, a 2019/20 league clash settled by an early Steve Borg header. After that Floriana won 6 encounters while another 2 ended in a draw.
Floriana come into the match with 7 points from their opening three games. They started the season strong with two wins, but were held to a 1-1 draw by Gżira United last Friday. Valletta, meanwhile, are fresh off a confidence-boosting 3-1 victory over Marsaxlokk and sit just two points behind their rivals on 5.
Speaking ahead of the derby, Floriana head coach Daniel Portela stressed the importance of the mental aspect of the game, especially with such a tight match schedule.
“All teams are tough, and every game is different. This is a historic derby, but at the end of the day it’s still only three points,” Portela said. “We know Valletta are a strong side, but we must fight harder than we did in our last match against Gżira. I hope our performance in this game will be better.”
While acknowledging the significance of the rivalry, Portela was quick to point out the long road ahead: “The result on Tuesday is important for the fans, but there are still many matches left. The mental side is even more important than the physical, especially with recovery being tough when we play every three days.”
Floriana captain Dunstan Vella echoed the coach’s words, adding that the squad is focused and ready to push through the busy calendar.
“We started with two wins, and even against Gżira we didn’t play badly,” Vella said. “Our team is still new and has gained valuable European experience, but now we’re fully focused on Tuesday’s match against Valletta, which is very important.”
He admitted the fixture congestion has been tough but believes the squad is coping well. “With five games in just a few days, we’ll do our best, and as the coach always says, we give our total utmost to try and win every single match.”
On the other side, Valletta coach Thane Micallef praised his side’s recent improvement in performances and spoke about the emotional weight of facing Floriana.
“After our performances against Birkirkara and Ħamrun, we became more determined, and that grit helped us secure a well-deserved three points against Marsaxlokk,” he said. “We understand the value a match against Floriana carries for our fans. Their support gives us extra motivation to deliver another strong performance.”
Valletta midfielder Yannick Yankam, who rejoined Maltese football after a spell abroad, is optimistic about the season and believes the team has what it takes to succeed.
“Playing for Valletta always comes with extra pressure, but both myself, the coach, and the entire squad are determined to get results,” he said. “The spirit in the dressing room is very good, and I believe we have quality across all departments.”
Yankam added, “When I returned to Malta, it was an easy decision to join such a massive club like Valletta.”
With both sides unbeaten and just two points apart, Tuesday’s match promises to be a thrilling battle, not just for bragging rights, but also for early-season momentum.
Kemar Reid and Jake Grech gave a 2-0 win to Floriana the last time these two teams met in the 2023/24 campaign.
