National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Birkirkara or Lija Athletic that keep their silverware dream alive.
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Birkirkara and Lija Athletic.
This pitch has grass, which is not Lija Athletic's usual surface at their own ground. When playing on grass Lija Athletic have performed like this: Played 19 matches resulting in 3 wins, 3 draws and 13 defeats with the goal stats 27-50 (scored/conceded).
These teams are located so close to each other that their supporters eat in the same restaurants, hang out at the same night clubs and give birth at the same hospitals. This means added importance to the game and a vibrant atmosphere.
Birkirkara form and stats
Birkirkara participated in Fa Trophy the last season, where they reached the quarter-finals.3-2-3 (win-draw-lost) are the Premier League numbers at home for Birkirkara so far this season. Birkirkara haven’t lost a league-game in twelve attempts regardless of arena, a great achievement. Their last loss was the fixture versus Sliema Wanderers, 105 days ago.
Birkirkara are returning here after visiting Zejtun Corinthians in a Premier League game and winning with a 3-0 scoreline. Caio Prado (2) and Lecão scored the goal(s). Before that, Birkirkara had a Premier League home game versus Lija Athletic which ended with a victory 4-1.
Birkirkara decided the match against Zejtun Corinthians in the first half, and held firmly on to their lead (3-0) without using too much effort. The team showed great control while saving some energy.
The match schedule is unforgiving for Birkirkara as they have a new game in only four days, a Premier League match thankfully also at home. Hamrun Spartans are visiting.
The Birkirkara manager A. Paus has got the team scoring with 16 from 8 home games in the league. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 12 goals have been conceded.
Lija Athletic form and stats
Lija's mission in Fa Trophy last season failed in the 3rd round.The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Lija Athletic so far with only 3 points returning home. The records show 1-0-7 (win-draw-lose).
Lija Athletic played 1-1 against Balzan in their previous match. A home win before that, celebrating 2-0 vs Tarxien Rainbows.
The attacking power of Lija Athletic when travelling is not overwhelming with 7 goals scored from 8 league matches away. There are big problems for the Lija Athletic defense as they have conceded 25 goals in 8 away games. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only -1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 away matches.
Head 2 Head
Head-2-head stats last five meetings: four - one - zero (Birkirkara wins - draws - Lija Athletic wins). As for goals, two matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), three had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  E. Beu 9 goals |  A. da Paixão Alves 7 goals | L. Montebello 7 goals |
Birkirkara missing players
Lija Athletic missing players
| Birkirkara | Lija Athletic | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 10 | Played | P | 11 | 25 | ||
| 13 | 3 | Won | W | 3 | 7 | ||
| 6 | 3 | Drew | D | 0 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 4 | Lost | L | 8 | 13 | ||
| 43 | 18 | Scored | S | 16 | 34 | ||
| 27 | 15 | Conceded | C | 28 | 44 | ||
| 92% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 96% | ||
| 76% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 91% | 84% | ||
| 56% | 80% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 73% | 52% | ||
| 24% | 30% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 55% | 36% | ||
| 20% | 20% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 45% | 24% | ||
| 52% | 70% | BTTS | BTTS | 55% | 48% | ||
| 44% | 20% | Clean Sheets | C S | 18% | 24% | ||
| 12% | 10% | Failed to Score | F T | 27% | 32% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1.7 | 1.9 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.6 | 2.3 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 3 | ||
| 10 | 9.1 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 7.1 | 7.3 | ||
| 5 | 4.7 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3 | 2.9 | ||
| 37% | 38% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 41% | 44% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Hamrun Spartans | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 48 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 7 | 31 | 44 |
| 2 | Hibernians | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 10 | 25 | 42 |
| 3 | Gzira United | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 41 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 23 | 38 |
| 4 | Sliema Wanderers | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 33 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 35 |
| 5 | Birkirkara | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 34 |
| 6 | Mosta | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 31 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 18 | 1 | 26 |
| 7 | Santa Lucia | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 28 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 26 |
| 8 | Sirens | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 31 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 16 | -6 | 25 |
| 9 | Gudja United | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 25 | 26 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | -1 | 24 |
| 10 | Valletta | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -8 | 24 |
| 11 | Zejtun Corinthians | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 15 | -4 | 23 |
| 12 | Balzan | 19 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -3 | 20 |
| 13 | Floriana | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 17 | -9 | 20 |
| 14 | Tarxien Rainbows | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 36 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 19 | -17 | 15 |
| 15 | Lija Athletic | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 37 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 25 | -19 | 13 |
| 16 | Senglea Athletic | 18 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 45 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 28 | -37 | 2 |