National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Pembroke Athleta or Marsaxlokk that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Pembroke Athleta form and stats
Pembroke was eliminated in the 4th round last season in the Fa Trophy.Pembroke Athleta have been outstanding at home so far in the First Division with 6 wins, 1 draw and only 0 losses. Pembroke haven’t lost a league-game in 18 attempts regardless of arena, a great achievement. Their last loss was the fixture versus Zejtun Corinthians, 339 days ago.
Happy days for Pembroke Athleta in their previous game, a First Division match away at Qormi that ended with a 4-0 victory. Previous to that game, a First Division home match hosting Marsaxlokk in a game that was won 1-0.
As mentioned above, Pembroke "killed" Qormi in their previous game. They need to reset completely for this one and beware of complacency.
Another home game is coming up fairly shortly for the hosts, as Mqabba are coming to town in three days.
Goals decide football matches and Pembroke are scoring many of them at home; 15 on target from 7 league matches. From these home matches, Pembroke Athleta have conceded only 5 goals.
Marsaxlokk form and stats
They also participated in Fa Trophy last season. This ended in the 2nd round.The story so far for the visiting team on their First Division travels is 2 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats.
Marsaxlokk's last game was the home draw against Mqabba (0-0). Preceding that game, the 0-1 loss visiting Pembroke Athleta's place.
There might be some complaints about the fixture list from the Marsaxlokk manager as the team has another away game coming up in only four days, this time against Fgura United.
The attacking power of Marsaxlokk when travelling is not overwhelming with 7 goals scored from 9 league matches away. They concede less than a goal on average per away game (6 so far).
Head 2 Head
Last two meetings between the teams: Pembroke won one, Marsaxlokk won zero and one draw. zero games with over 2,5 goals, two matches with two goals or less.Pembroke Athleta missing players
Marsaxlokk missing players
| Pembroke Athleta | Marsaxlokk | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 11 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 14 | 6 | Won | W | 2 | 6 | ||
| 8 | 3 | Drew | D | 4 | 7 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Lost | L | 6 | 12 | ||
| 49 | 20 | Scored | S | 9 | 27 | ||
| 29 | 16 | Conceded | C | 17 | 39 | ||
| 96% | 91% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 83% | 88% | ||
| 80% | 73% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 42% | 64% | ||
| 60% | 64% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 33% | 52% | ||
| 44% | 55% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 32% | ||
| 20% | 27% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 17% | 16% | ||
| 64% | 64% | BTTS | BTTS | 33% | 44% | ||
| 32% | 27% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 28% | ||
| 8% | 18% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 40% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | 1.2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.1 | 1.8 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 3 | 3 | ||
| 4.7 | 4.1 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 0.7 | 0.8 | ||
| 2.5 | 2.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 0.7 | 0.7 | ||
| 75% | 70% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 100% | 110% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Pembroke Athleta | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 35 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 21 | 39 |
| 2 | Marsa | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 10 | 25 | 38 |
| 3 | Swieqi | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 8 | 14 | 30 |
| 4 | San Gwann | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 30 |
| 5 | Pieta Hotspurs | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 29 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 24 |
| 6 | Qrendi | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | -10 | 24 |
| 7 | Vittoriosa Stars | 17 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | -1 | 23 |
| 8 | Naxxar Lions | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | -4 | 23 |
| 9 | Zebbug Rangers | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 29 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 22 |
| 10 | Marsaxlokk | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 19 |
| 11 | Fgura United | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 31 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 18 | -9 | 19 |
| 12 | St. Andrews | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -5 | 18 |
| 13 | Mqabba | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | -6 | 18 |
| 14 | St. George's | 14 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 20 | -23 | 3 |
| 15 | Qormi | 17 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 37 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 20 | -27 | 2 |