A home win is expected from this fixture if the league table is anything to judge by. The Birkirkara fans are optimistic that the difference between 5th and Lija Athletic's 15th place in the table will show on the pitch.
- Birkirkara have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Lija Athletic has the fewest matches over the total-line (6) in Premier League
There has not been much time to rest for the guests, as they played a Premier League game only four days ago. That game was also an away game, at Floriana. It will be interesting to see if they are fully ready and rested for this match, and/or if some changes in the lineup is necessary.
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 18 matches resulting in 3 wins, 3 draws and 12 defeats with the goal stats 26-46 (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
The story so far in the Premier League for Birkirkara at their home stadium (Ta'Qali National Stadium) is 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats. Birkirkara has a nice streak going on as they have played ten consecutive leaguegames without losing (regardless of home/away). They are keen to extend their tally, a streak that began after the Sliema Wanderers defeat 96 days ago. Birkirkara have played two draws in a row on their own stadium.
The Birkirkara goalkeeper Alessandro Guarnone is looking to record 90 more "clean sheet" minutes as his team have now played 231 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League.
Birkirkara enjoyed a nice away win last time out, playing at Mosta's place. The match ended 1-0 with L. Montebello scoring. 0-0 away at Santa Lucia before that.
Birkirkara have proved capable of finding the net in their games here at Ta'Qali National Stadium with 12 goals in 7 league matches. With more than 1,5 conceded goals on average, the Birkirkara defense is not exactly impregnable. 11 goals conceded from 7 games. You can find more goal stats on the Statistics tab above.
Lija Athletic form and stats
Lija Athletic have only collected 3 points from their away games in the Premier League, after 1-0-6 (7 played).
It's the second away game in a row for Lija, but there's smiles all around after the 2-1 victory versus Floriana (placed 13th) in the Premier League last time out. The game before that, was lost at home, a 0-1 defeat against Gudja United.
A quick return to home after this game, as Lija are hosting Tarxien Rainbows in the Premier League only three days away.
The visitors have scored 6 goals from 7 away games in the league, an average of less than one per game. The Lija Athletic defense is as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle, having conceded 21 goals in their away games.
Head 2 Head
The most recent history between these sides is the Lija Athletic - Birkirkara 0-0 played earlier this season. Birkirkara-Lija Athletic H2H statistics last four meetings regardless of arena: Birkirkara three wins, Lija Athletic zero wins, one draw. one of these four matches had three or more goals (over 2,5).Top Goalscorers
  E. Beu 9 goals |  A. da Paixão Alves 6 goals | F. Falcone 5 goals |
Birkirkara missing players
Lija Athletic missing players
| Birkirkara | Lija Athletic | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 16 | 7 | 3 | Played | P | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| 8 | 2 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | Lost | L | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 28 | 12 | 7 | Scored | S | 2 | 6 | 14 |
| 20 | 11 | 5 | Conceded | C | 12 | 21 | 32 |
| 88% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 93% |
| 75% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 86% | 80% |
| 62% | 86% | 100% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 100% | 57% | 53% |
| 31% | 29% | 67% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 100% | 43% | 33% |
| 25% | 14% | 33% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 100% | 43% | 20% |
| 50% | 57% | 67% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 57% | 47% |
| 44% | 29% | 33% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 0% | 13% |
| 19% | 14% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 43% | 47% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.9 | 2.1 | 2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 4 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 10.7 | 10 | 11.7 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 5.5 | 6.8 | 7.1 |
| 5.2 | 4.7 | 6 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| 36% | 36% | 39% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 40% | 25% | 32% |
- All of Birkirkara's home-matches have had more than 1,5 goals.
- Birkirkara have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Birkirkara haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Lija Athletic has the fewest matches over the total-line (6) in Premier League
- Lija Athletic have conceded at least twice as many goals as they have scored.
- Lija Athletic have failed to keep a clean sheet in all their away matches.
- Lija Athletic have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Lija Athletic haven’t played a single 0-0 game away.
| 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 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 44 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 28 | 38 |
| 2 | Hibernians | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 36 |
| 3 | Gzira United | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 20 | 31 |
| 4 | Sliema Wanderers | 17 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 31 |
| 5 | Birkirkara | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 28 |
| 6 | Mosta | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 26 |
| 7 | Santa Lucia | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 27 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Gudja United | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 23 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 23 |
| 9 | Valletta | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8 | -3 | 23 |
| 10 | Sirens | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 27 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 13 | -5 | 22 |
| 11 | Zejtun Corinthians | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -2 | 20 |
| 12 | Balzan | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 23 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -3 | 19 |
| 13 | Floriana | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -8 | 19 |
| 14 | Tarxien Rainbows | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 31 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 15 | -15 | 12 |
| 15 | Lija Athletic | 15 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 21 | -18 | 9 |
| 16 | Senglea Athletic | 16 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 41 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 25 | -34 | 2 |