It's still early in the Premier League season, but we are learning more and more about the teams. Here is the Lija Athletic - Birkirkara preview!
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 Lija Athletic and Birkirkara.
Lija's stadium, MFA Centenary Stadium, has a artifical turf surface. Birkirkara have grass on their own stadium. This might or might not make a difference, and to help evaluate that we give you the recent performance numbers for Birkirkara when playing on artifical turf; 5 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses from twelve matches. They have scored 14 goals in these games and conceded 13.
These teams are so close in distance that this match is special, a derby with local pride the main prize.
Lija Athletic form and stats
Lija Athletic have only played one Premier League game here so far, a win. Last season their home statistics were 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat from 10 matches. Two home wins in a row for Lija bring valid hopes of a third.
The fans are hoping that Lija will strike back in this match, putting things right after the 0-2 away loss in the Premier League game against Gudja United (placed 4th). Ahead of that match, Lija won a home game hosting Senglea Athletic (4-0).
Lija Athletic has scored 4 goals so far and conceded 0 goals from 1 home game. These are numbers from the league only.
Birkirkara form and stats
The visitors' first away game in the Premier League ended in defeat. Last season Birkirkara had these away match statistics: Played 10; won 5, drew 3 and lost 2.
Home advantage was not enough for Birkirkara in their previous game, as they lost their Premier League-match, hosting Mosta, 0-3. It was a defeat before that one as the away game against Valletta wasn't a success with a 2-4 loss.
2 goals so far away for Birkirkara, while their defence has allowed the opposition to score 4. All from 1 league match away.
Head 2 Head
Head-2-head stats last three meetings: zero - zero - three (Lija wins - draws - Birkirkara wins). As for goals, one match ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), two had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  E. Beu 3 goals |  Y. Yankam 1 goals | F. Falcone 1 goals |
Lija Athletic missing players
Birkirkara missing players
| Lija Athletic | Birkirkara | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Played | P | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Lost | L | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | Scored | S | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Conceded | C | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 0% | 100% | 100% |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 0% | 100% | 100% |
| 50% | 100% | 100% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 100% | 100% |
| 50% | 100% | 100% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 100% | 50% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 100% | 50% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 0% | 100% | 50% |
| 50% | 100% | 100% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 50% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 0% | 50% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 1 | 1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | 10 | 10 | Total Shots | T S | 0 | 9 | 19 |
| 9 | 4 | 4 | Shots on Target | S O | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 44% | 100% | 100% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 0% | 50% | 33% |
| Lija Athletic | Last season | Birkirkara | |||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 19 | 10 | Played | P | 10 | 20 | ||
| 11 | 7 | Won | W | 5 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Drew | D | 3 | 6 | ||
| 5 | 1 | Lost | L | 2 | 5 | ||
| 47 | 24 | Scored | S | 12 | 30 | ||
| 31 | 14 | Conceded | C | 5 | 20 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 80% | 90% | ||
| 95% | 90% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 70% | ||
| 84% | 70% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 20% | 45% | ||
| 58% | 50% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 10% | 25% | ||
| 47% | 40% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 10% | 15% | ||
| 79% | 80% | BTTS | BTTS | 30% | 50% | ||
| 16% | 10% | Clean Sheets | C S | 60% | 40% | ||
| 5% | 10% | Failed to Score | F T | 30% | 20% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1.3 | 0.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.6 | 2.2 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 4 | ||
| 72 | 35 | Total Shots | T S | 108 | 221 | ||
| 37 | 20 | Shots on Target | S O | 42 | 96 | ||
| 76% | 75% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 29% | 29% | ||
| 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 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| 2 | Valletta | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Mosta | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Gudja United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Sliema Wanderers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | Lija Athletic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Hibernians | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Balzan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Floriana | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 10 | Zejtun Corinthians | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Gzira United | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 12 | Tarxien Rainbows | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 13 | Santa Lucia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 1 |
| 14 | Senglea Athletic | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 1 |
| 15 | Sirens | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 |
| 16 | Birkirkara | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -5 | 0 |
| Last season | Total | Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Zejtun Corinthians | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 37 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 11 | 14 | 38 |
| 2 | Lija Athletic | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 47 | 31 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 16 | 36 |
| 3 | Qrendi | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 8 | 9 | 35 |
| 4 | Naxxar Lions | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 32 | 24 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 31 |
| 5 | Pembroke Athleta | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 37 | 33 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 4 | 30 |
| 6 | St. Andrews | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 29 |
| 7 | Zebbug Rangers | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 27 |
| 8 | Pieta Hotspurs | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 30 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 14 | -8 | 24 |
| 9 | Fgura United | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 40 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 17 | -9 | 22 |
| 10 | Swieqi | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 29 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 21 |
| 11 | Qormi | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 31 | 37 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 21 |
| 12 | Vittoriosa Stars | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 15 | -10 | 19 |
| 13 | Mqabba | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 38 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 19 | -13 | 16 |
| 14 | St. George's | 19 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 20 | -20 | 16 |
| Last season | Total | Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Floriana | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 23 | 41 |
| 2 | Valletta | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 38 |
| 3 | Hibernians | 20 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 34 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 37 |
| 4 | Sirens | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 16 | 4 | 35 |
| 5 | Birkirkara | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 33 |
| 6 | Gzira United | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 35 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 8 | 16 | 32 |
| 7 | Balzan | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 33 | 29 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 28 |
| 8 | Mosta | 20 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 35 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 18 | -6 | 28 |
| 9 | Hamrun Spartans | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 11 | -1 | 25 |
| 10 | Sliema Wanderers | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 24 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 24 |
| 11 | Gudja United | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 24 |
| 12 | Santa Lucia | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 14 | -9 | 23 |
| 13 | Senglea Athletic | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 39 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 20 | -18 | 16 |
| 14 | Tarxien Rainbows | 20 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 18 | 61 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 31 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 30 | -43 | 4 |