Top four meet as Assikura Women’s League returns

The 2022/2023 Assikura Women’s League returns this week following the November international window with two crucial games in Matchday 6.

Reigning champions Birkirkara are leading the standings with 10 points followed Hibernians and Raiders Lija who are joint-second with nine.

Meanwhile, Swieqi United sit fourth with eight points.

These four teams will be involved in two direct encounters that could change the whole picture of the upper part of the standings come Wednesday night.

Birkirkara, who have scored three wins in four games so far, take on Raiders Lija on Wednesday.

The Stripes, led by coach Jose Borg, are at the back of three straight victories including against Mġarr United and Hibernians.

While they scored 12 goals, they have allowed just one against them as they have the best defensive record in this campaign – together with Swieqi United.

Coincidentally, Birkirkara and Swieqi conceded their only goal in their direct head to head which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Prior to the break, Birkirkara had eased past Mtarfa as they scored eight goals without reply.

Veronique Mifsud, captain of their U-21’s side, scored a hat-trick to become the club’s top scorer right now.

On the other side of the field, Mifsud and Birkirkara will be facing the league’s current best scorer – Lexine Farrugia, who has seven goals for Raiders Lija in four games.

Farrugia joined Denis Guerra’s side from the Stripes during the summer and has been instrumental for her club, including scoring a brace in their 2-0 win over Mġarr United.

Raiders Lija opened their campaign with three straight victories before falling to a 2-0 loss at the hands of Hibernians as they scored 11 goals and conceded just three in four games so far.

In the other big game of the week, Swieqi United will face Hibernians at the Centenary Stadium in the opening fixture of this Matchday.

Both teams come with high spirits as they are at the back of victories.

Keith Gouder’s Hibernians scored a goal in each half through Aleksandra Georgieva and Alexis Espitia to defeat Raiders Lija and bounce back from their back to back losses against Mġarr and Birkirkara.

In five games, the Paolites have 17 goals and conceded five goals so far.

Swieqi, on their part, boast the best attacking record with 24 goals including eight in their latest 8-0 win over San Ġwann.

Newcomer Tatiana Dabney, who hails from the United States, is the club’s top scorer with five goals as she trails Raiders Lija’s Lexine Farrugia by two goals.

Elsewhere, Mtarfa and San Ġwann in an intriguing clash in the bottom part of the standings.

Both sides are looking for their first points of the season as they lost all four games so far.

San Ġwann is the only team to have scored between the two, having found the net against Raiders Lija.

THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES

TUESDAY
Swieqi United vs Hibernians – Centenary Stadium, 8pm

WEDNESDAY
Mtarfa vs San Ġwann – Centenary Stadium, 8pm

Birkirkara vs Raiders Lija – Mġarr Ground, 8.30pm

MD6 bye: Mġarr United