Match Preview Birkirkara FC Vs La Fiorita UEFA Europa Conference League

by Clayton Schembri - 8th July 2021

Birkirkara FC will be making their return to European Competitions this evening, when in front of 200 supporters, they will take on La Fiorita of San Marino in the first leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League (Centenary Stadium, Kick-Off – 20:00).

A two-year wait will come to an end as the Stripes will be making their highly-anticipated return in European competitions where they hope that they can add to the string of positive results that the club has registered throughout the years in European matches.

The Stripes will be making their debut in the UEFA Conference League on the first season that it has been introduced. This will be the twenty-second season that they represent Malta in European competitions. As

Birkirkara, under the guidance of Coach Andre Paus who has been confirmed for the third season with the club will be playing their first official after four months following the early termination of the BOV Premier League due to the COVID 19 that resulted in a ban by health authorities on organised sports for the second year running.

Addressing a press conference yesterday evening, the Birkirkara coach said, “This is a very important match for us. We are approaching it is very serious as it is a very important game for the club – for the players, the supporters, and the staff.”.

“We have to be focused and fully concentrated. There are no easy games in football, so we have to be well-prepared and concentrate on the game. If the players do their task, I believe we will achieve a good result.”

The Stripes were among the busiest teams in the summer transfer market so far as they signed goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes, Diego Venancio, Ryan Scicluna, and youngster Jed Valletta who are all eligible for today's match. On the other hand, goalkeepers Alessandro Guarnone, Andrew Hogg and Miguel Spiteris, Caio Prado, Alex da Paixao Alves and Reginald Mbu Alidor are no longer with the club.

On the other hand, opponents La Fiorita will be playing European matches for their tenth consecutive season following their debut in season 2012-2013. Their best and the only positive result so far was registered in 2017 when they registered a draw against Linfield of Northern Ireland.

This will be the second time that the club from San Marino will be facing a Maltese opposition after being eliminated by Valletta FC with an aggregate score of 4-0 in the first round of the UEFA Europea League in the 2013-2014 season.

Following the latest ease of restrictions by the health authorities, 200 supporters will be making their return to the stadium. The club is asking all the supporters for co-operations and following the directives published in the last few days.

Come on the Stripes!

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