2022–23 Maltese Premier League
Season | 2022–23 |
---|---|
Dates | 19 August 2022 – 1 May 2023 |
Champions | Ħamrun Spartans (9th title) |
Relegated | Pietà Hotspurs |
UEFA Champions League | Ħamrun Spartans |
UEFA Europa Conference League | Balzan Birkirkara Gżira United |
Matches played | 184 |
Goals scored | 488 (2.65 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Jefferson Assis (20 Goals) |
Biggest home win | Birkirkara 5-0 Żebbuġ Rangers (7 January 2023) Birkirkara 5-0 Hibernians (2 April 2023) |
Biggest away win | Pietà Hotspurs 0-6 Valletta (26 August 2022) Pietà Hotspurs 0-6 Gżira United (4 February 2023) |
Highest scoring | Pietà Hotspurs 0-6 Valletta (26 August 2022) Gudja United 3-3 Gżira United (26 August 2022) Sirens 3-3 Żebbuġ Rangers (21 October 2022) Sirens 3-3 Valletta (1 February 2023) |
Longest winning run | Ħamrun Spartans (8 Games) |
Longest unbeaten run | Ħamrun Spartans (15 Games) |
Longest winless run | Pietà Hotspurs (14 Games) |
Longest losing run | Pietà Hotspurs (6 Games) |
← 2021–22 2023–24 → |
The 2022–23 Maltese Premier League was the 108th season of top-flight league football in Malta. The season began on 19 August 2022 and ended on 1 May 2023. Hibernians were the defending champions, having won their 13th title in the previous season.
Teams
[edit]Fourteen teams will compete in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season and the four teams promoted from the Maltese Challenge League. The promoted teams are Żebbuġ Rangers, Marsaxlokk, and Pietà Hotspurs, who will return after an absence of five, seven, ten and eight years from the top flight respectively. They will replace Sliema Wanderers (relegated after thirty-seven years in the top flight).
Team | In league since | City |
---|---|---|
Balzan | 2011 | Balzan |
Birkirkara | 1990 | Birkirkara |
Floriana | 1986 | Floriana |
Gudja United | 2019 | Gudja |
Gżira United | 2016 | Gżira |
Ħamrun Spartans | 2016 | Ħamrun |
Hibernians | 1945 | Paola |
Marsaxlokk | 2022 | Marsaxlokk |
Mosta | 2011 | Mosta |
Pietà Hotspurs | 2022 | Pietà, Malta |
St. Lucia | 2019 | Santa Luċija |
Sirens | 2019 | St. Paul's Bay |
Valletta | 1944 | Valletta |
Żebbuġ Rangers | 2022 | Żebbuġ |
Stadiums
[edit]On 17 April 2023. The Malta Football Association introduce another stadium at Gozo Stadium in Xewkija due to the final fixture of the season to be played four matches at the same time.
Ta' Qali | Ta' Qali | Paola | Xewkija | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ta' Qali National Stadium | Centenary Stadium | Tony Bezzina Stadium | Gozo Stadium | |
Capacity: 16,997 | Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 2,968 | Capacity: 1,644 | |
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Personnel and kits
[edit]Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balzan | ![]() |
Joma | |||
Birkirkara | ![]() |
Nike | McDonald's | Inter Sport (Top), Visit Malta (Bottom) | |
Floriana | ![]() |
Joma | Harmont & Blaine, Greens Supermarket | Go & Fun (Right) | |
Gudja United | ![]() |
Macron | Handy Man, SixSevenEight | Apex Group (Top) | Thomas Smith Insurance Broker (Left) |
Gżira United | ![]() |
Joma | Gree | Visit Malta (Bottom) | |
Ħamrun Spartans | ![]() |
Puma | J. Portelli Projects | Midea (Top), Meridianbet (Bottom), Visit Malta (Bottom) | Ta' Fonzu (Right), Tescoma (Left) |
Hibernians | ![]() |
Joma | Bezzina | ||
Marsaxlokk | ![]() |
Joma | 1padel | ||
Mosta | ![]() |
Macron | Simple Clean, PG Group | Teamsport (Bottom) | |
Pietà Hotspurs | ![]() |
Jartazi | Famalco.net, A1 Supplies, Xuereb Installation | Farstone Construction (Top) | |
Santa Lucia | ![]() |
Capelli Sport | Multivend, avanza | Elmo (Top), Konica Minolta (Bottom) | Yellow Army (Left), Levissima (Right) |
Sirens | ![]() |
Macron | Café del Mar Malta, Welbee's | Arringo (Top), Malta National Aquarium (Bottom) | |
Valletta | ![]() |
Nike | Iniala | Inter Sport (Top) | |
Żebbuġ Rangers | ![]() |
Joma | The Convenience Shop, Coop Italia |
- Additionally, referee kits are made by Macron
Managerial changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santa Lucia | ![]() |
End of contract | 18 May 2022 | Pre-season | ![]() |
6 July 2022 |
Birkirkara | ![]() |
End of caretaker spell | 18 May 2022 | ![]() |
18 May 2022[1] | |
Valletta | ![]() |
End of contract | 24 May 2022[2] | ![]() |
29 May 2022[2] | |
Balzan | ![]() |
End of caretaker spell | 29 May 2022[3] | ![]() |
5 June 2022[4] | |
Gudja United | ![]() |
Signed by Valletta | 29 May 2022[2] | ![]() |
8 June 2022[5] | |
Hibernians | ![]() |
Signed by Lazio Primavera | 8 July 2022[6] | ![]() |
8 July 2022[7] | |
Santa Lucia | ![]() |
Sacked | 3 November 2022 | 12th | ![]() |
3 November 2022 |
Hibernians | ![]() |
6 February 2023 | 5th | ![]() |
7 February 2023 | |
Gudja United | ![]() |
Signed by Benevento | 11 April 2023 | 10th | ![]() |
12 April 2023 |
League table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ħamrun Spartans (C) | 26 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 10 | +35 | 69 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
2 | Birkirkara | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 50 | 20 | +30 | 50 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[a] |
3 | Gżira United | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 19 | +27 | 48 | |
4 | Balzan[b] | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 37 | 32 | +5 | 46 | |
5 | Hibernians[b] | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 45 | 37 | +8 | 46 | |
6 | Mosta | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 47 | 33 | +14 | 46 | |
7 | Floriana | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 37 | |
8 | Valletta | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 37 | 23 | +14 | 37 | |
9 | Sirens | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 33 | |
10 | Gudja United | 26 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 39 | −11 | 29 | |
11 | Marsaxlokk | 26 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 28 | 38 | −10 | 25 | |
12 | Santa Lucia (O) | 26 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 20 | 49 | −29 | 15 | Qualification for the relegation play-offs |
13 | Żebbuġ Rangers (R) | 26 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 21 | 58 | −37 | 14 | Relegation to the Maltese Challenge League |
14 | Pietà Hotspurs (R) | 26 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 22 | 65 | −43 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation, or teams for UEFA competitions).
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ The winners of the 2022–23 Maltese FA Trophy, Birkirkara, qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League. As they finished second, the fourth-placed team in the league also qualified for the Europa Conference League.
- ^ a b Hibernians and Balzan finished equal on points, A play-off decider determines the fourth place and Qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League
Results
[edit]Fourth Place tie-breaker
[edit]Because Hibernians, Balzan, and Mosta were tied on points after all matches played, their head-to-head results in Play-Out were decisive. Mosta had the fewest points in those matches and immediately finished 6th Place. The best two teams Hibernians and Balzan will play a deciding game to determine the Fourth Place and qualification for UEFA Europa Conference League.
1 May 2023 | Hibernians | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Balzan | Ta' Qali |
14:00 CEST |
|
|
Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium Referee: Ishmael Barbara |
Promotion or Relegation play-offs
[edit]A play-offs match shall be played between the twelfth-placed team in the Premier League, Santa Lucia, and the third-placed team in the Maltese Challenge League, Żejtun Corinthians. The winner will play in the 2023-24 Maltese Premier League.
28 April 2023 | Santa Lucia (1) | 2–0 | Żejtun Corinthians (2) | Ta' Qali |
19:00 CEST |
|
Stadium: Centenary Stadium Referee: Fyodor Zammit |
Season statistics
[edit]Scoring
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]- As of 22 April 2023[9]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Gżira United | 20 |
2 | ![]() |
Ħamrun Spartans | 18 |
3 | ![]() |
Balzan | 14 |
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Hibernians | ||
5 | ![]() |
Birkirkara | 13 |
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Hibernians | ||
7 | ![]() |
Gżira United | 11 |
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Żebbuġ Rangers | ||
9 | ![]() |
Mosta | 10 |
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Hat-tricks
[edit]Player | For | Against | Result | Stadium | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Balzan | Zebbug Rangers | 3–1 (H) | Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali | 19 August 2022 |
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Mosta | Marsaxlokk | 4–1 (A) | 27 August 2022 | |
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Hibernians | Mosta | 5–0 (A) | Tony Bezzina Stadium, Paola | 5 September 2022 |
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Zebbug Rangers | Sirens | 3–3 (A) | Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali | 21 October 2022 |
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Gżira United | Pietà Hotspurs | 6–0 (A) | Tony Bezzina Stadium, Paola | 4 February 2023 |
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Mosta | Zebbug Rangers | 5–0 (A) | 15 April 2023 | |
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Gżira United | 4–0 (H) | Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali | 21 April 2023 |
Clean sheets
[edit]Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Ħamrun Spartans | 15 |
2 | ![]() |
Gzira United | 12 |
3 | ![]() |
Floriana | 8 |
4 | ![]() |
Valletta | 7 |
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Birkirkara | ||
6 | ![]() |
Balzan | 5 |
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Hibernians | ||
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Mosta | ||
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Sirens | ||
10 | ![]() |
Gudja United | 4 |
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Marsaxlokk | ||
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Sirens |
Discipline
[edit]Player
[edit]- Most red cards: 2
Club
[edit]- Most yellow cards: 77
- Most red cards: 8
Awards
[edit]Monthly awards
[edit]Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
August | ![]() |
Birkirkara | ![]() |
Gzira United |
September | ||||
October | ![]() |
Hamrun Spartans | ![]() |
Hamrun Spartans |
November | ![]() |
Hibernians | ![]() |
Hibernians |
December | ![]() |
Hamrun Spartans | ![]() |
Hamrun Spartans |
January | ![]() |
Birkirkara | ![]() |
Gzira United |
February | ![]() |
Hamrun Spartans | ![]() |
Balzan |
March | ![]() |
Birkirkara | ![]() |
Birkirkara |
April |
References
[edit]- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (18 May 2022). "Giovanni Tedesco returns for second spell as Birkirkara FC coach". The Times of Malta. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ a b c Camilleri, Valhmor (29 May 2022). "Valletta set to appoint Thane Micallef as new first-team coach". The Times of Malta. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (30 May 2022). "Oliver Spiteri on pole to take over at Balzan FC". The Times of Malta. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (5 June 2022). "Balzan FC appoint Oliver Spiteri as new first-team coach". The Times of Malta. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ Busuttil, Antoine (8 June 2022). "Andrea Agostinelli appointed Gudja United coach". MaltaFootball.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Grazie Mister". Hibernians F.C. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Benvenuto Andrea Pisanu". Hibernians F.C. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ Antoine Busuttil (21 April 2023). "Balzan beat Birkirkara to move joint-fourth". maltafootball.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ "Tables & Statistics". maltafootball.com. 20 September 2020.