Marsaxlokk face difficult job today, Maltese champions Marsaxlokk take on FK Sarajevo of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round at the National Stadium, at 8.00 p.m.
This will be the second time the Seasiders will be facing another team from Bosnia as last year they met NK Zrinjski Mostar in the first round of the UEFA Intertoto. They were eliminated by an aggregate of 4-1 as they were beaten 3-0 away from home and a 1-1 draw at the Hibs Ground.
In their first appearance in European competitions, Marsaxlokk were eliminated by NK Primorje of Slovenia on a 3-0 aggregate score after losing 0-1 at Ta’ Qali and 2-0 in Slovenia in the UEFA Cup 2003/04.
After leading the Southseasiders for their first ever Premier League title, Englishman Brian Talbot will now lead the team to their first ever participation in the Champions League qualifiers.
Facing the Bosnians he will have a “depleted” side from that which landed the biggest prize as these last two months marked the departure of important and vital players together with the club president, Victor Sciriha, who is now at the helm of Valletta FC.
International goalkeeper, Justin Haber, joined Greek Second Division side Haidari FC, Andre Schembri moved to Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany on loan while Luke Dimech and Daniel Bogdanovic, who are both out-of-contract, are both abroad trying to secure a deal with a foreign club. The latter has been invited for a trial with Stoke City.
Apart from that, Kevin Mamo quit football while the contract of foreigners Haruna Doda and Samir Garci was not renewed. Udo Nwoko returned with Hibernians after spending the last five months of last season on loan.
The only new player in the squad is English striker Daniel Webb. He will have the difficult task of replacing Daniel Bogdanovic who scored 31 goals last season. Webb scored one of the goals in the 3-3 draw with Hibernians in the Euro Challenge Cup last week.
However Cleavon Frendo who scored the other two goals and the goal in the 1-1 draw against Sliema Wanderers is unavailable for Wednesday’s game.
In fact, Brian Talbot could not count on Frendo as he is suspended after being sent off in the second leg against NK Zrinjski last year.
However Talbot hopes to recover captain Carlo Mamo who missed the Euro Challenge Cup due to an injury.
Marsaxlokk’s probable formation will be:
Reuben Gauci, Malcolm Licari, Shawn Tellus (or Carlo Mamo). Stephen Wellman, Charlo Magro, Gareth Sciberras, Peter Pullicino, Kevin Sammut, Trevor Templeman, Daniel Webb, Jamie Pace.
The match will be screened live at 7.45 p.m. on Melita Cable.