The Stadium
The second leg of West Ham United’s Europa League second qualifying round against Birkirkara will take place at the Ta’Qali National Stadium. The stadium can hold 18,000 spectators and is the largest stadium in Malta, hosting international matches. Opened in 1981, the stadium has a top-of-the-range floodlighting system, an electronic scoreboard, a public address system, a media centre, VIP lounges, a gymnasium and a physiotherapy clinic – the Millennium (East) Stand, where the Claret and Blue Army will be found, holds 5,000 spectators and houses the Malta FA Headquarters, six executive boxes and a secluded spectator balcony with an adjacent foyer.
Those travelling Hammers who are making the trip face a more simplistic trip than that offered by the previous tie in Andorra, with Malta being easily accessible by air.
The Island
Malta is a southern European island in the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Italy. Malta is one of the world’s smallest countries and its capital, Valletta, is the smallest national capital in the European Union. The official languages are Maltese and English and the island was awarded the George Cross by King George VI in 1942 for the country’s bravery in the Second World War – the George Cross continues to appear on Malta’s national flag.
For a more in-depth look at Birkirkara as a club and some of their key players, please see last week’s match preview. The match is available to watch on UK sports channel Premier Sports (Sky channel 428) – a two-month subscription on this platform will cost £9.99 with the promotional code WESTHAMFC. Premier Sports is also available on Virgin channel 551 and on the Premier Player online.
Referee
Thursday’s officials are from Albania, with the referee being 30-year-old Enea Jorgji; he was the man in the middle for Polish club Slask Wroclaw’s 1-0 Europa League qualifying first round first leg victory over NK Celje of Slovenia three weeks ago. Jorgji booked three players in that game.
Possible line-ups
Birkirkara could line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation; captain Paul Fenech and star player Fabrizio Miccoli are both injury doubts.
Slaven Bilic could name a strong team to ensure the Hammers capitalise on a 1-0 first leg lead which, though slender, should prove sufficient. Diego Poyet, Martin Samuelsen and Elliot Lee could all come into the side.
Possible Birkirkara XI: Haber; Zach Muscat, Mazzetti, Vukanac, Zerafa; Zammit; Rowen Muscat, Miccoli, Camenzuli, Murga; Liliu.
Possible West Ham United XI: Adrian; O’Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Poyet; Amalfitano, Zarate, Samuelsen; Lee.
Enjoy the game – Come On You Irons!