2024–25 Maltese Premier League

Maltese Premier League
Season2024–25
Dates16 August 2024 – 10 May 2025
ChampionsĦamrun Spartans (11th title)
UEFA Champions LeagueĦamrun Spartans
UEFA Conference LeagueFloriana
Birkirkara
Hibernians
Matches played71
Goals scored187 (2.63 per match)
Top goalscorerMaxuell Samurai Maia (8 Goals)
Biggest home winFloriana 3–0 Balzan
(26 October 2024)
Biggest away winNaxxar Lions 0–6 Ħamrun Spartans
(27 September 2024)
Highest scoringBalzan 3–3 Birkirkara
(16 August 2024)
Żabbar St. Patrick 3–3 Naxxar Lions
(22 September 2024)
Marsaxlokk 2–4 Mosta
(23 September 2024)
Naxxar Lions 0–6 Ħamrun Spartans
(27 September 2024)
Longest winning runBirkirkara
(9 Games)
Longest unbeaten runFloriana
(12 Games Each)
Longest winless runNaxxar Lions
(8 Games)
Longest losing runŻabbar St. Patrick
(7 Games)
2025–26 →
All statistics correct as of 25 November 2024.

The 2024–25 Maltese Premier League was the 110th season of top-flight league football in Malta. The season began on 16 August 2024 and ended on 10 May 2025.

Teams

The league consisted of twelve teams; the top ten teams from the previous season, and two teams promoted from the 2023–24 Maltese Challenge League. Ħamrun Spartans entered the season as defending champions for two consecutive seasons. Melita was promoted and returned to the Maltese Premier League after eleven years of absence. And Żabbar St. Patrick was promoted and returned to the Maltese Premier League after twenty years of absence. They replaced Gudja United, Santa Lucia and Sirens who were all relegated after five years in the top flight, and Valletta after seventy-nine years in the topflight.

Location of teams in 2023–24 Maltese Premier League
Team In league since City
Balzan 2011 Balzan
Birkirkara 1990 Birkirkara
Floriana 1986 Floriana
Gżira United 2016 Gżira
Ħamrun Spartans 2016 Ħamrun
Hibernians 1945 Paola
Marsaxlokk 2022 Marsaxlokk
Melita 2024 San Ġiljan
Mosta 2011 Mosta
Naxxar Lions 2023 Naxxar
Sliema Wanderers 2023 Sliema
Żabbar St. Patrick 2024 Zabbar

Venues

The matches will be played mainly at the Ta' Qali National Stadium and the Tony Bezzina Stadium. However, the Centenary Stadium and the Victor Tedesco Stadium will be used as well. One match-day from the Closing Round between 28 March and 31 March will be played at the Gozo Stadium thanks to the support of the Ministry for Gozo.

Ta' Qali Ta' Qali Paola Hamrun Xewkija
Ta' Qali National Stadium Centenary Stadium Tony Bezzina Stadium Victor Tedesco Stadium Gozo Stadium
Capacity: 16,997 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 2,968 Capacity: 1,962 Capacity: 1,644

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (front) Shirt sponsor (back) Shirt sponsor (sleeve)
Balzan Dave Rogers Joma MBI Group Visit Malta (Bottom)
Birkirkara Stefano De Angelis Nike McDonald's Inter Sport (Bottom)
Floriana Darren Abdilla Joma Harmont & Blaine, Greens Supermarket Go & Fun (Right)
Gżira United Giovanni Tedesco Joma Miracles Food (Left)
Ħamrun Spartans Alessandro Zinnari Puma JP (Home Kit), Mercury (Away Kit) Meridianbet, Besteam audio, Visit Malta (Bottom) Ta' Fonzu (Right), Tescoma (Left)
Hibernians Branko Nišević Joma Bezzina
Marsaxlokk Enzo Potenza Joma 1padel Mr. Fitz Restaurant Marsaxlokk (Left)
Melita Clive Mizzi Hummel Atlas Insurance Burger King (Top).Browns, Eurosport (Bottom) I nouv (Right), VIBE (Left)
Mosta Joseph Grech Macron Simply Clean Highbet (Top), Teamsport (Bottom)
Naxxar Lions George Vella Joma VC Service Station Zarb Coaches, Haier Air Conditioner (Top), McQueen, Sammut Concrete Supplies (Bottom) Fastdrop (Right),Hi Koki, Würth, Falcotra (Left)
Sliema Wanderers Paul Zammit Adidas NMGroup, Inter Wetter Visit Malta (Top), Thomas Smith, Zarb Coaches (Bottom) Fonicom (Left), Domnic Sciberras Roof Repair (Right)
Żabbar St. Patrick Aniello Parisi Erreà The Shoreline DL Group (Top), Kristal (Bottom)
  • Additionally, referee kits are made by Macron

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure 		Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Żabbar St. Patrick Emilio Cornago San Pedro Resigned 17 April 2024 Pre-season João Janeiro 16 May 2024
Balzan Oliver Spiteri 4 May 2024 Dave Rogers 3 June 2024
Ħamrun Spartans Luciano Zauri 13 May 2024 Alessandro Zinnari 17 May 2024
Birkirkara Jose Borg End of Contract 13 May 2024 Stefano De Angelis 7 June 2024
Floriana Mauro Camoranesi Mutual Consent 15 May 2024 Darren Abdilla 21 May 2024
Marsaxlokk Winston Muscat Sacked 24 September 2024 12th Enzo Potenza 24 September 2024
Żabbar St. Patrick João Janeiro Mutual Consent 4 October 2024 12th Aniello Parisi 10 October 2024
Gżira United Andrew Cohen Resign 9 November 2024 7th Giovanni Tedesco 14 November 2024

Format

The new league format, which will come into being from the 2024–25 season, the Maltese Premier League will be made up of 12 teams and be split into an Opening Round and Closing Round in a way that is similar to domestic footballing systems used in South America.[1][2] The Opening Round will see each of the 12 teams play each other once before the league is then split between a Top 6 and a Bottom 6, allowing for the teams in each of those splits to play each other another time. Once the ranking is set, each team will go back down to 0 points and start from scratch in the Closing Round, where the same process will be repeated.

The league champions and the teams for UEFA competitions are determined as follow:[1]

  • If both the Opening Round and the Closing Round are won by the same team:
    • The winners of the Opening and the Closing Rounds are declared the league champions and qualify for the UEFA Champions League;
    • Second placed teams in the Opening Round and the Closing Round qualify for the UEFA Conference League;
    • If the same team finishes second in both the Opening and the Closing Rounds, a playoff match between third placed teams in the Opening Round and the Closing Round is played for the remaining spot in the UEFA Conference League;
  • If the champions of the Opening Round are placed second in the Closing Round, and the champions of the Closing Round are placed second in the Opening Round:
    • A playoff match between the champions of the Opening and the Closing Round is played to determine the league champions;
    • A playoff match between third placed teams in the Opening Round and the Closing Round is played for the remaining spot in the UEFA Conference League;
  • Otherwise, a Final Four tournament between winners and runners-up of the Opening and the Closing Rounds is played (if the same team finishes second in both the Opening and the Closing Rounds, the third placed team with the best aggregate points is included in the Final Four tournament), with the teams seeded based on the aggregate points

Opening Round

First phase

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Birkirkara 11 9 1 1 19 8 +11 28 Qualification for the Top Six
2 Floriana 11 6 5 0 21 8 +13 23
3 Sliema Wanderers 11 6 4 1 15 5 +10 22
4 Hibernians 11 6 3 2 13 7 +6 21
5 Mosta 11 5 1 5 15 16 −1 16
6 Ħamrun Spartans 11 4 2 5 19 15 +4 14[a]
7 Gżira United 11 4 2 5 15 15 0 14[a] Qualification for the Play-Out
8 Melita 11 3 3 5 16 19 −3 12[b]
9 Marsaxlokk 11 3 3 5 13 16 −3 12[b]
10 Balzan 11 2 3 6 11 19 −8 9
11 Naxxar Lions 11 1 4 6 7 21 −14 7
12 Żabbar St. Patrick 11 1 1 9 12 27 −15 4
Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Ħamrun Spartans 3; Gżira United 0.
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head away goals: Melita 3; Marsaxlokk 0.

Results

Home \ Away BAL BIR FLO GŻI ĦAM HIB MAR MEL MOS NXR SLI ZAB
Balzan — 3–3 — 2–1 1–1 0–1 — — — 2–0 — 0–2
Birkirkara — — 1–3 — 3–2 — — — — 1–0 1–0 1–0
Floriana 3–0 — — 2–1 — 1–1 — 3–3 — — 0–0 —
Gżira United — 0–1 — — 1–2 — — — 2–0 — 2–2 3–1
Ħamrun Spartans — — 1–1 — — 0–2 2–3 2–1 — — — 3–1
Hibernians — 0–2 — 2–0 — — — 2–0 — — 0–0 —
Marsaxlokk 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–1 — 1–1 — 1–2 2–4 — 0–1 —
Melita 2–0 0–3 — 2–3 — — — — 1–2 — — —
Mosta 2–2 0–1 0–2 — 1–0 1–0 — — — — — 4–2
Naxxar Lions — — 0–2 1–1 0–6 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 — 0–3 —
Sliema Wanderers 2–0 — — — 1–0 — — 2–2 2–0 — — 2–0
Żabbar St. Patrick — — 0–3 — — 1–2 1–3 1–3 — 3–3 — —
Source: Malta Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second phase

Top Six

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification FLO BIR SLI HIB ĦAM MOS
1 Floriana (W) 16 10 5 1 27 10 +17 35 Opening Round Winners — — 1–0 2–0 1–2 1–0
2 Birkirkara 16 10 2 4 22 14 +8 32 0–1 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0
3 Sliema Wanderers 16 8 6 2 23 10 +13 30 — — — 3–1 1–1 3–1
4 Hibernians 16 8 3 5 19 17 +2 27 — — — — 0–3 3–2
5 Ħamrun Spartans 16 7 3 6 28 19 +9 24 — — — — — 1–2
6 Mosta 16 6 1 9 20 26 −6 19 — — — — — —
Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
(W) Opening Round Winners

Play-Out

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation GŻI MAR MEL ZAB BAL NXR
7 Gżira United 16 6 4 6 20 20 0 22 — 0–0 0–2 2–1 2–1 1–1
8 Marsaxlokk 16 5 6 5 21 21 0 21 — — — 2–2 2–1 1–1
9 Melita 16 5 3 8 20 26 −6 18 — 1–3 — 0–1 1–0 0–3
10 Żabbar St. Patrick 16 4 2 10 21 32 −11 14 — — — — — —
11 Balzan 16 3 3 10 16 27 −11 12[a] Opening Round Relegation — — — 1–2 — 2–1
12 Naxxar Lions 16 2 6 8 13 28 −15 12[a] — — — 0–3 — —
Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Balzan 6; Naxxar Lions 0.

Closing Round

First phase

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Birkirkara 11 5 4 2 20 10 +10 19[a] Qualification for the Top Six
2 Floriana 11 5 4 2 15 9 +6 19[a]
3 Mosta 11 6 1 4 14 13 +1 19[a]
4 Marsaxlokk 11 6 1 4 18 13 +5 19[a]
5 Sliema Wanderers 11 6 0 5 18 13 +5 18
6 Ħamrun Spartans 11 5 2 4 15 8 +7 17[b]
7 Hibernians 11 5 2 4 17 17 0 17[b] Qualification for the Play-Out
8 Żabbar St. Patrick 11 4 2 5 15 12 +3 14
9 Gżira United 11 3 3 5 8 16 −8 12
10 Balzan 11 2 4 5 11 18 −7 10[c]
11 Naxxar Lions 11 3 1 7 11 24 −13 10[c]
12 Melita 11 2 4 5 15 24 −9 10[c]
Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c d Head-to-head away goals: Birkirkara 7; Floriana 4; Mosta 3; Marsaxlokk 2.
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Ħamrun Spartans 3; Hibernians 0.
  3. ^ a b c Head-to-head away goals: Balzan 4; Naxxar Lions 3; Melita 1;

Results

Home \ Away BAL BIR FLO GŻI ĦAM HIB MAR MEL MOS NXR SLI ZAB
Balzan — — 0–0 — — — 0–3 1–1 3–2 — 2–3 —
Birkirkara 5–2 — — 2–2 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 — — —
Floriana — 0–2 — — 0–0 1–1 2–1 — 2–2 4–0 — 1–0
Gżira United 0–0 — 0–3 — — 1–4 0–1 2–2 — 1–0 — —
Ħamrun Spartans 1–0 0–0 — 0–1 — — — — 1–2 4–0 0–1 —
Hibernians 0–0 — — — 1–2 — 0–1 — 2–0 3–2 — 0–4
Marsaxlokk — — — — 1–6 — — — — — — 3–1
Melita — — 2–0 — 2–0 2–3 0–5 — — 2–5 2–4 1–1
Mosta — — — 1–0 — — 2–1 2–0 — 1–0 0–1 —
Naxxar Lions 0–3 2–1 — — — — 1–0 — — — — 1–1
Sliema Wanderers — 2–1 1–2 0–1 — 2–3 0–1 — — 4–0 — —
Żabbar St. Patrick 3–0 0–3 — 3–0 0–1 — — — 1–2 — 1–0 —
Source: Malta Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second phase

Top Six

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SLI ĦAM FLO MAR BIR MOS
1 Sliema Wanderers (W) 16 9 1 6 27 17 +10 28[a] Closing Round Winners — 1–1 — — — —
2 Ħamrun Spartans 16 8 4 4 20 9 +11 28[a] — — — — — —
3 Floriana 16 7 6 3 21 13 +8 27 0–2 0–0 — 2–1 — 3–0
4 Marsaxlokk 16 8 2 6 26 18 +8 26 2–1 0–1 — — — —
5 Birkirkara 16 6 6 4 23 14 +9 24 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 — 1–0
6 Mosta 16 6 1 9 15 27 −12 19 1–4 0–2 — 0–4 — —
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
(W) Closing Round Winners
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points:Sliema Wanderers 4; Ħamrun Spartans 1.

Play-Out

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation ZAB HIB NXR GŻI BAL MEL
7 Żabbar St. Patrick 16 6 4 6 24 18 +6 22[a] — 2–2 2–0 1–2 2–2 2–0
8 Hibernians 16 6 4 6 24 23 +1 22[a] — — 0–1 1–2 1–1 3–0
9 Naxxar Lions 16 6 2 8 17 27 −10 20[b] — — — — — 2–0
10 Gżira United 16 5 5 6 14 22 −8 20[b] — — 0–2 — 0–0 2–2
11 Balzan 16 3 8 5 18 23 −5 17 Closing Round Relegation — — 1–1 — — 3–1
12 Melita 16 2 5 9 18 36 −18 11 — — — — — —
Source: Malta Football Association Flashfootball.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head away goals: Żabbar St. Patrick 4; Hibernians 1.
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head goal difference: Naxxar Lions 1; Gżira United -1.

Aggregate table

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Floriana 32 17 11 4 48 23 +25 62 Qualification for the Final Four
2 Sliema Wanderers 32 17 7 8 50 27 +23 58
3 Birkirkara 32 16 8 8 45 28 +17 56
4 Ħamrun Spartans (C, Q) 32 15 7 10 48 28 +20 52
5 Hibernians 32 14 7 11 43 40 +3 49 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round[a]
6 Marsaxlokk 32 13 8 11 47 39 +8 47
7 Gżira United 32 11 9 12 34 42 −8 42
8 Mosta 32 12 2 18 35 53 −18 38
9 Żabbar St. Patrick 32 10 6 16 45 50 −5 36
10 Naxxar Lions (O) 32 8 8 16 30 55 −25 32 Qualification for the Relegation play-off
11 Melita (R) 32 7 8 17 38 62 −24 29[b]
12 Balzan (R) 32 6 11 15 34 50 −16 29[b] Relegation to 2025–26 Maltese Challenge League
Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off relegation winner; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Hibernians qualified as 2024–25 Maltese FA Trophy winners.
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Melita 7; Balzan 4.

Play-off Championship

Since the Opening Round Winner and the Closing Round Winner are two different teams, there would be a play-off between the top two teams from the Opening Round,Floriana and Birkirkara and the Closing Round,Sliema Wanderers and Ħamrun Spartans.

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
4 May
 
 
Sliema Wanderers0
 
10 May
 
Birkirkara1
 
Birkirkara0
 
5 May
 
Ħamrun Spartans1
 
Floriana0 (2)
 
 
Ħamrun Spartans0 (4)
 
Third place play-off
 
 
9 May
 
 
Sliema Wanderers0
 
 
Floriana4

Semi-finals

Sliema Wanderers0–1 (a.e.t.)Birkirkara
  • Maxuell 120+2'
Referee: Alex Johnson
Floriana0–0 (a.e.t.)Ħamrun Spartans
Penalties
 2–4
Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Third place play-off

Sliema Wanderers0–4Floriana
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele

Final

Birkirkara0–1Ħamrun Spartans
  • Prša 63'
Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Relegation play-off

Naxxar Lions1–0Melita
  • Hugo Santos 45+3'
Referee: Philip Farrugia

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

As of 23 November 2024[3]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Maxuell Samurai Maia Birkirkara 9
2 Franklin Sasere Floriana 7
3 Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa Melita 6
4 Udoyen Akpan Balzan 5
Alex (Lecao) Da Paixao Alves Gżira United
Gabriel Mentz Bohre Gżira United
Luke Montebello Ħamrun Spartans
Jurgen Degabriele Hibernians
Alex De Aguiar Gomes Marsaxlokk

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Stadium Date
Maxuell Samurai Maia Birkirkara Balzan 3–3 (A) Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali 16 August 2024

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Galea, Albert (24 April 2024). "New Premier League explained: 'New format will not be damnation or salvation of Maltese football". Malta Independent.
  2. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (13 April 2023). "Number of Premier League teams down to 12 from 2024-25". SportsDesk. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Tables & Statistics". maltafootball.com. 20 September 2020.
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