Highlights from the Premier League matches

Some much-needed life has been injected into the league ahead of the last day of competition.

Engaged in a battle for second place, rivals Valletta and Birkirkara emerged victorious from their respective encounters at Ta' Qali.

Second-half goals from Rumen Galabov and Jonathan Bondin earned the Citizens their first victory over new champions Sliema this season.

Monday's encounter also marked the comeback from injury of Valletta talisman Gilbert Agius who was thrown into the fray as a 67th minute substitute.

Thanks to their success over Sliema, Valletta cut the gap on Birkirkara to two points. The Stripes, who take on Sliema in the last league match on Sunday, cruised to an easy 4-1 victory over Marsaxlokk last Sunday.

Michael Galea joined Sliema's Danilo Doncic at the top of the scoring charts on 18 goals after notching a brace. Birkirkara's other goals were scored by William Camenzuli and George Mallia.

The race for the third Euro spot is still wide open after Hibs hit five goals past a disjointed Pietà Hotspurs side.

Adrian Mifsud scored a hat-trick for the outgoing champions. Roderick Baldacchino and Ndubisi Chukunyere hit the other goals for the Paolites who may force a decider for the third position if they beat Valletta on Saturday.

At present, Valletta have a three-point lead on Hibernians. If they beat the Paolites and Birkirkara's match with Sliema ends in a draw, a decider to determine the second-placed team will then be required.

Nicolò Baldacchino was the toast of Floriana on Saturday as his hat-trick propelled the Greens to a vital 5-1 win over Marsa.

The Greens are now favourites to retain their top-flight status as their last match is against the already-demoted Mosta whereas Marsa and Hamrun Spartans, the other teams in the bottom pool, will be involved in a winner-takes-all derby on Saturday.

A draw would be enough for Hamrun to secure their status. They lead the Relegation Pool with 18 points following their 1-0 defeat of Mosta.

The scorers...

Birkirkara - M. Galea 18; Dronca 12; Mallia 8; Nwoko 7; Camenzuli 6; Calascione 5; Briffa 4; Tabone 2; Micallef - Sylvester (Marsa) own goal.

Floriana - Mattocks 5, Baldacchino 5, Gvazava 5; Mifsud Triganza 4, Holland 4; Cilia 2; Cassar 2; Gango-Rtsa, Ciantar.

Hamrun Spartans - Sultana 11; Spiteri 7; Paiber 4 (moved to Hibs), Borg 4; Magro 2; Bajada, Brincat, Fenech.

Hibernians - A. Mifsud 17; Chukunyere 12; Scerri 5; Cohen 3, Zahra 3, Xuereb 3; Nisevic 2, Pullicino 2; M. Mifsud, Pulis, Ciantar, Mbong, Baldacchino.

Marsa: Tirchett 10; Abela 9; Eviparker 5; Asechemie 2, Borg 2; Mifsud, Camenzuli, Slavtchev, Grima - Newell (Mosta) own goal.

Marsaxlokk: J. Zammit 11; Formosa 8; Ogbodo 4; Bartes 2, Barbara 2; Cutajar, B. Zammit, Buhagiar, Walker, Templeman - Okonkwo (Pietà Hotspurs) own goal.

Mosta - Da Silva 6; Busuttil 2, Zammit 2, Camenzuli 2; Farrugia, Falzon, Terziyski, Agius, Chetcuti.

Pietà Hotspurs - Woods 9; Licari 5, J. Pace 5; Paniccia 3; Mamo, Di Lello, Debono - Grima (Marsaxlokk) own goal.

Sliema - Doncic 18; Veselji 9; Turner 7; Sammut 6, Anonam 6, Grima 6; Said 5; Mangion 4; Brincat 2, Camilleri 2; Chetcuti, Okoh, Mamo, Ciantar - Sciberras (Pietà) own goal.

Valletta - Bogdanovic 11 (moved to Cherno More, Bulgaria), Oretan 11; G. Agius 7, Galabov 7; Zammit 6; Penchev 3; Carabott 2, Debono 2, Theuma 2; Forace, Thomas, Pace, Bonnici, Bondin.

Next fixtures...

Friday - National Stadium
6 p.m. Mosta vs Floriana
8 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Pietà

Saturday - National Stadium
2.30 p.m. Hamrun vs Marsa
5.15 p.m. Valletta vs Hibernians

Sunday - National Stadium
4 p.m. Sliema vs Birkirkara

A Special Olympics activity is scheduled between matches on Saturday.