2011–12 Maltese Premier League
| Season | 2011–12 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Valletta (21st title) |
| Relegated | Marsaxlokk Mqabba |
| Champions League | Valletta |
| Europa League | Hibernians Birkirkara Floriana |
| Matches played | 126 |
| Goals scored | 384 (3.05 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Obinna Obiefule (34 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Hibernians 5–0 Birkirkara |
| Biggest away win | Hamrun Spartans 0–4 Birkirkara |
| Highest scoring | Marsaxlokk 5–3 Hamrun Spartans |
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← 2010–11
2012–13 →
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The 2011–12 Maltese Premier League is the 97th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began on 19 August 2011 and it ended in May 2012. Valletta are the defending champions, having won their 20th title last season.
The Premier League consists of two rounds. In the First Round, every team plays each opponent twice, once "home" and once "away" (in actuality, the designation of home and away is purely arbitrary as most of the clubs do not have their own grounds), for a total of 22 games. The league then splits into two pools. Earned points are subsequently halved. Teams that finish in positions 1–6 compete in the "Championship Pool" and teams that finish in positions 7–12 play in the "Relegation Pool".
On 13 January 2011, the Malta Football Association decided to expand the league to 12 teams starting with this season.[1]
Contents
Teams
Vittoriosa Stars were relegated to the First Division after finishing in last place of the relegation pool last season. This ended a one-year stay in the Premier League for them. Taking their place in the competition are Balzan Youths, the champions of the Maltese First Division. Balzan are playing in the Premier League after a seven season absence.
Because of the league's expansion for this season, the second- and third-place finishers of the First Division, Mqabba and Mosta respectively, were also promoted to the Premier League for this season. Mqabba return to the top league after a three year absence while Mosta return after five years away.
Stadia and training grounds
Only a few stadia have the infrastructure needed to host Premier League matches. These are Ta' Qali National Stadium and Centenary Stadium at Ta' Qali, Attard, Victor Tedesco Stadium at Ħamrun and Hibernians Ground at Paola. Additional to that, each team has been assigned to a dedicated training ground. On a few occasions, Hibernians and Hamrun Spartans play at their home ground, but otherwise all games are played on neutral ground, rendering "home" and "away" games purely symbolic.
| Team | Location of origin | Ground | Location of ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balzan Youths | Balzan | ||
| Birkirkara | Birkirkara | Infetti Ground | Birkirkara |
| Floriana | Floriana | Victor Tedesco Stadium | Ħamrun |
| Hibernians | Paola | Hibernians Ground | Paola |
| Hamrun Spartans | Ħamrun | Victor Tedesco Stadium | Ħamrun |
| Marsaxlokk | Marsaxlokk | Marsaxlokk Ground | Marsaxlokk |
| Mosta | Mosta | Mosta Ground | Mosta |
| Mqabba | Mqabba | ||
| Qormi | Qormi | Thomaso Grounds | Qormi |
| Sliema Wanderers | Sliema | Tigné Point | Sliema |
| Tarxien Rainbows | Tarxien | Tarxien Ground | Tarxien |
| Valletta | Valletta | Salinos Ground | Valletta |
First phase
League table
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valletta | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 17 | +35 | 55 | Qualification to championship round |
| 2 | Hibernians | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 55 | 16 | +39 | 51 | |
| 3 | Floriana | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 19 | +15 | 42 | |
| 4 | Sliema Wanderers | 22 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 34 | 24 | +10 | 35 | |
| 5 | Birkirkara | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 34 | 29 | +5 | 35 | |
| 6 | Balzan | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 28 | 34 | −6 | 31 | |
| 7 | Qormi | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 29 | Qualification to relegation round |
| 8 | Mosta | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 35 | −12 | 23 | |
| 9 | Mqabba | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 43 | −18 | 20 | |
| 10 | Hamrun Spartans | 22 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 31 | 52 | −21 | 19 | |
| 11 | Tarxien Rainbows | 22 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 44 | −18 | 18 | |
| 12 | Marsaxlokk | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 25 | 53 | −28 | 11 |
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Results
| Home ╲ Away | BAL | BIR | FLO | HIB | HAM | MRS | MOS | MQA | QOR | SLI | TAR | VAL |
| Balzan | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–02 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | |
| Birkirkara | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | |
| Floriana | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | |
| Hibernians | 3–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | |
| Hamrun Spartans | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 6–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | |
| Marsaxlokk | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 5–3 | 5–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | |
| Mosta | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | |
| Mqabba | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–6 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| Qormi | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 1–4 | |
| Sliema Wanderers | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 0–0 | |
| Tarxien Rainbows | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | |
| Valletta | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Updated to games played on 4 March 2012.
Source:[citation needed]
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
2This match originally ended 1-3 for Hamrun Spartans, but was awarded to Balzan Youths 2-0 following an appeal.[2]
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Second phase
Championship group
Group table
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valletta (C) | 32 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 75 | 24 | +51 | 54 | 2012–13 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round |
| 2 | Hibernians | 32 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 74 | 26 | +48 | 46 | 2012–13 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round 1 |
| 3 | Birkirkara | 32 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 55 | 37 | +18 | 38 | 2012–13 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round 1 |
| 4 | Floriana | 32 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 46 | 32 | +14 | 29 | |
| 5 | Sliema Wanderers | 32 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 43 | 50 | −7 | 23 | |
| 6 | Balzan | 32 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 36 | 64 | −28 | 15 |
Updated to games played on 11 May 2012.
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
1The winners of the 2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Hibernians, qualified for the first qualifying round of UEFA Europa League. As they finished second, the fourth-placed team of the league also qualified for the Europa League.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Results
| Home ╲ Away | BAL | BIR | FLO | HIB | SLI | VAL |
| Balzan | 0–5 | 0–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–7 | |
| Birkirkara | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | |
| Floriana | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–1 | |
| Hibernians | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | |
| Sliema Wanderers | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | |
| Valletta | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 |
Updated to games played on 11 May 2012.
Source: Soccerway
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Relegation group
Group table
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Qormi | 32 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 54 | 48 | +6 | 33 | |
| 8 | Mosta | 32 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 45 | 47 | −2 | 27 | |
| 9 | Tarxien Rainbows | 32 | 11 | 3 | 18 | 45 | 54 | −9 | 27 | |
| 10 | Hamrun Spartans | 32 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 47 | 71 | −24 | 25 | |
| 11 | Mqabba (R) | 32 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 40 | 55 | −15 | 24 | Relegation to 2012–13 Maltese First Division |
| 12 | Marsaxlokk (R) | 32 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 34 | 88 | −54 | 8† |
Updated to games played on 10 April 2012.
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
† Marsaxlokk has 9 points deducted
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Results
| Home ╲ Away | HAM | MRS | MOS | MQA | QOR | TAR |
| Hamrun Spartans | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | |
| Marsaxlokk | 1–6 | 1–5 | 0–4 | 1–0 | 0–2 | |
| Mosta | 2–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | |
| Mqabba | 4–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–5 | |
| Qormi | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| Tarxien Rainbows | 1–2 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 |
Updated to games played on 10 April 2012.
Source: Soccerway
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Obinna Obiefule |
Marsaxlokk / Mosta | 34 |
| 2 |  Tarabai |
Hibernians | 21 |
| 3 |  Clayton Failla |
Hibernians | 11 |
| 4 |  Moises Avila Perez |
Birkirkara | 10 |
| 5 | Joseph Farrugia |
Qormi | 9 |
| Denni |
Valletta | 9 | |
| Alfred Effiong |
Valletta | 9 | |
| 8 |  Danail Mitev |
Sliema Wanderers | 10 |
 Bojan Mamić |
Mqabba | 8 | |
| 10 | Thiago Mazzitelli |
Mqabba | 7 |
