# 2015–16 Valletta F.C. season

The 2015–16 season was Valletta's twenty-third title-winning season in the Maltese Premier League. They were knocked out of the Maltese FA Trophy in the fourth round with a defeat to Birkirkara and eliminated in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League with a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Newton. On the way to their league title they managed an impressive ten-game winning streak, which concluded with a run of just one loss in 23 matches.

## Pre-season - Summer Friendship Cup
### Group Stage

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Report |
| 1 | 29 July 2015 | Tarxien Rainbows | Luxol Stadium | 5–0 | Jhonnattann (2) 15', 43', Mifsud Triganza 25', Pani 58' (pen), Borg 77' | Report |
| 2 | 1 August 2015 | Melita | Luxol Stadium | 4–0 | Umeh 10', Priso (2) 15', 90', Mifsud Triganza 23' | Report |
| 3 | 6 August 2015 | Gżira United | Luxol Stadium | 1–0 | Priso 53' | Report |

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Valletta (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 9 |
| 2 | Tarxien Rainbows (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 6 |
| 3 | Melita | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 3 |
| 4 | Gżira United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0 |

### Knockout Phase

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Report |
| Semi-final | 11 August 2015 | Senglea Athletic | Luxol Stadium | 6–0 | Priso 12', Romeu 18', Montebello (2) 25', 42', Briffa, Bajada | Report |
| Final | 14 August 2015 | Sliema Wanderers | Luxol Stadium | 2–0 | Mifsud Triganza 59', Montebello 82' | Report |

## UEFA Europa League
### First qualifying round

Newtown won 4–2 on aggregate.

## BOV Premier League
### First phase
#### Results

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Report |
| 1 | 21 August 2015 | St. Andrews | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 3–0 | 1,057 | Priso (2) 45' (pen), 67' (pen), Falcone 89' | Report |
| 2 | 28 August 2015 | Sliema Wanderers | National Stadium | 1–0 | 1,425 | Falcone 89' | Report |
| 3 | 13 September 2015 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 2–1 | 2,883 | Falcone 44', Priso 86' | Report |
| 4 | 19 September 2015 | Balzan | Hibernians Stadium | 0–1 | 883 | | Report |
| 5 | 23 September 2015 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 0–1 | 2,127 | | Report |
| 6 | 27 September 2015 | Naxxar Lions | National Stadium | 3–1 | | Nafti (2) 40', 73', Umeh 90+2' | Report |
| 7 | 3 October 2015 | Tarxien Rainbows | National Stadium | 3–1 | | Nafti 3', Oliveira 13' (o.g.), Mifsud Triganza 87' | Report |
| 8 | 18 October 2015 | Floriana | National Stadium | 3–1 | 3,194 | Falcone 9', Azzopardi 26', Jhonnattann 45' | Report |
| 9 | 24 October 2015 | Qormi | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 2–1 | 871 | Falcone 11', Nafti 82' | Report |
| 10 | 3 November 2015 | Mosta | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 2–2 | 989 | Cremona 23', Priso 90+3' | Report |
| 11 | 6 November 2015 | Pembroke Athleta | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 0–2 | | | Report |
| 12 | 20 November 2015 | St. Andrews | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 4–0 | 695 | Priso (2) 23', 47', Umeh 42', Mifsud Triganza 59' | Report |
| 13 | 1 December 2015 | Sliema Wanderers | Hibernians Stadium | 4–2 | | Priso 33', Falcone (2) 45', 54', Nafti 52' | Report |
| 14 | 5 December 2015 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 4–0 | 2,031 | Falcone 22', Briffa 34', Priso 59', Borg 90+2' | Report |
| 15 | 13 December 2015 | Balzan | National Stadium | 2–1 | 1,226 | Pani 36', Nafti 43' | Report |
| 16 | 20 December 2015 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 3–2 | 1,948 | Jhonnattann 59', Borg 66', Nafti 71' | Report |
| 17 | 10 January 2016 | Naxxar Lions | National Stadium | 2–1 | | Falcone 84', Suda 88' | Report |
| 18 | 16 January 2016 | Tarxien Rainbows | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 1–1 | 752 | Falcone 36' | Report |
| 19 | 23 January 2016 | Floriana | National Stadium | 2–1 | 2,080 | Jhonnattann 68', Umeh 86' | Report |
| 20 | 31 January 2016 | Pembroke Athleta | Hibernians Stadium | 3–2 | | Romeu 15', Briffa 60', Mifsud 76' | Report |
| 21 | 5 February 2016 | Mosta | Hibernians Stadium | 3–0 | 608 | Falcone 42', Jhonnattann 48', Cremona 83' | Report |
| 22 | 13 February 2016 | Qormi | Hibernians Stadium | 2–0 | 831 | Gill 52', Falcone 69' | Report |

#### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Valletta | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 49 | 21 | +28 | 53 |
| 2 | Hibernians | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 53 | 25 | +28 | 50 |
| 3 | Balzan | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 21 | +21 | 45 |
| 4 | Birkirkara | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 41 | 20 | +21 | 42 |
| 5 | Floriana | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 39 |
| 6 | Tarxien Rainbows | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 37 | 17 | +20 | 37 |
| 7 | Mosta | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 33 | −4 | 30 |
| 8 | Pembroke Athleta | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 25 |
| 9 | Sliema Wanderers | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 31 | 36 | −5 | 24 |
| 10 | Naxxar Lions | 22 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 22 | 54 | −32 | 14 |
| 11 | Qormi | 22 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 49 | −30 | 9 |
| 12 | St. Andrews | 22 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 14 | 66 | −52 | 5 |

### Second phase
#### Results

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Report |
| 23 | 21 February 2016 | St. Andrews | National Stadium | 2–1 | 1,096 | Nafti (2) 19', 81' | Report |
| 24 | 27 February 2016 | Qormi | Hibernians Stadium | 2–0 | 936 | Cremona 5', Mifsud 59' | Report |
| 25 | 1 March 2016 | Naxxar Lions | Hibernians Stadium | 4–0 | 720 | Umeh 39', Ledesma 49' (pen), Falcone 64', Mifsud 88' | Report |
| 26 | 6 March 2016 | Sliema Wanderers | National Stadium | 3–0 | 1,701 | Umeh 17', Jhonnattann 65', Nafti 73' | Report |
| 27 | 13 March 2016 | Pembroke Athleta | National Stadium | 2–0 | 1,150 | Jhonnattann 14', Nafti 34' | Report |
| 28 | 20 March 2016 | Mosta | National Stadium | 2–1 | 1,400 | Jhonnattann 1', Borg 42' | Report |
| 29 | 2 April 2016 | Tarxien Rainbows | Hibernians Stadium | 2–0 | | Falcone 48', Nafti 50' | Report |
| 30 | 9 April 2016 | Floriana | National Stadium | 0–2 | 3,502 | | Report |
| 31 | 17 April 2016 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 0–0 | 3,854 | | Report |
| 32 | 23 April 2016 | Balzan | National Stadium | 2–1 | 2,410 | Falcone 13', Mifsud 81' | Report |
| 33 | 30 April 2016 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 1–1 | 5,408 | Falcone 60' | Report |

#### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Valletta (C) | 33 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 69 | 27 | +42 | 53 | Qualification for the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League |
| 2 | Hibernians | 33 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 85 | 33 | +52 | 49 | Qualification for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League |
| 3 | Birkirkara | 33 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 64 | 29 | +35 | 47 | Qualification for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League |
| 4 | Balzan | 33 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 69 | 33 | +36 | 44 | Qualification for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League |
| 5 | Floriana | 33 | 18 | 4 | 11 | 60 | 42 | +18 | 39 | |
| 6 | Tarxien Rainbows | 33 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 59 | 31 | +28 | 35 | |
| 7 | Sliema Wanderers | 33 | 12 | 6 | 15 | 49 | 51 | −2 | 30 | |
| 8 | Pembroke Athleta | 33 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 48 | 61 | −13 | 24 | |
| 9 | Mosta | 33 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 42 | 60 | −18 | 22 | |
| 10 | St. Andrews (O) | 33 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 32 | 90 | −58 | 13 | Qualification for the Relegation Play-Offs |
| 11 | Naxxar Lions (R) | 33 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 29 | 95 | −66 | 12 | Relegation to the 2016–17 Maltese First Division |
| 12 | Qormi (R) | 33 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 26 | 80 | −54 | 9 | Relegation to the 2016–17 Maltese First Division |
* ↑ Sliema Wanderers would have qualified for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League by winning the 2015–16 Maltese FA Trophy, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.

## FA Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Report |
| R3 | 6 January 2016 | Xewkija Tigers | Kerċem Ajax Stadium | 3–1 | Azzopardi 16', Jhonnattann (2) 33', 38' | Report |
| R4 | 20 January 2016 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 0–1 | | Report |

## Squad statistics
### First Team

| No. | Pos. | Name | Premier League | Premier League | FA Trophy | FA Trophy | UEFA Europa League | UEFA Europa League | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Henry Bonello | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Jonathan Caruana | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Ian Azzopardi | 19(6) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21(6) | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | DF | Diego Balbinot | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Ryan Camilleri | 29(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33(1) | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | Dyson Falzon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Juan Cruz Gill | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Thierry Fidjeu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza | 4(12) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 4(15) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Michael Mifsud | 6(8) | 4 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(9) | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Roderick Briffa | 27(1) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30(1) | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Luke Montebello | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Albert Bruce | 6(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(3) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Rafael Ledesma | 8(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(2) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Nicky Vella | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Daniel Camilleri | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | Russell Fenech | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Dario Tabone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Jean Borg | 3(13) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(13) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Njongo Priso | 11(2) | 8 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11(3) | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Luis Miguel Vergara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Shaun Bajada | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Jurgen Suda | 1(13) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(13) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | Federico Falcone | 28(2) | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30(2) | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| 21 | MF | Llywelyn Cremona | 19(8) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22(8) | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Nicholas Pulis | 0(4) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Matthew Spiteri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Claudio Pani | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | Uchenna Umeh | 16(7) | 5 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 17(9) | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | Manuel Bartolo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Jhonnattann | 23 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1(1) | 1 | 26(1) | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | Maxim Focșa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | Abdelkarim Nafti | 24(4) | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28(4) | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| 34 | GK | Pietro Marino | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 | DF | Romeu | 21(3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23(3) | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| 90 | MF | Stefan Cassar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 | DF | Leon Camilleri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* ↑ Juan Cruz Gill wore number 15 for the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza wore number 17 for the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Michael Mifsud wore number 15 for the FA Trophy.
* ↑ Nicky Vella wore number 28 for the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Daniel Camilleri wore number 20 for the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Nicholas Pulis wore number 23 for the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Claudio Pani wore number 13 for the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Uchenna Umeh wore number 8 for the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Jhonnattann wore number 14 for the UEFA Europa League.

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 7 June 2015 | MF | Njongo Priso | Győri ETO | Free |
| 7 June 2015 | DF | Maxim Focșa | FC Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol | Free |
| 19 June 2015 | FW | Thierry Fidjeu | Saint-Colomban Locminé | Free |
| 19 June 2015 | MF | Claudio Pani | Campobasso | Free |
| 19 June 2015 | FW | Uchenna Umeh | Panevėžio Ekranas | Free |
| 19 June 2015 | FW | Jhonnattann | Al-Muharraq | Free |
| 19 June 2015 | DF | Juan Cruz Gill | Iberia | Free |
| 19 June 2015 | GK | Oleksandr Musiyenko | FC Nyva Ternopil | Free |
| 10 July 2015 | DF | Jean Borg | Attard | Free |
| 31 July 2015 | DF | Romeu | Unattached | Free |
| 8 August 2015 | FW | Federico Falcone | Rangers de Talca | Free |
| 25 August 2015 | MF | Albert Bruce | Qormi | Free |
| 5 November 2015 | MF | Ennio Hamutenya | Unattached | Free |
| 20 January 2016 | FW | Michael Mifsud | Sliema Wanderers | Free |
| 29 January 2016 | DF | Luis Miguel Vergara | Unattached | Free |
| 29 January 2016 | GK | Henry Bonello | Sliema Wanderers | Free |
| 1 February 2016 | MF | Rafael Ledesma | Sliema Wanderers | Free |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 5 July 2015 | GK | Oleksandr Musiyenko | Released | Free |
| 9 July 2015 | GK | Pietro Marino | Released | Free |
| 19 July 2015 | FW | Thierry Fidjeu | Released | Free |
| 23 July 2015 | MF | Matthew Thorne | St. George's | Free |
| 20 August 2015 | DF | Jonathan Francica | Luqa | Free |
| 31 August 2015 | MF | Shaun Bajada | Għajnsielem | Free |
| 30 September 2015 | DF | Tristan Nappa Licari | Gudja United | Free |
| 11 January 2016 | MF | Njongo Priso | Released | Free |
| 31 May 2016 | DF | Diego Balbinot | Released | Free |
| 31 May 2016 | DF | Luis Miguel Vergara | Released | Free |
| 31 May 2016 | MF | Albert Bruce | Released | Free |
| 31 May 2016 | MF | Abdelkarim Nafti | Released | Free |

### Loan in

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | From |
| 9 July 2015 | 28 January 2016 | GK | Henry Bonello | Sliema Wanderers |
| 1 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Stefan Cassar | Oratory Youths |
| 1 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | FW | Joshua Buttigieg | Qala Saints |

### Loan out

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | To |
| 20 July 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Dyson Falzon | Mosta |
| 29 July 2015 | 31 May 2016 | FW | Kurt Borg | Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 1 August 2015 | 1 April 2016 | FW | Terence Scerri | Senglea Athletic |
| 1 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Siraj Arab | Pembroke Athleta |
| 1 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | DF | Miguel Attard | Pembroke Athleta |
| 1 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | DF | Dario Tabone | Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 1 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Dasser Sammut | Qrendi |
| 3 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | DF | Maxim Focșa | Balzan |
| 15 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Cleavon Frendo | Marsa |
| 19 August 2015 | 1 December 2015 | MF | Bjorn Bondin | Gudja United |
| 24 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | FW | Luke Montebello | Tarxien Rainbows |
| 24 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Karl Azzopardi | Għargħur |
| 28 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Kurt Magro | Qormi |
| 30 August 2015 | 15 January 2016 | MF | Isaac McCarthy | Naxxar Lions |
| 31 August 2015 | 31 May 2016 | DF | Fabio Muscat | Luqa |
| 1 September 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Brandon Grech | Mqabba |
| 1 September 2015 | 31 May 2016 | DF | Dean Grech | Swieqi United |
| 2 December 2015 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Bjorn Bondin | Qrendi |
| 7 January 2016 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Ennio Hamutenya | Naxxar Lions |
| 12 January 2016 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Ian Montanaro | Żejtun Corinthians |
| 20 January 2016 | 31 May 2016 | DF | Kieron Grima | Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 21 January 2016 | 31 May 2016 | FW | Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza | Għajnsielem |
| 1 February 2016 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Albert Bruce | Sliema Wanderers |
| 1 February 2016 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Isaac Zammit | San Ġwann |
| 1 February 2016 | 31 May 2016 | MF | Isaac McCarthy | Lija Athletic |