# 2016–17 Valletta F.C. season

The 2016–17 season saw Valletta finish fourth in the Maltese Premier League, whilst winning the Maltese Super Cup. They were knocked out of the Maltese FA Trophy in the fourth round with a defeat to Balzan and eliminated in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

## UEFA Champions League
### First qualifying round

2–2 on aggregate; Valletta won on away goals.

### Second qualifying round

Crvena Zvezda won 4–2 on aggregate.

## Pre-season - Evolution Gaming Summer Cup

Valletta took part in the fourth edition of the annual St. Andrews Summer Cup for the second year running. Having won the pre-season competition in 2015, they finished runners-up this time round with a 2-0 loss to Sliema Wanderers in the final.

### Group Stage

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Report |
| 1 | 27 July 2016 | St. Andrews | Luxol Stadium | 2–0 | Jhonnattann, J. Borg | Report |
| 2 | 29 July 2016 | Mosta | Luxol Stadium | 3–0 | Umeh, Mifsud, Briffa | Report |

#### Section A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Valletta (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| 2 | St. Andrews (Q) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 1 |
| 3 | Mosta | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 |

#### Section B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Sliema Wanderers (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 6 |
| 2 | Pembroke Athleta (Q) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Sirens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |

### Knockout Phase

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Report |
| Semi-final | 31 July 2016 | Pembroke Athleta | Luxol Stadium | 3–0 | S. Borg 39', Mifsud 55', Jhonnattann 65' | Report |
| Final | 7 August 2016 | Sliema Wanderers | Luxol Stadium | 0–2 | | Report |

## BOV Premier League
### Results

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Report |
| 1 | 19 August 2016 | Sliema Wanderers | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 2–1 | 919 | Cremona 9', Briffa 83' | Report |
| 2 | 26 August 2016 | Mosta | Hibernians Stadium | 1–0 | | Jhonnattann 56'(pen) | Report |
| 3 | 10 September 2016 | Pembroke Athleta | National Stadium | 5–1 | 979 | Falcone (2) 8', 41', Romeu 48', Azzopardi 76', Jhonnattann 78' | Report |
| 4 | 17 September 2016 | Balzan | National Stadium | 2–2 | 1,087 | Aguirre 16', Umeh 45+1' | Report |
| 5 | 21 September 2016 | Floriana | National Stadium | 0–2 | 2,470 | | Report |
| 6 | 25 September 2016 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 0–2 | 1,168 | | Report |
| 7 | 30 September 2016 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 1–1 | 1,794 | Jhonnattann 66' | Report |
| 8 | 15 October 2016 | Gżira United | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 3–1 | 765 | Jhonnattann 7', Falcone 25' (pen), J. Borg 90+4' | Report |
| 9 | 22 October 2016 | Tarxien Rainbows | Hibernians Stadium | 1–0 | 943 | Mifsud 75' | Report |
| 10 | 28 October 2016 | St. Andrews | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 0–0 | 637 | | Report |
| 11 | 5 November 2016 | Ħamrun Spartans | National Stadium | 3–0 | 3,201 | Jhonnattann (2) 45+1' (pen), 90+1', Aguirre 76' | Report |
| 12 | 19 November 2016 | Sliema Wanderers | National Stadium | 2–1 | 640 | Falcone 61', Cremona 69' | Report |
| 13 | 27 November 2016 | Mosta | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 0–0 | 711 | | Report |
| 14 | 3 December 2016 | Pembroke Athleta | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 3–0 | 540 | Mifsud 15', Malano 76', Aguirre 82' | Report |
| 15 | 11 December 2016 | Balzan | National Stadium | 2–2 | 1,269 | Falcone 47', Jhonnattann 75' | Report |
| 16 | 17 December 2016 | Floriana | National Stadium | 0–0 | 1,419 | | Report |
| 17 | 8 January 2017 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 0–1 | | | Report |
| 18 | 14 January 2017 | Gżira United | Hibernians Stadium | 1–0 | 602 | Montebello 58' | Report |
| 19 | 21 January 2017 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 1–0 | 1,228 | Malano 27' | Report |
| 20 | 28 January 2017 | St. Andrews | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 1–1 | 674 | Radzinevičius 32' | Report |
| 21 | 5 February 2017 | Tarxien Rainbows | National Stadium | 1–1 | 1,144 | Aguirre 90' | Report |
| 22 | 12 February 2017 | Ħamrun Spartans | National Stadium | 2–0 | 1,932 | Umeh 59', Malano 73' | Report |
| 23 | 24 February 2017 | Sliema Wanderers | National Stadium | 3–1 | 669 | Velasco (2) 64', 66', Umeh 79' | Report |
| 24 | 5 March 2017 | Mosta | National Stadium | 4–0 | 680 | Velasco (2) 37', 68', Montebello (2) 43', 83' | Report |
| 25 | 11 March 2017 | Pembroke Athleta | National Stadium | 4–0 | | Montebello 26', Velasco 56', Umeh 73', Mifsud 83' | Report |
| 26 | 17 March 2017 | Balzan | National Stadium | 1–0 | 1,360 | Romeu 20' | Report |
| 27 | 2 April 2017 | Floriana | National Stadium | 1–1 | 4,510 | Mifsud 82' | Report |
| 28 | 5 April 2017 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 1–0 | 2,371 | S. Borg 90' | Report |
| 29 | 8 April 2017 | Gżira United | National Stadium | 1–1 | | Montbello 27' | Report |
| 30 | 15 April 2017 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 3–3 | 1,483 | Malano 8', Velasco (2) 4', 80' | Report |
| 31 | 22 April 2017 | St. Andrews | National Stadium | 1–3 | 490 | Velasco 74' | Report |
| 32 | 29 April 2017 | Tarxien Rainbows | National Stadium | 0–2 | | | Report |
| 33 | 5 May 2017 | Ħamrun Spartans | National Stadium | 1–2 | 595 | Velasco 65' | Report |

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Hibernians (C) | 33 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 64 | 31 | +33 | 71 | Qualification for the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League |
| 2 | Balzan | 33 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 66 | 40 | +26 | 64 | Qualification for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League |
| 3 | Birkirkara | 33 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 64 | 30 | +34 | 62 | |
| 4 | Valletta | 33 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 51 | 29 | +22 | 59 | Qualification for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League |
| 5 | Floriana | 33 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 51 | 37 | +14 | 54 | Qualification for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League |
| 6 | Sliema Wanderers | 33 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 47 | 37 | +10 | 52 | |
| 7 | Gżira United | 33 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 37 | |
| 8 | St. Andrews | 33 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 45 | 51 | −6 | 37 | |
| 9 | Tarxien Rainbows | 33 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 35 | |
| 10 | Hamrun Spartans | 33 | 9 | 6 | 18 | 44 | 61 | −17 | 33 | |
| 11 | Mosta (O) | 33 | 7 | 5 | 21 | 29 | 71 | −42 | 21 | Qualification for the Relegation Play-Offs |
| 12 | Pembroke Athleta (R) | 33 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 28 | 84 | −56 | 18 | Relegation to the 2017–18 Maltese First Division |
* ↑ Birkirkara would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence.
* ↑ Floriana qualified for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League by winning the 2016–17 Maltese FA Trophy.
* ↑ Mosta were deducted five points for making illegal payments to a player registered as an amateur.

## FA Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Report |
| R3 | 14 December 2016 | San Ġwann | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 1–0 | Umeh 40' | Report |
| R4 | 18 January 2017 | Balzan | National Stadium | 0–1 | | Report |

## BOV Super Cup

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Report |
| 21 December 2016 | Sliema Wanderers | National Stadium | 2–1 | 1,430 | S. Borg 35', Umeh 45' | Report |

## Squad statistics
### First Team

| No. | Pos. | Name | BOV Premier League | BOV Premier League | The FA Trophy | The FA Trophy | UEFA Champions League | UEFA Champions League | BOV Super Cup | BOV Super Cup | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Henry Bonello | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | DF | Jonathan Caruana | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Ian Azzopardi | 2(3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(3) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Steve Borg | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | Ryan Camilleri | 25(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Juan Cruz Gill | 6(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Jake Borg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | Santiago Malano | 26(2) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28(5) | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Michael Mifsud | 13(10) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15(12) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Roderick Briffa | 5(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9(4) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Luke Montebello | 9(10) | 5 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 10(12) | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Nicky Vella | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | Russell Fenech | 0(7) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(8) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Jean Borg | 16(12) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 18(15) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Paul Chircop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Jurgen Suda | 0(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Shaun Dimech | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Jeremy Micallef | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | Ennio Hamutenya | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | Federico Falcone | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | Tomas Radzinevičius | 4(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Matthew Spiteri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | Leon Camilleri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Llywelyn Cremona | 11(18) | 2 | 0(2) | 0 | 1(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13(23) | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Nicholas Pulis | 0(3) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Claudio Pani | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 23 | FW | Kenny Spagnol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Uchenna Umeh | 19(4) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0(2) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21(6) | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 25 | DF | Leandro Aguirre | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 26 | GK | Manuel Bartolo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Jhonnattann | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Maximiliano Velasco | 10(1) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10(1) | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | Maverick Buhagiar | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | Dziugas Bartkus | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 42 | MF | Rowen Muscat | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 84 | MF | Valdo Alhinho | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 90 | DF | Romeu | 20(6) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 26(7) | 2 | 4 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 3 June 2016 | DF | Leandro Aguirre | Independiente Rivadavia | Free |
| 6 June 2016 | DF | Steve Borg | Aris Limassol | Free |
| 18 June 2016 | FW | Santiago Malano | Rangers de Talca | Free |
| 11 July 2016 | GK | Dziugas Bartkus | Górnik Łęczna | Free |
| 28 September 2016 | MF | Valdo Alhinho | Oriental | Free |
| 3 January 2017 | FW | Tomas Radzinevičius | FK Sūduva | Free |
| 6 January 2017 | MF | Rowen Muscat | Birkirkara | Free |
| 12 January 2017 | FW | Maximiliano Velasco | Deportivo Municipal | Free |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 11 June 2016 | MF | Rafael Ledesma | Gżira United | Free |
| 10 July 2016 | DF | Mirco Vella | Lija Athletic | Free |
| 19 July 2016 | FW | Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza | Ħamrun Spartans | Free |
| 22 July 2016 | MF | Dyson Falzon | Gżira United | Free |
| 10 August 2016 | GK | Manuel Bartolo | Mosta | Free |
| 10 August 2016 | MF | Kurt Magro | Mosta | Free |
| 16 August 2016 | MF | Siraj Arab | Pembroke Athleta | Free |
| 26 December 2016 | FW | Federico Falcone | Terengganu | Free |
| 6 January 2017 | GK | Henry Bonello | Birkirkara | Free |
| 31 May 2017 | MF | Valdo Alhinho | Unattached | Released |

### Loan out

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | To |
| 1 July 2016 | 31 May 2017 | DF | Miguel Attard | Pembroke Athleta |
| 6 July 2016 | 19 January 2017 | DF | Kieron Grima | Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 11 July 2016 | 9 December 2016 | FW | Luke Montebello | Pembroke Athleta |
| 15 July 2016 | 31 May 2017 | FW | Terence Scerri | Kalkara |
| 1 August 2016 | 31 May 2017 | MF | Bjorn Bondin | Qrendi |
| 1 August 2016 | 15 December 2016 | DF | Daniel Camilleri | St. Andrews |
| 1 August 2016 | 31 May 2017 | DF | Fabio Muscat | Msida St. Joseph |
| 1 August 2016 | 31 May 2017 | MF | Dasser Sammut | Qrendi |
| 1 August 2016 | 31 May 2017 | MF | Dario Tabone | Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 1 August 2016 | 31 May 2017 | DF | Dean Grech | Swieqi United |
| 2 August 2016 | 31 May 2017 | MF | Brandon Grech | Qormi |
| 19 August 2016 | 15 January 2017 | MF | Cleavon Frendo | Attard |
| 15 December 2016 | 31 May 2017 | DF | Ian Azzopardi | Gżira United |
| 15 December 2016 | 31 May 2017 | MF | Jurgen Suda | Pietà Hotspurs |
| 15 December 2016 | 31 May 2017 | FW | Kurt Borg | Żabbar St. Patrick |
| 10 January 2017 | 31 May 2017 | DF | Daniel Camilleri | Għargħur |
| 15 January 2017 | 31 May 2017 | MF | Jhonnattann | Al-Batin |
| 18 January 2017 | 31 May 2017 | MF | Cleavon Frendo | Fgura United |