# 2017–18 Valletta F.C. season

The 2017–18 season was Valletta's twenty-fourth title-winning season in the Maltese Premier League and the 14th as the Maltese FA Trophy winners. They were, however, eliminated in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, losing out to FC Utrecht, after having already dispatched SS Folgore Falciano Calcio of San Marino in the first qualifying round.

## UEFA Europa League
### First qualifying round

Valletta won 3-0 on aggregate.

### Second qualifying round

Utrecht won 3-1 on aggregate.

## BOV Premier League
### Results

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Report |
| 1 | 19 August 2017 | Mosta | Centenary Stadium | 1–0 | 712 | Pani 45' (pen) | Report |
| 2 | 25 August 2017 | Senglea Athletic | Centenary Stadium | 1–0 | | Mifsud 34' | Report |
| 3 | 10 September 2017 | Naxxar Lions | National Stadium | 0–0 | | | Report |
| 4 | 17 September 2017 | Sliema Wanderers | National Stadium | 1–0 | | Ašćerić 14' | Report |
| 5 | 24 September 2017 | Balzan | National Stadium | 1–2 | 979 | Santiago 5' | Report |
| 6 | 29 September 2017 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 3–0 | | Mifsud 12', Nwoko 31', Denni 62' | Report |
| 7 | 13 October 2017 | Lija Athletic | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 4–2 | 879 | Piciollo (2) 11', 61', Denni 32', Nwoko 46' | Report |
| 8 | 21 October 2017 | Tarxien Rainbows | Centenary Stadium | 6–0 | 805 | Gill 10', Nwoko (2) 34', 83', Santiago 45', Piciollo 51', Fenech 80' | Report |
| 9 | 28 October 2017 | St. Andrews | Centenary Stadium | 3–0 | | Denni 6', Je. Borg 21', Piciollo 33' | Report |
| 10 | 5 November 2017 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 0–0 | 2,087 | | Report |
| 11 | 19 November 2017 | Ħamrun Spartans | National Stadium | 0–0 | 2,521 | | Report |
| 12 | 26 November 2017 | Floriana | National Stadium | 1–0 | 3,681 | Piciollo 80' | Report |
| 13 | 10 December 2017 | Gżira United | Hibernians Stadium | 1–2 | 914 | Denni 66' (pen) | Report |
| 14 | 16 December 2017 | Mosta | Hibernians Stadium | 1–0 | | Denni 4' | Report |
| 15 | 6 January 2018 | Senglea Athletic | Hibernians Stadium | 1–0 | 775 | Denni 59' (pen) | Report |
| 16 | 13 January 2018 | Naxxar Lions | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 1–0 | 955 | Santiago 23' | Report |
| 17 | 26 January 2018 | Sliema Wanderers | Centenary Stadium | 1–1 | | Prosa 82' | Report |
| 18 | 4 February 2018 | Balzan | National Stadium | 0–0 | 2,023 | | Report |
| 19 | 12 February 2018 | Lija Athletic | Centenary Stadium | 3–1 | | Prosa 34', Alba (2) 65', 74' | Report |
| 20 | 25 February 2018 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 0–0 | 4,013 | | Report |
| 21 | 3 March 2018 | Tarxien Rainbows | National Stadium | 2–0 | 721 | Santiago 51', Piciollo 55' | Report |
| 22 | 11 March 2018 | Hibernians | National Stadium | 2–1 | 2,571 | Santiago 25', Prosa 30' | Report |
| 23 | 17 March 2018 | St. Andrews | National Stadium | 1–0 | 734 | Mifsud 90+4' | Report |
| 24 | 8 April 2018 | Ħamrun Spartans | National Stadium | 3–0 | 2,690 | Nwoko (2) 33', 78', Santiago 41' | Report |
| 25 | 14 April 2018 | Floriana | National Stadium | 1–1 | | Piciollo 9' | Report |
| 26 | 21 April 2018 | Gżira United | National Stadium | 2–1 | 3,561 | Piciollo 7', Saleh 65' | Report |

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Valletta (C) | 26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 11 | +29 | 58 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Balzan | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 42 | 19 | +23 | 55 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Gżira United | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 52 | 33 | +19 | 51 | Qualification for the Europa League preliminary round |
| 4 | Birkirkara | 26 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 47 | Qualification for the Europa League preliminary round |
| 5 | Hibernians | 26 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 43 | 16 | +27 | 46 | |
| 6 | Floriana | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 48 | 18 | +30 | 46 | |
| 7 | Sliema Wanderers | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 35 | 26 | +9 | 40 | |
| 8 | Hamrun Spartans | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 35 | |
| 9 | Senglea Athletic | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 29 | 47 | −18 | 26 | |
| 10 | Mosta | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 28 | 52 | −24 | 26 | |
| 11 | St. Andrews | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 41 | −20 | 24 | |
| 12 | Tarxien Rainbows (O) | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 34 | 56 | −22 | 23 | Qualification for the Relegation Play-Offs |
| 13 | Naxxar Lions (R) | 26 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 27 | 41 | −14 | 22 | Relegation to the 2018–19 Maltese First Division |
| 14 | Lija Athletic (R) | 26 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 23 | 84 | −61 | 6 | Relegation to the 2018–19 Maltese First Division |
* ↑ Since the winners of 2017–18 Maltese FA Trophy, Valletta, qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the Cup winner (2018–19 UEFA Europa League) was passed to the next best-placed team (in this case, to the fourth-placed team).

## The FA Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Report |
| R3 | 2 December 2017 | Senglea Athletic | Centenary Stadium | 2–0 | | Saleh 27', Mifsud 29' | Report |
| R4 | 21 January 2018 | Pietà Hotspurs | National Stadium | 1–0 | 1,146 | R. Camilleri 2' | Report |
| Quarter-final | 17 February 2018 | Żejtun Corinthians | National Stadium | 2–0 | | Nwoko 25', S. Borg 70' | Report |
| Semi-final | 29 April 2018 | Balzan | National Stadium | 2–1 | 2,472 | Denni 80' (pen), Piciollo 82' | Report |
| Final | 5 May 2018 | Birkirkara | National Stadium | 2–1 | 7,011 | Nwoko 41', Santiago 79' | Report |

## Squad statistics
### First Team

| No. | Pos. | Name | BOV Premier League | BOV Premier League | UEFA Europa League | UEFA Europa League | The FA Trophy | The FA Trophy | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Henry Bonello | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Steve Borg | 22 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 2 | 11 | 2 |
| 5 | DF | Ryan Camilleri | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Juan Cruz Gill | 16(2) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2(2) | 0 | 22(4) | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Santiago Malano | 24(2) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 32(2) | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Michael Mifsud | 8(10) | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 14(11) | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Kenny Spagnol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Ryan Tonna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Roderick Briffa | 0 | 0 | 0(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Matteo Piciollo | 19(3) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 23(3) | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | DF | Paul Chircop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Orson Mackay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | DF | Gianluca Borg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Shaun Dimech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | DF | Jake Borg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Nicky Vella | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Andre Spiteri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Kyrian Nwoko | 14(12) | 6 | 0(4) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 18(16) | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | Russell Fenech | 0(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(3) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Jean Borg | 16(6) | 1 | 0(4) | 0 | 1(3) | 0 | 17(13) | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Uchenna Umeh | 7(4) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 12(5) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Miguel Ghigo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Jurgen Suda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Enmy Peña | 10(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | Joseph Zerafa | 18(1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 29(1) | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| 20 | MF | Matthew Spiteri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Raed Ibrahim Saleh | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Denni | 9(9) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 1 | 10(11) | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Nicholas Pulis | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0(7) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Claudio Pani | 8(4) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15(4) | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 23 | DF | Daniel Camilleri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Rowen Muscat | 10(8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 | 13(9) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Jeremy Micallef | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Leonard Farrugia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Maximiliano Velasco | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Miguel Alba | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | Maverick Buhagiar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 | DF | Romeu | 5(1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 99 | FW | Nikola Ašćerić | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 99 | FW | Albert Prosa | 8(2) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 8(4) | 3 | 1 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 14 June 2017 | FW | Kyrian Nwoko | St. Andrews | Free |
| 15 June 2017 | GK | Henry Bonello | Birkirkara | Free |
| 16 June 2017 | DF | Joseph Zerafa | Birkirkara | Free |
| 14 July 2017 | MF | Raed Ibrahim Saleh | Fanja | Free |
| 17 July 2017 | MF | Denni | Sliema Wanderers | Free |
| 16 August 2017 | FW | Nikola Ašćerić | Tokushima Vortis | Free |
| 24 August 2017 | FW | Matteo Piciollo | Floriana | Free |
| 6 December 2017 | FW | Albert Prosa | FCI Tallinn | Free |
| 5 January 2018 | DF | Enmy Peña | St. Andrews | Free |
| 11 January 2018 | FW | Miguel Alba | Gimnasia y Tiro | Free |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 June 2017 | FW | Jhonnattann | Al-Batin | Free |
| 18 June 2017 | FW | Luke Montebello | Birkirkara | Free |
| 3 July 2017 | MF | Ennio Hamutenya | Unattached | Released |
| 5 July 2017 | MF | Llywelyn Cremona | Birkirkara | Free |
| 7 July 2017 | DF | Leon Camilleri | Gudja United | Free |
| 9 July 2017 | GK | Dziugas Bartkus | Žalgiris | Free |
| 10 July 2017 | FW | Tomas Radzinevičius | Spartak Chrastava | Free |
| 11 July 2017 | DF | Ian Azzopardi | Senglea Athletic | Free |
| 23 July 2017 | MF | Matthew Spiteri | Tarxien Rainbows | Free |
| 31 July 2017 | FW | Maximiliano Velasco | Unattached | Released |
| 1 August 2017 | FW | Dasser Sammut | Qrendi | Free |
| 5 August 2017 | FW | Isaac Zammit | Swieqi United | Free |
| 10 August 2017 | FW | Kurt Borg | Żabbar St. Patrick | Free |
| 16 August 2017 | DF | Leandro Aguirre | Gimnasia y Esgrima | Free |
| 17 August 2017 | MF | Roderick Briffa | Gżira United | Free |
| 20 November 2017 | FW | Kenny Spagnol | Żejtun Corinthians | Free |
| 23 January 2018 | DF | Daniel Camilleri | Swieqi United | Free |
| 26 January 2018 | FW | Nikola Ašćerić | PAS Lamia 1964 | Free |

### Loan out

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | To |
| 2 July 2017 | 30 April 2018 | MF | Bjorn Bondin | Qrendi |
| 8 July 2017 | 30 April 2018 | DF | Fabio Muscat | Msida St. Joseph |
| 20 July 2017 | 30 April 2018 | DF | Brandon Grech | Qormi |
| 22 July 2017 | 30 April 2018 | DF | Miguel Attard | Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 28 July 2017 | 1 December 2017 | DF | Kieron Grima | Qormi |
| 31 July 2017 | 30 April 2018 | FW | Terence Scerri | Senglea Athletic |
| 11 August 2017 | 28 December 2017 | MF | Jurgen Suda | Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 31 August 2017 | 3 January 2018 | MF | Cleavon Frendo | Fgura United |
| 28 September 2017 | 30 April 2018 | FW | Isaac McCarthy | Lija Athletic |
| 2 January 2018 | 31 May 2018 | DF | Leonard Farrugia | Mqabba |
| 4 January 2018 | 30 April 2018 | MF | Jurgen Suda | Senglea Athletic |
| 4 January 2018 | 30 April 2018 | MF | Dario Tabone | Vittoriosa Stars |
| 19 January 2018 | 30 April 2018 | MF | Cleavon Frendo | Marsaxlokk |