Malta

Malta. Ranked 31st. Long waited for triumph of Sliema Wanderers. Zebbug Rangers and Tarxien Rainbows earned promotion from Second Division. Birikirkara FC was the top league outsider, ending last with 7 points and winning only one match. Three teams finished with 12 points each and played a relegation mini-league after the regular season. Rabat Ajax lost the tournament and was relegated. Hibernian and Naxxar Lions survived and their places in the final table were according to their positionn in the relegation tournament – Hibernian 7th and Naxxar Lions 6th. Up the table nothing much – even the battle for the title was a mini-battle at best. Hamrun Spartans finished 3rd with 20 points. Valletta FC – 2nd with 23 points.
This photo could be a picture of the champions, but nothing certain. Except that Sliema Wanderers won the title with 26 points from 11 wins, 4 ties, and just a single lost match. 32-16 goal-difference. Confident victory – one may say even dominant. In general, nothing strange – this was the 22nd title for Sliema Wanderers, but clubs and fans had to wait a long time for it: since 1975-76. More than 10 years of suffering, but at last they were back on top.
The Cup final opposed Hamrun Spartans to Floriana. Hamrun Spartans continued their strong run in the 1980s with yet another victory – they scored the only goal in the final and thus won it.
5th Cup for Hamrun Spartans and most important – third consecutive Cup victory. A rare achievement.