Preview

December 11, National Stadium, Ta’ Qali, 22:00
The live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO

History and path to the Conference League

Hamrun Spartans FC was founded in 1907 in the city of Hamrun. Throughout its history, the club has been champions of Malta 11 times and has won 6 National Cups and 7 Super Cups. In the 2024/25 season, the team claimed the league title for the third consecutive year, defeating Birkirkara in the final match (1-0).

As league winners, Hamrun Spartans entered the qualifying rounds of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. The Maltese side defeated Lithuania’s Žalgiris (0-2, 2-0, 11-10 on penalties) in the first round, but were then comprehensively beaten by Dynamo Kyiv (0-3, 0-3). Their UEFA Europa League campaign was also short-lived, as they lost both matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv (1-2, 1-3). In the UEFA Conference League qualifying play-offs, however, Hamrun Spartans managed to defeat Latvia’s RFS (1-0, 2-2) and achieved a historic milestone – becoming the first club from Malta to reach the league phase of a European competition.

2025/26 performances

Hamrun Spartans began their UEFA Conference League campaign with two narrow defeats – away to Poland’s Jagiellonia (0-1) and at home to Switzerland’s Lausanne (0-1). The Maltese side then suffered a heavy loss against Samsunspor in Türkiye (0-3), but they managed to score their first goals in the competition and claim their debut victory in round 4, beating Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps (3-1) on home soil through goals from El Fanis, Smajlagic and Coric. So after four rounds, the Spartans have 3 points (goal difference: 3-6) and sit 30th in the overall UEFA Conference League standings.

The reigning champions are currently second after 12 rounds in the Maltese Premier League, having collected 25 points (goal difference: 16-6). Hamrun Spartans are also on an active run of three league victories in a row: their most recent domestic match was played on November 22, when they defeated Valletta (1-0).

Squad and leaders

The head coach of Hamrun Spartans is 61-year-old Italian specialist Giacomo Modica, who has been in charge of the Maltese side since June 2025, having previously worked in his home country with lower-division clubs. The captain is 37-year-old goalkeeper Henry Bonello, who is now in his fifth season with the team. The most valuable player according to Transfermarkt is Joseph Mbong (estimated value is EUR 400 thousand). This 28-year-old Maltese winger is also the team’s most prolific player this season (5 goals and 8 assists). Completing the top three scorers are striker N'Dri Koffi (4 goals and 4 assists) and midfielder Saliou Thioune (4 goals).

Stadium

Hamrun Spartans’ home venue for European matches is the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali. It is Malta’s main and largest sporting facility, with a capacity of around 17,000. The stadium hosts matches of the national league, Maltese clubs in European competitions and the Malta national team.

Head-to-head record

The sides have never faced each other in competitive matches. The Miners have met a Maltese club once in their history: they defeated Birkirkara twice in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup qualifying round – 2-1 in Donetsk and 4-0 in Ta’ Qali.

The Hamrun Spartans vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel from Germany: referee Florian Badstübne, assistants Christof Günsch and Philipp Hüwe. VAR – Benjamin Cortus, AVAR – Patrick Hanslbauer.