Malta BOV ePremier League Knockout Stage Preview - Nowhere to Hide

From the hundreds of applicants at every Online Qualifier, the Malta BOV ePremier League is finally down to the last eight. With the Knockout Stage starting today, the following preview will feature everything you need to know to watch this fourth season end with a bang!

Event Background

Just like the three seasons prior, the Knockout Stage of the MEPL is the pinnacle of local competitive FIFA. After every player has had to earn their spot through the Group Stage, it's time to measure how these top competitors stack up against one another.

In addition, certain players have also had to fight through the Online and Offline Qualifiers. 

There's only one way to crown another season champion. Specifically, offline at the TVM studios every Tuesday with the entire nation watching - there's nowhere to hide on the Main Stage. 

Competing on the PS5 version of FIFA 23 Ultimate Team, the following players have earned their spot in the Knockout Stage from each Group: 

Group A Seeds

• Santa Lucija FC - Luke 'LukeBartolo99' Bartolo
• Zebbug Rangers FC - Ryan 'Klawka' Cauchi
• Gzira United FC - Glenn 'GlennCam' Camilleri

Group B Seeds

• Marsaxlokk FC - Matthias 'Tubbi' Farrugia
• Birkirkara FC - Gianluca 'Turbulense' Sant
• Valletta FC - Shaun 'Vli' Dimech

Group C Seeds

• Hamrun Spartans FC - Shaun 'brandsha' Galea
• Mosta FC - Salvatore 'ShortyyT1' Assennato

Apart from the prize pool at hand, this event may also serve as a seed for the international competitive FIFA event series - the FIFA Global Series. Accordingly, winning here could catapult the victor's career into a global environment should the opportunity arise. 

Format

With every player starting on equal footing, the format of the Knockout Stage will involve a double elimination bracket where each match will involve two games and the aggregate score of both games. 

Moreover, all clubs have already been seeded into the Winners' Bracket Quarter-Finals as listed in the schedule below. 

Simply put, a loss results in the player falling down to the Losers' Bracket where a subsequent loss will result in elimination. 

Bearing this in mind, one team from the Winners' Bracket and one team from the Losers' Bracket will meet each other in the Grand Final, fighting to be crowned champion. 

Schedule

Starting as soon as next Tuesday, matches will be taking place weekly - here are the opening day matches:

9th May 2023 (CEST)

• Marsaxlokk FC vs Gzira United (7.30 pm)
• Birkirkara FC vs Mosta FC (8.10 pm)

16th May 2023

• Hamrun Spartans vs Zebbug Rangers (7.30 pm)
• Santa Lucia FC vs Valletta FC (8.10 pm)

Predictions - A Defending Champion

It's no secret; Luke Bartolo remains the favourite of the competition after taking home the 2022 season last year. 

Especially after dominating Group A, the entire competition is looking to try and dethrone the veteran. 

Considering this, we'd like to list some favourites who have the best chance of taking him down: 

• Hamrun Spartans - Shaun 'brandsha' Galea
• Marsaxlokk FC - Matthias 'Tubbi' Farrugia
• Birkirkara FC - Gianluca 'Turbulense' Sant

Despite our predictions, there's nothing we'd like more than to be surprised. 

Be sure to stay tuned in to our socials for constant updates for the Malta ePremier League Knockout Stage!