The blues lead into 2025 but only just

St Joseph enter 2025 confident their lead at the top of the Gibraltar Football League is secure, provided they maintain form and avoid dropping points against lower-ranked clubs.
Currently three points ahead of Lincoln Red Imps, St Joseph have played one more match than their closest rivals. They will be hoping for a helping hand from other teams to shave points off the defending champions.
The league is witnessing a fierce three-way battle at the top. St Joseph lead with 41 points, followed by Lincoln Red Imps with 38 points, while Europa, unexpectedly recovering from last season’s disastrous campaign, sit third with 34 points.
The seven-point gap between first and third poses a significant challenge for Europa. They not only need to beat their two closest rivals but also secure additional crucial points or hope for other results to go their way. Maintaining consistency will be key as they aim to capitalize on any slip-ups by their opponents.
Bruno Magpies, reeling from head coach Nathan Rooney’s departure to Ireland, have struggled with inconsistency, losing five of their 14 matches. They now find themselves nine points behind Europa, with the second round nearing its end. Their hopes for a European spot are fading rapidly.
Similarly, Manchester 62 and Lions Gibraltar face uphill battles. Manchester are 13 points adrift of Europa, while Lions trail by 15 points. Both clubs must avoid further dropped points as the league approaches its third round. With just six teams competing in the final round, the available 15 points will be the magic number. Any side falling more than 15 points behind will be out of contention for European places and relegated to playing for pride and prize money.
The heavy investments made by Manchester, Lions, and Bruno Magpies in their squads make the coming weeks critical. These clubs must make their spending count to keep their European aspirations alive.
The League Resumes The league resumed on Wednesday after a festive break that began on December 22. St Joseph ended 2024 emphatically with a 6-1 victory over bottom-placed Europa Point. They dominated possession from the outset, pinning their opponents back. A 19th-minute strike by Pena Garcia opened the scoring, but it wasn’t until Alvarez netted in the 40th minute that St Joseph extended their lead. A resurgent second half saw Sanchez Lopez score twice within 10 minutes, followed by Liam Walker in the 72nd minute and Aznar Fernandez three minutes later. Europa Point managed a consolation goal in the 90th minute through Busto.
Despite the convincing win, St Joseph’s tendency to start matches slowly remains a concern. They often rely on strong second-half performances to assert their dominance. With Lincoln Red Imps idle during the final weekend of 2024, St Joseph temporarily extended their lead, applying pressure on the defending champions.
Lincoln Red Imps, after enduring a packed schedule due to their late start to the season, return to action against Lynx this Friday. Lynx, who sit just above Europa Point in the standings, have struggled this season with 10 defeats from 15 matches. Known for their competitiveness, Lynx’s lapses in defending and lack of firepower have undermined their efforts. Lincoln will be wary, having already defeated Lynx 3-0 earlier in the season. Dropping points would hand St Joseph a significant advantage.
Lincoln prepared for the match with a friendly against Dutch Eredivisie side RKC Waalwijk. The champions will aim to assert their dominance, knowing the stakes at the top of the table.
Bruno Magpies and Europa Bruno Magpies concluded 2024 with a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Lynx, but their inconsistency remains a concern. They face Europa this weekend in a crucial clash. Europa, buoyed by a dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester 62 to close out 2024, have lost just one of their 15 matches this season, drawing four. They are now the strongest contenders for the final European spot, with Bruno playing catch-up.
In their previous encounter, Europa held Bruno to a goalless draw on September 28, a match that marked Europa’s rise to the top of the table early in the season. Maintaining momentum and securing points against Bruno will be vital as Europa looks to solidify their position.
Other Matches Lions Gibraltar face Europa Point on January 12, with Lions aiming to climb from sixth in the table. Despite heavy investments, Lions have underperformed at times, securing just five wins in 14 matches. Their last meeting with Europa Point resulted in a 4-1 victory, but Lions cannot afford complacency with Glacis United just five points behind them.
Glacis United return to action on Monday, facing Mons Calpe in a midtable clash. Both teams have shown resilience despite their struggles, with Glacis proving stubborn and Mons Calpe grappling with inconsistency. This match could set the tone for their end-of-season aspirations.