Malta is set to begin their 2022-2024 UEFA Nations League this weekend when they travel to Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle for a clash against San Marino at their doorstep. Match day schedules for June 5 2022 at 16:00 EAT.
Thursday’s defeat in Estonia was San Marino’s 16th loss on the spin and there is little to suggest they will end this baron run when they host Malta on Sunday – San Marino have conceded 22 goals in their last four home matches. San Marino hasn’t won any game in the World cup qualifiers losing all 10 matches.
San Marino will want to make amends for the 2-0 Nations League defeat at the end of Estonia in their last outing. In that match, San Marino managed 26% possession and seven shots with four of them on target. Estonia got 11 shots with four of them on target and goals by Robert Kirss (23′) and Joonas Tamm (32′).
On the other hand, Malta has competed in every qualifier for the European Championship and World Cup, but has never made it to the finals of any major International competition. They are rock-bottomed in Group H of WC qualifiers with just 1 win form 10 games. After narrowly missing out on promotion from League D in the 2020 Nations League, with the Faroe Islands piping Malta to the top spot, Sunday’s visitors will be expected to get off to a good start here ahead of a challenge with Estonia for first place this time around.
Malta head into this game confident coming off 2-0 International Friendlies triumph over Kuwait in their last game. The national team is without an away win since their last six on road games. But they have at least won twice of their last three games played across various venues.
San Marino vs Malta head to head
Sunday’s fixture will be the second direct encounter between these two sides since 2012, a fixture Malta won.
- San Marino 2-3 Malta 4/08/12
Home
- Estonia 2-0 San Marino
- San Marino 0-2 Cape Verde
- San Marino 1-2 Lithuania
- San Marino 0-1 0England
- Hungary 4-0 San Marino
Away
- Malta 0-1 Venezuela
- Malta 2-0 nKuwait
- Malta 1-0 Azerbaijan
- Malta 0-6 Slovakia
- Malta 1-7 Croatia
San Marino team news
Fabrizio Costantini will be without Manuel Battistini after the 27-year-old defender came off with a game-ending injury inside the opening 21 minutes against Estonia on Thursday.
Malta team news
Manager Devis Mangia has no fitness or suspension worries whatsoever coming into this game.
Prediction and odds
San Marino has been awful as of late, losing the last 15 games in a row while Malta is without an away win since their last six on road games. However they have at least won twice of their last three games played across various venues.
- Malta Win
- Draw
- Both teams to score (No)
