Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s International Friendlies clash between Malta and San Marino, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Both on the back of World Cup Qualifying fixtures last week, Malta and San Marino will meet in an international friendly at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium on Tuesday.
The hosts played out a draw in their first game of the international break on Thursday, while the visitors were on the wrong end of a 6-0 beating.
Match preview
Malta return to action on Tuesday aiming to end a six-match winless run on the international stage dating back to late 2024.
Their last victory came against Liechtenstein last November in an international friendly, and the Homor went on to finish their UEFA Nations League group campaign with a goalless draw against Andorra before making a slow start to European World Cup Qualifying this year.
Under the new management of Emilio De Leo, they began in March and June and earned just one point from their first four attempts in their first-round group, courtesy of a goalless draw with Lithuania and culminating with an 8-0 beating at the hands of Netherlands.
The Homor then returned to action in a trip to Lithuania last week and failed to put a first win on the board at the fifth time of asking, despite going ahead through Alexander Satariano in the 83rd minute, as the hosts won a penalty which Gvidas Gineitis converted deep into injury time to force a 1-1 draw.
Now looking all but out of contention to progress towards a first-ever World Cup appearance, Malta will at least bid to get back to winning ways on home turf in Thursday’s friendly.
Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip to Ta’ Qali on Tuesday aiming to bounce back from a heavy defeat in qualifying last week.
San Marino’s calendar year thus far has produced six consecutive losses, after finishing last year with their with just a second-ever competitive win when they won 3-1 away at Liechtenstein in UEFA Nations League action to complete a double and earn promotion.
La Serenissima’s latest World Cup qualifying campaign began earlier this year with four consecutive losses, conceding 12 goals along the way and only scoring once, before meeting Modena in August and falling to a 4-1 defeat.
On their return to action on Saturday, Roberto Cevoli‘s side hosted Bosnia & Herzegovina and suffered a 6-0 beating in Serravalle with Edin Dzeko netting a brace alongside goals from Benjamin Tahirovic, Samed Bazdar, Kerim-Sam Alajbegovic and Nihad Mujakic.
Now also all but out of the reckoning to progress in qualifying after another tough year thus far, San Marino head to Malta on Tuesday at least in search of another historic win to make it four in their history and three since the beginning of September 2024.
Malta form (all competitions):
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San Marino form (all competitions):
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Team News
Malta should field a similar starting XI to last week’s draw with Lithuania, with Jake Azzopardi available for selection despite his red card in a brief cameo in that game as his suspension will instead carry over to their next qualifying game.
Young defender James Carragher and key midfielder Teddy Teuma missed out on the squad for their two September fixtures due to injuries, while Bjorn Kristensen and Steve Pisani are also not involved.
In the absence of Jurgen Degabriele, who has managed seven international goals, Irvin Cardona should again lead the attack after earning his debut last time out.
San Marino also saw a red card in last week’s loss, with Alessandro Golinucci dismissed 16 minutes in against Bosnia & Herzegovina, but he will be able to feature on Tuesday and should start in the midfield.
Nicola Nanni should again lead the line with support from winger Filippo Berardi, both of whom have managed three international goals.
Matteo Vitaioli leads their all-time charts with 97 international caps and will hope to come in from the outset.
Malta possible starting lineup:
Bonello; Muscat, Shaw, Pepe, Beerman; Satariano, Paiber; J Mbong, P Mbong, Chouaref; Cardona
San Marino possible starting lineup:
Colombo; Fabbri, Cevoli, Valentini, Riccardi; Golinucci, Capicchioni, Zannoni; Vitaioli, Nanni, Berardi
We say: Malta 2-1 San Marino
After managing two victories last year, San Marino will hope for another memorable day when they visit Ta’ Qali, but we give a slight edge to the hosts and back Malta to come out on top despite their own recent struggles.
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