Malta are set to host Andorra on Tuesday at Ta'Qali National Stadium in their final UEFA Nations League D group game and will hope to end their campaign on a high.
The Reds are second in their three-team group with six points from three fixtures and are unable to catch leaders Moldova, who occupy the only automatic promotion spot, while their guests have no points and have finished last.
Match preview
Though Malta are only three points behind Moldova, the fact that the Tricolours have a better goal difference in the games played against the Reds means Tuesday's hosts cannot finish above the group leaders.
However, Davide Mazzotta's side have at least secured a promotion playoff spot and will contest a two-legged tie against a team from Nations League C in March next year.
Mazzotta was appointed as interim head coach in late September after Michele Marcolini was sacked, and the current boss has won both of his matches in charge, one of which includes a 1-0 victory against Moldova on October 13.
Malta have won their three most recent games without conceding, a significant improvement considering they had only kept three clean sheets in the previous 19.
The hosts have also won their last two home fixtures, but they did lose three and draw two of the prior five at Ta'Qali National Stadium.
However, Malta's opponents Andorra have no hope for promotion and were beaten 1-0 by Moldova on Saturday.
While the visitors have only conceded four times in three Nations League games, they have failed to score any goals so far in their 2024-25 campaign and have in fact not scored in any of their past eight matches.
Manager Koldo Alvarez has led the national team since 2010 but has only seen his team win 11 times in 126 attempts.
Alvarez's side emerged as 2-0 victors against San Marino on October 13 in the outing prior to their loss against Moldova, but that was their only win in their last 22 fixtures, with the team losing 17 and drawing four in that period.
Andorra have also been beaten in each of their last nine away games, and the visitors have not scored in their eight most recent matches on the road.
Team News
Malta deployed a 3-5-2 system against Liechtenstein on November 14, and they could do so again on Tuesday, with centre-backs Luke Tabone, Enrico Pepe and Jean Borg candidates to retain their places in defence.
Mazzotta could field Dunstan Vella at the base of a midfield three, while Matthew Guillaumier and Paul Mbong may start in front of him.
In the forward line, Kyrian Nwoko and Trent Buhagiar are likely to appear given they started together against Liechtenstein.
Meanwhile, Andorra will almost certainly be without defender Ian Bryan Olivera, who was forced off as a result of injury against Moldova, and his position could be taken up by Francisco Pomares Ortega on Tuesday.
Joao Teixeira and Eric Vales are candidates to feature in a double pivot behind an offensive line consisting of Ricard Fernandez Cucu, Aaron Sanchez and Joan Cervos.
Malta possible starting lineup:
Bonello; Tabone, Pepe, Borg; Lonardelli, Guillaumier, Vella, Mbong, Beerman; Nwoko, Buhagiar
Andorra possible starting lineup:
Alvarez; Llovera, Garcia, Ortega; Font, Teixeira, Vales, Nicolas; Cucu, Sanchez, Cervos
We say: Malta 1-0 Andorra
It is difficult to see either side playing particularly well given there is nothing at stake, but Mazzotta will at least want to impress in his temporary role.
Additionally, Andorra may be somewhat deflated after failing to reach the promotion playoff spots, and it would not be surprising if they lost on Tuesday.
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