Tackling their second successive island nation, leaders Russia welcome Malta to Moscow on Tuesday evening, in World Cup Qualifying Group H.

Following victory in Cyprus - which put them top of the table at the halfway stage - now the Russians encounter one of the minnows of European football, looking to round off a successful week of action.

Match preview

Having started this month's international triple-header with a hard-fought goalless draw against group favourites Croatia last week, on Saturday, Russia confirmed their place at the summit with a win over Cyprus.

The 2018 hosts were able to take an early lead through Aleksandr Erokhin's sixth-minute strike, giving them a lead they would never relinquish in a 2-0 victory over their Mediterranean counterparts.

Their quest for a place at Qatar 2022 now takes them back home, to the Otkritie Arena, in their second home match under new management following the inimitable Stanislav Cherchesov's post-Euros sacking in July.

With only the group winner progressing automatically to next year's finals, new boss Valeri Karpin will not only be intent on staying ahead of rivals Slovenia and Slovakia in the race for a top-two place, but also remaining in contention to pip the Croatians to automatic qualification.

Former Rostov coach Karpin - who won 73 caps for his nation; several alongside his predecessor Cherchesov - will certainly be intent on repeating the outcome when Russia last met Malta, in March.

Cherchesov's side ran out 3-1 winners in Ta'Qali that day - though they had to wait for Aleksandr Sobolev's late goal to ultimately seal the deal - and a similar scoreline should ensure that the Russians end this action-packed week on top of the pile.

After a tally of four points from their first four qualifying games, Malta undertook the long trip to Slovenia at the weekend with renewed optimism that they could upset the odds and return home with a point.

One of their best results of recent times - a resounding 3-0 win over Cyprus last week - saw Devis Mangia's men visit Ljubljana in good spirits and seeking another unlikely win in a competitive group.

Ranked 177th in the world at present, Malta again belied their underdog status to push Slovenia all the way, with only Sandi Lovric's goal late in the first half separating the sides by the final whistle.

Earlier in the process, they let an early two-goal lead slip away to Slovakia, as their hosts pulled level in the second half, before Croatia then brushed them aside with a dominant 3-0 win in Zagreb. Two post-season friendly matches saw them beaten by both Northern Ireland and Kosovo too, but performances have certainly improved this month.

Now, the Falcons fly on towards the Russian capital on a run of one win from their last eight outings since they beat Andorra almost a year ago, and hoping for a mighty shock to round off a commendable week's work.

Team News

Former captain and regular centre-forward Artem Dzyuba was omitted from the Russia squad this time around, as Valeri Karpin lays out a fresh approach for his national side, so the forward line has had a more mobile look to it this month.

Atalanta's Aleksey Miranchuk could join Valencia winger Denis Cheryshev as part of a front three, with 18-year-old Arsen Zakharyan, Aleksei Ionov and Fedor Smolov also contenders for a start.

Having handed a debut call-up to 19-year-old Konstantin Tyukavin - and offered him 15 minutes to make an impression on Saturday - Karpin could even start with the young forward in midweek, against relatively minor opposition.

Several Malta squad members were previously ruled out of this international triple-header, and the midfield trio of Matthew Guillaumier, Bjorn Kristensen and Luke Gambin are all unavailable to Devis Mangia again.

Goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona is also out of action, with Henry Bonello the man therefore set to start as the visitors' last line of defence.

Up front, brothers Joseph Mbong and Paul Mbong are vying with Shaun Dimech to start in support of either Luke Montebello or Frosinone's teenage talent Alexander Satariano.

Russia possible starting lineup:
Guilherme; Fernandes, Diveev, Dzhikiya, Karavaev; Barinov, Erokhin, Golovin; Ionov, Miranchuk, Cheryshev

Malta possible starting lineup:
Bonello; Shaw, Pepe, Muscat; Attard, Caruana, Teuma, Camenzuli; P. Mbong, Satariano, J. Mbong

We say: Russia 3-0 Malta

The home side have been given a minor makeover by new boss Valeri Karpin, and they should demonstrate what their next generation of attacking talent has to offer on Tuesday.

Malta have expended a lot of energy on two fine efforts in the space of a few days, which exceeded expectations but may have left their tank a little empty - and their thin squad is set to be exposed.

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