Malta vs Gibraltar - prediction, team news, lineups

By Matt Law | 29 Sep 2026 10:08, Last updated: 29 Sep 2026 10:11

Malta volition beryllium aiming to marque it 4 consecutive wins successful each competitions erstwhile they proceed their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League run astatine location to Gibraltar connected Thursday evening.

The Reds bushed Andorra 2-1 successful their opening lucifer of the tournament, portion Gibraltar played retired a goalless gully with Andorra successful their archetypal game.

Match preview

Malta volition participate Thursday's crippled disconnected the backmost of 3 consecutive wins successful each competitions, including a 2-1 occurrence implicit Andorra successful their archetypal lucifer of the 2026-27 Nations League.

The Reds were successful affable enactment past clip out, beating Liechtenstein 2-0, portion they were besides 2-0 winners implicit Azerbaijan connected June 5, truthful it has been a beardown play for Emilio De Leo's side.

Malta are presently apical of Group 1 of League D; owed to the removal of League D for the 2028-29 variation of the tournament, each teams presently astatine that level volition beryllium promoted to League C.

The Reds person beaten Gibraltar successful the 2 erstwhile meetings betwixt the 2 countries, including a 1-0 occurrence successful a affable backmost successful September 2023.

De Leo's squad volition beryllium feeling bully astir themselves astatine this infinitesimal successful clip fixed their caller results, and they volition beryllium targeting 2 much wins successful the Nations League during this planetary break, with Andorra besides heading to Malta connected October 4.

Gibraltar, meanwhile, opened their Nations League situation with a goalless gully against Andorra, which has near them 2nd successful Group 1 of League D connected 1 point.

This lucifer represents Gibraltar's last Nations League fixture during this planetary period, but they volition instrumentality connected Liechtenstein successful a affable connected October 5.

Scott Wiseman's broadside presently beryllium 202nd successful the FIFA rankings, portion Malta are 161st.

Gibraltar person a grounds of 5 wins, six draws and 9 defeats from their 20 erstwhile matches successful the Nations League, and they really operated successful League C successful 2022-23.

Liam Walker is the nationalist team's all-time starring goalscorer with eight.

Team News

Malta caput manager De Leo volition marque changes to the broadside that started the affable against Liechtenstein past clip out, with Paul Mbong acceptable to beryllium among the players to return.

Irvin Cardona has scored 3 times for the nationalist side, and the 29-year-old is erstwhile again expected to diagnostic successful the last 3rd of the field.

Matthew Guillaumier volition again skipper Malta from the mediate of the midfield, but James Carragher is simply a notable absentee from the existent squad.

Gibraltar, meanwhile, volition person ex-Manchester United attacker James Scanlon - present of Arsenal - successful their starting squad for the contention with Malta.

There are not expected to beryllium immoderate existent surprises successful the Gibraltar side, with Dan Bent besides acceptable to start.

Tjay De Barr has scored 4 times for the nationalist squad and should diagnostic successful the last 3rd of the field, portion determination is besides apt to beryllium a spot for Dylan Borge.

Malta imaginable starting lineup:

Bonello; Muscat, Shaw, Pepe, Camenzuli; Guillaumier, Satariano; Chouaref, Teuma, P Mbong; Cardona

Gibraltar imaginable starting lineup:

Banda; Bent, Lopes, Valarino; Ronan, Mason, Torrilla, Pozo, Scanlon; De Barr, Borge

We say: Malta 2-0 Gibraltar

Malta are successful a bully spot astatine the moment, and we are expecting the location squad to beryllium excessively beardown for Gibraltar successful Thursday's Nations League fixture.