San Marino vs Malta Prediction: Reds to snatch an easy win

On June 5, 16:00 (UTC+3), Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle will host the second round match of the UEFA Nations League, with the teams of San Marino and Malta facing each other.

Team San Marino

The San Marino team is probably the weakest national team in European soccer. Over the last few years the Blues could only avoid defeat twice when they drew with Liechtenstein and Gibraltar in the last UEFA Nations League, 0-0 each, but still ended up last in the group. Qualification for the World Cup 2022 for the Serenissima is traditionally hopeless, they lost all ten games with a combined score of 1=46, closing the standings. The San Marino team has already played with the Estonians in the current UEFA Nations League, losing 0-2.

Team Malta

Team Malta are gradually trying to improve their standing as a soccer team. The Red and Whites played particularly well in the World Cup 2022 qualifier where they were in a very competitive group but managed to draw with Slovakia (2-2), and once shared points with Cyprus (2-2), once destroying the latter 3-0. With the Russian national team, the Maltese acted extremely unyielding. Despite a number of quality games, Devis Mangia's players still finished last in the group. But now the Maltese team will play in the UEFA Nations League, where they will be competitive.

Head-to-head encounters

San Marino and Malta have only ever played one head-to-head encounter on August 14, 2012, when the Red and Whites claimed a 3-2 victory in a friendly.

Expert Betting Tips

The teams from San Marino and Malta are currently at different levels. While the White and Blues are, perhaps, the weakest European national team, the Reds, though it is still too early to consider them a strong middling, are gradually approaching this title. Certainly, Devis Mangia's players are unconditional favorites to win the upcoming game, which is time to move up to the League C, so we should consider betting on the victory of the Maltese team with a handicap (-1.5) at odds of about 1.90.

Team Malta recently began not only to cling to the points in matches with strong European rivals, but are also very productive in the attack. For example, it was three times the Reds scored against Liechtenstein and Andorra, they scored two goals against Slovakia and Cyprus, and then defeated the Cypriots 3-0. San Marino has huge problems with defense, as evidenced by the 46 conceded goals in ten meetings (4.60 on average per game) qualifying for the World Cup 2022, so the best option seems to be Malta's individual total over 2.5 goals at odds close to 2.50.

Jurgen Degabriele is one of the main options for the national team of Malta in the attack. The 25-year-old forward has spent his entire career in the local league for Hibernians, where last season he scored 14 goals in 26 games, becoming the second top scorer of the tournament, and also added four goals in four games of the UEFA Conference League. He is also regularly credited with scoring for the national team and in the last UEFA Nations League he scored two goals in six games. In such a situation it is worth taking a closer look at the bet on Jurgen Degabriele's goal with the odds of about 2.20.

Our prediction: Malta Handicap (-1.5) for 1.936 on the line of 22bet.

TelecomAsia Sport is looking for a Qatar-based video blogger to work during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Contact [email protected] for more information.