Malta rued missed opportunities as Henri Anier’s last-gasp winner guided Estonia to a narrow 2-1 triumph in Ta’ Qali last time out.

Estonia’s first UEFA Nations League away victory since November 2018 has put daylight between the two promotion rivals in Group D2.

Things could have gone differently in the section’s top-table six-pointer if Teddy Teuma converted an early penalty.

Instead, Malta now have to come from behind to claim the top place in this three-side group.

With three points now separating the group-leaders Blueshirts and second-placed Malta, Devis Mangia’s men have no margin for error anymore.

Photo courtesy of domenic aquilina / Malta FA

As reported by The Malta Independent, Mangia’s lads made too many mistakes to gift Estonia an all-important success at the Ta’Qali National Stadium.

The same venue will hope for a more satisfying outcome when Malta take on whipping boys San Marino on Sunday.

The Mediterranean side cruised to a routine 2-0 away win over FIFA’s worst-ranked side on Matchday, courtesy of two second-half goals in Serravalle.

Match Preview

Malta

Malta have gone from back-to-back home wins ‘to nil’ to suffering a brace of one-goal margin defeats across their last two home outings.

Additionally, the Knights of Malta have picked up just one win in their seven home Nations League fixtures overall thus far (D4, L2).

Mangia’s team will hope to buck that trend and get their faltering Group D2 campaign back on track.

After narrowly missing out on promotion to League C last season, the Knights of Malta are keen to do one better, with San Marino now standing in their way.

San Marino

It is hard to make a case for the continental minnows to stage an upset in Ta’ Qali, with Sports Today and other sports news sites predicting an easy win for Malta.

Seeking their first-ever Nations League strike, San Marino head into proceedings having lost 18 internationals, 15 of which saw them fail to get on the scoresheet.

Head coach Fabrizio Costantini has found some comfort in his side’s defensive improvement of late, with San Marino conceding two goals or fewer in their last five outings.

Except for a scoreless draw with Leichtenstein in their last Nations League season, the visitors have lost their five remaining away games in the competition without scoring.

Team News

Despite squandering a spot-kick against Estonia, Teuma should retain his place in the starting XI.

The Royal Union SG playmaker should play behind Alexander Satriano and Jurgen Degabriele, even though the duo’s performances in the last match flattered to deceive.

Malta Potential Starting XI

(3-4-1-2): Henry Bonello; Enrico Pepe, Steve Borg, Jean Borg; Joseph Mbong, Matthew Guillaumier, Brandon Paiber, Adam Magri Overend; Jan Busuttil; Jurgen Degabriele, Alexander Satariano.

San Marino Potential Starting XI

(3-5-1-1): Aldo Junior Simoncini; Michele Cevoli, Mirko Palazzi, Dante Rossi; Alessandro D’Addario, Luca Ceccaroli, Michael Battistini, Alessandro Golinucci, Lorenzo Lunadei; Matteo Vitaioli; Nicola Nanni.

Malta vs San Marino Prediction

Anything other than Malta’s landslide victory would be a massive upset.

We expect Mangia’s side to return to winning ways and keep their faint hopes of securing promotion to League C alive.

Malta 2-0 San Marino

Malta vs San Marino Preview – Prediction, team news, line-ups