The Malta Women’s national team play their final match from Group B3 of the Women’s European Qualifiers facing group winners Portugal at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Tuesday, kick-off at 19:00.

A 0-2 defeat to Northern Ireland at the Centenary Stadium on Friday meant that Malta was relegated to League C of the UEFA Women’s Nations League following the historic promotion achieved last year.

In this League B campaign, Malta collected just one point from the first outing – a goalless draw in an away match against Northern Ireland but since then, Malta lost at home to Portugal, followed by back-to-back defeats to Bosnia and Herzegovina and last Friday’s defeat to Northern Ireland. In five matches, Malta scored just one goal and conceded seven.

Coach Manuel Tesse is forced to make at least one change to the team after Haley Bugeja suffered an injury in the Northern Ireland game and had to be substituted mid-way through the first half.

Photo by Craig Camilleri