Malta vs Ukraine prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-10-16 18:45.
Malta won’t be appearing at Euro 2024 after enduring six straight losses during their European Championship qualifying (ECQ) campaign that most recently included a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Italy at the weekend. That has extended their absence from the continental competition for yet another edition, something which the Maltese fans have been used to since entering all but one qualifying campaign since 1964, but failing at every attempt.
That’s hardly a surprise when you consider their 15 goals conceded is complemented by just a single goal scored, highlighting their problems at both ends of the pitch. This asymmetry between scoring and conceding meant they have now lost 15 consecutive ECQs, whilst only one-third of those saw Malta restrict the losing margin to a single goal, although one of those was a 1-0 defeat in the reverse H2H.
A war-torn Ukraine are looking to participate in a fourth consecutive Euros and even another single-goal margin would be a crucial boost to their chances, particularly as their final game will be against second-placed Italy. Their fate won’t be determined on this matchday, for good or bad, but they could leapfrog Italy with a win here if the Azzurri were to drop points to Group C leaders England.
But before they think too far ahead to future fixtures and their permutations, Ukraine ought to be reminded that Malta defeated them in a friendly match in June 2017 in addition to their competitive showing in the reverse H2H. With both their losses of this qualification campaign coming on the road, the Blue and Yellow should be slightly wary of this match, even if those two losses both came against teams sitting above them in the group.
Players to watch: Paul Mbong is yet to score a goal for Malta but is fast earning a reputation as a card collector with four straight bookings for club or country. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko assisted Ukraine’s first goal and picked up a late yellow card in their last game against North Macedonia, but would be gunning for a goal here as his last three international goals have come on the road.
Hot streak: Malta’s last six home ECQs saw them concede the opening goal within 15 minutes.