Liechtenstein vs Luxembourg prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-11-18 19:45.
Ahead of the final round of Group J fixtures, Liechtenstein are set to end a European Championship Qualifying (ECQ) campaign with zero points for the first time in eight cycles. Their latest and 22nd successive defeat came on Thursday evening when they were beaten 2-0 by Portugal, making it 21 games within that run in which they failed to find the back of the net.
Manager Konrad Fünfstück, who took charge in May, has overseen seven of these defeats and is yet to see his side score at home, but he should be encouraged by the Blue Reds’ H2H record against Luxembourg who they have beaten in three of their five matchups (D1, L1). In fact, Liechtenstein’s last victory was against the Red Lions, back in October 2020, but they lost 2-0 when they met in June.
While Luxembourg’s campaign won’t end with a top-two finish, their four wins in this cycle does represent their best return in an ECQ cycle (D2, L3). They’re already assured of a third-place finish and spot in the play-offs, meaning they might see this game as a chance to keep building momentum ahead of that crucial tie which could see them seal a spot at a major tournament for the first time in their history.
After a recent blip in Group J saw them take only one point from their previous three games, the Red Lions returned to winning ways with a 4-1 victory at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday night. Another three points at the Rheinpark Stadion on Sunday will see Luxembourg complete the group with only one ECQ defeat on their travels (W1, D2), adding to an impressive record of just one defeat across their last seven combined away games (W3, D3).
Key battle: Liechtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Büchel is likely to be in for another busy evening after seeing 28 shots fired towards his goal in the defeat to Portugal. In spite of conceding 27 goals across the campaign, he has let in only five from his last three home games. Forward Gerson Rodrigues is Luxembourg’s leading goal-scorer in Group J with four strikes and comes into this clash off the back of two goals in Thursday’s win.
Hot stat: Luxembourg have conceded at least one second-half goal in four of their last five games.