Gibraltar vs San Marino prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League D betting tips on match 2024-10-09 18:45.
[p]Gibraltar will look to build on the longest unbeaten run in their history as they return to UEFA Nations League (UNL) action. Draws against Wales and Liechtenstein, which came either side of a 1-0 friendly victory over Andorra, means the world’s 198th ranked team have gone three games without defeat and look good value to make a strong fist of achieving promotion back to League C at the first time of asking.[/p]
[p]The problem for Julio César Ribas’ side is only the latter of those results came in competitive football, where they are now 29 games without a win (D4, L25). Gibraltar may never get a better chance to end that run than against the lowest team in the FIFA rankings, San Marino, against whom they are unbeaten in two previous H2Hs (W1, D1), keeping rare clean sheets in both fixtures![/p]
[p]The visitors head into the game on the crest of a wave though, with a 1-0 success against Liechtenstein last month their first-ever competitive victory. That was followed by a defeat by the same scoreline to Moldova, although only in a friendly, so long-suffering supporters can still dream of earning promotion to the third tier of the UNL for the first time ever.[/p]
[p]To do that, La Serenissima will have to greatly improve their away form, given they have never won a match on the road! They have certainly become a tougher outfit to beat under manager Roberto Cevoli, who after only taking over the reins in December 2023, has already guided his side to two clean sheets in six games at the helm, despite San Marino managing only one shutout in the 32 matches prior to his arrival![/p]
[p]Key battle: Liam Walker became Gibraltar’s outright all-time top scorer in their draw with Liechtenstein last month, with five of his six international goals serving as the first or last of the game. Defender Dante Rossi might hold the key defensively for San Marino, as he has started the last five games in which they have kept a clean sheet, three of which have been UNL fixtures.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: None of San Marino’s 15 historical UNL games have seen both teams score.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]