Liechtenstein vs Gibraltar prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League D betting tips on match 2024-10-12 16:00.
[p]Liechtenstein’s 1-0 friendly win over Hong Kong on Thursday was just their 19th international victory of all time, a first since October 2020 (D6, L35) and a welcome boost after a slow beginning to their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League (UNL) campaign (D1, L1). After starting with a 1-0 defeat to San Marino, they would still be pointless if not for an equaliser in the 14th minute of injury time against upcoming opponents Gibraltar (D 2-2).[/p]
[p]And although one of the Blue-Reds’ rare international victories was against Gibraltar here in Vaduz in their first-ever UNL home game in September 2018, Liechtenstein have struggled to break down defences of late. They’ve failed to score in each of their last five home encounters in the competition (D1, L4), a run that coincidentally started with a 1-0 H2H defeat in October 2020.[/p]
[p]That should encourage Gibraltar, who are seeking an immediate return to UNL League C and backed up their 2-2 draw with Liechtenstein by overcoming San Marino on Thursday (1-0) to go four internationals unbeaten (W2, D2) for the first time in their history. A win here would mean they’d only have to avoid defeat against San Marino in their final group match next month to earn promotion.[/p]
[p]But if Liechtenstein have problems scoring at home, then those issues pale into insignificance when compared to Gibraltar’s on the road, as they last netted in an away trip in September 2022! Even when they have scored, they’ve had considerable problems at the other end, as they’ve lost their last 14 such fixtures while conceding an eye-watering average of 4.57 goals per game during that sequence![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Liechtenstein captain Nicolas Hasler netted their winner against Hong Kong and that late leveller against Gibraltar, with those strikes forming part of a run of seven appearances in nine in which he has either scored or been booked (G3, YC4). Gibraltar’s James Scanlon has goals in him as, after also netting in stoppage time in last month’s H2H draw to become his country’s youngest-ever scorer, he’s struck four times in one game for Manchester United’s Under-18s against Blackburn![/p]
[p]Hot streak: Each of the last five H2Hs has seen a goal scored in the opening 20 minutes (Gibraltar: W3, D2).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]