Lithuania vs Malta prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-09-03 16:00.
[p]It’s a battle between the bottom two teams in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification as Lithuania host Malta in Kaunas.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Lithuania weren’t among the group favourites prior to the qualifiers, and with no wins from their first three games (D2, L1), their chances of reaching a first-ever World Cup finals already look remote. As they start this round of qualifiers at least four points behind three teams, anything but a win here would realistically all but end their chances of making history given the vast superiority of the sides above them. Nine defeats over their last 11 matches (D2) show how far off the pace Edgaras Jankauskas’ currently are, although a 2-2 draw against current group leaders Finland in their last home qualifier, despite going 2-0 down within 20 minutes, shows that Lithuania can be a handful when hosting.[/p]
[p]Malta are bottom of the group with their only point coming in the reverse fixture draw (D1, L3). They are yet to score a goal in these qualifiers, while their tally of 11 goals conceded is worse than all bar two nations in the qualifiers ahead of this month’s round. The Maltese have only ever won three games in their World Cup qualification (WCQ) history (D13, L100) so their outsider tag here is certainly justified, although their recent eight-game run (W3, D2, L3) could raise belief they can cause an upset here here despite those positive results largely coming against teams ranked outside FIFA’s top 150.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]The most recent H2H ended in a goalless draw in June, a result which kept Lithuania unbeaten in three WCQs against Malta (W1, D2).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Only three of Lithuania’s last 11 WCQs saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Lithuania failed to score in four of their last five fixtures.[/p]
[p]Malta haven’t scored in their last five matches.[/p]
[p]None of Malta’s last ten internationals saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Fedor Černych scored in his last club game for Kauno Žalgiris at this venue and scored Lithuania’s first in a 2-0 H2H win back in October 2016. Kyrian Nwoko could look to strike early, as his four international goals have all served as the opening strike of the game, three of which arrived no later than the 15th minute.[/p]
[p]Lithuania are missing several key players including Armandas Kučys. Irvin Cardona gets his first international call-up after choosing to represent Malta, but they’ll be without the injured Teddy Teuma.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]These teams have struggled for goals and even the reverse fixture in June ended in a goalless draw, so backing both teams not to score looks a prudent pick.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Sridhar Bhamidi[/i][/p]