Malta vs Gibraltar – News and Probable Lineups

Malta will seek to secure their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions when they host Gibraltar this Thursday evening during their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign.

The Reds achieved a 2-1 win against Andorra in their opening match of the tournament, while Gibraltar managed a scoreless draw with Andorra in their first game.

Match overview

Entering Thursday’s match, Malta boasts three straight wins in all competitions, highlighted by a 2-1 triumph over Andorra in their initial game of the 2026-27 Nations League.

In their most recent friendly fixture, the Reds secured a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein, and they similarly won 2-0 against Azerbaijan on June 5, showcasing a robust phase for Emilio De Leo’s squad.

Currently, Malta tops Group 1 of League D; as League D will be eliminated in the 2028-29 version of the tournament, all teams in this tier will be elevated to League C.

Malta has previously defeated Gibraltar in their last two encounters, including a narrow 1-0 victory in a friendly held in September 2023.

Buoyed by their recent success, De Leo’s team will be aiming for another two wins in the Nations League during this international break, with another fixture against Andorra set for October 4 in Malta.

On the other hand, Gibraltar began their Nations League campaign with a goalless draw against Andorra, leaving them in second place in Group 1 of League D with one point.

This fixture will be Gibraltar’s final Nations League match during this international window, though they are scheduled to face Liechtenstein in a friendly match on October 5.

Currently, Scott Wiseman’s team is ranked 202nd in the FIFA standings, while Malta sits at 161st.

Gibraltar holds a record of five victories, six draws, and nine defeats from their 20 previous Nations League fixtures, having competed in League C in the 2022-23 edition.

Liam Walker holds the record for being the national team’s all-time leading goalscorer with eight goals.

Team News

Malta’s head coach De Leo will implement changes to the lineup that started in the friendly against Liechtenstein, with Paul Mbong likely to return.

Irvin Cardona has netted three goals for the national squad, and the 29-year-old is anticipated to take part in the attacking lineup once more.

Matthew Guillaumier is set to lead Malta from the midfield, while James Carragher is a notable absence from the current roster.

For Gibraltar, former Manchester United forward James Scanlon – now at Arsenal – is expected to feature in the starting eleven against Malta.

There are unlikely to be any significant surprises in the Gibraltar lineup, with Dan Bent also anticipated to start.

Tjay De Barr, who has four goals for the national squad, should be included in the attacking setup, and Dylan Borge is also expected to have a place in the team.

Malta probable starting XI:

Bonello; Muscat, Shaw, Pepe, Camenzuli; Guillaumier, Satariano; Chouaref, Teuma, P Mbong; Cardona

Gibraltar probable starting XI:

Band; Bent, Lopes, Valarino; Ronan, Mason, Torrilla, Pozo, Scanlon; DeBarr, Borge

Malta is currently in good form, and they are anticipated to have the upper hand over Gibraltar in Thursday’s Nations League match.