Sports Mole previews Friday’s Nations League clash between San Marino and Gibraltar, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
San Marino will hope to leapfrog Gibraltar and prevent them from earning promotion from their UEFA Nations League D group when they welcome them to Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle on Friday.
The hosts are second in their three-team group with three points after two games and lost 1-0 against Gibraltar on October 10, while their opponents are first with five points from three Nations League matches and drew 0-0 with Liechtenstein on October 13.
Match preview
After winning their first ever competitive game when they emerged as 1-0 victors against Liechtenstein on September 5, the home team succumbed to Ethan Britto‘s 62nd-minute goal last time out in the Nations League against Gibraltar.
The match itself was closely fought, with both sides failing to produce at least one xG and creating just one big chance apiece.
Manager Roberto Cevoli‘s side lost the subsequent three matches following their win against Liechtenstein, though it should be noted that two of these losses were narrow 1-0 defeats.
Cevoli’s team have lost 13, drawn two and triumphed in one of their 16 Nations League games, scoring in just one of those fixtures.
San Marino have also been defeated in six of their eight games in the competition, as well as in 39 of their last 44 matches at Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle.
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As for the visitors, they will be disappointed by their performance against Liechtenstein considering they only produced one shot inside the penalty area.
Liechtenstein had lost seven of their prior eight games in the competition, and had conceded 14 goals in that period.
Boss Julio Ribas will still be pleased by his team’s overall form given they have drawn three and won two of their five most recent matches, and victory on Friday would earn them promotion to League C.
This is a significant improvement on their previous outings considering they had been defeated in the prior 13 games.
However, Gibraltar’s away form is still poor, with the side failing to win any of their last 18 fixtures on the road, losing 15 in that time.
San Marino Nations League form:
San Marino form (all competitions):
Gibraltar Nations League form:
Gibraltar form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts could select defenders Tommaso Benvenuti, Michele Cevoli, Giacomo Valentini and Alessandro Tosi in front goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo.
In midfield, San Marino could start Enrico Golinucci alonsgide Lorenzo Capicchioni and Matteo Valli Casadei.
Meanwhile, Gibraltar will be unable to select midfielder Dan Bent, who was sent off against Liechtenstein, so expect Nicholas Pozo to be partnered by Graeme Torrilla.
The away side could field centre-backs Bernardo Lopes and Louie Annesly in front of goalkeeper Bradley Banda.
San Marino possible starting lineup:
Colombo; Benvenuti, Cevoli, Valentini, Tosi; Golinucci, Capicchioni, Casadei; Contadini, Nanni, Sensoli
Gibraltar possible starting lineup:
Banda; Jolley, Lopes, Annesley, Mascarenhas-Olivero; Scanlon, Torrilla, Pozo, Britto; Walker, De Barr
We say: San Marino 0-2 Gibraltar
It is difficult to see how San Marino avoid defeat given they have only won one competitive match in their history.
Gibraltar are also unbeaten in recent games, and it would not be surprising if they won on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
