Gibraltarvs.Liechtenstein

The visitors made the headlines for all the wrong reasons on Thursday, becoming the first team ever to lose a competitive fixture against San Marino.

Match preview

Twenty years had passed since Liechtenstein became the first, and, to date, the only nation ever to suffer defeat at the hands of San Marino in an international fixture.

On Thursday though, 7,346 days later, lightning struck again, but this time it was in a competitive setting, ending their opponents 176-game wait for a win in a competitive fixture.

Not only does the result bring Liechtenstein unwanted attention, it also hugely damages any hopes they had of competing for promotion to League C in this Nations League campaign.

With Gibraltar expected to beat San Marino home and away in this three-team section, Liechtenstein may need to take four points off Gibraltar, while also avenging San Marino for Thursday's defeat, if they want any chance of promotion.

While the result was eye-catching given the context around San Marino, it perhaps came as less of a surprise to followers of the Liechtenstein side, who have struggled greatly in recent years.

The Blue-Reds had lost 24 in a row before drawing 1-1 with Latvia without having a shot on target in March, before somehow coming away from Romania with a 0-0 draw in June despite conceding 35 shots and having just one themselves.

Gibraltar will be the side looking to capitalise on that bruising defeat for the visitors, and their promising recent results suggest they are now heavy favourites to top the section.

Julio Cesar Ribas's side were the only nation relegated from League C in the last edition of the UNL, losing a two-legged playoff to Lithuania back in March.

That came on the back of Gibraltar making similarly unwanted headlines back in November, when they set the record for the largest-ever defeat in a competitive European match - losing 14-0 to France.

However, after the disappointment of relegation, Gibraltar kept the score down to a 2-0 defeat against Scotland, before a shock 0-0 draw with Wales, which led to Rob Page leaving his role as manager for their opponents.

With only three nations in the group, there will be an odd team out during each matchday, and that was Gibraltar in the opener, as they played a friendly against Andorra to fill the gap.

A 1-0 win for Gibraltar on Wednesday should instil much confidence into the side ahead of facing two nations in this section ranked much lower than the Andorrans, so three points will make them resounding favourites to reach the promotion playoff for League C in the hope of returning at the first time of asking.

Gibraltar form (all competitions):

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Liechtenstein Nations League form:

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Liechtenstein form (all competitions):

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Team News

Gibraltar have been unable to call upon both Jack Sergeant and Kian Ronan for this international window, with the pair currently out injured, and Ethan Jolley has joined them on the sidelines after picking up an issue against Andorra.

That has allowed 19-year-old Liam Jessop to be handed a first call up, and he could feature along with Manchester United's 17-year-old James Scanlon, who already has five caps for the national side.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Liam Walker should captain the side at 36 for his 81st cap, while 42-year-old Lee Casciaro is expected to make another appearance from the bench.

After Thursday's horror show, Liechtenstein manager Konrad Funfstuck has decisions to make about whether to stay loyal to the players that lost to San Marino.

One certain starter should be captain Nicolas Hasler, who is now just five caps short of reaching a century, while teenager Fabio Luque-Notaro made a good account of himself, scoring in the first half only to see it chalked off by VAR.

The one notable injury coming into the week was that of Philipp Ospelt, who had to leave the camp early in June, and is yet to make a full recovery.

Gibraltar possible starting lineup:

Banda; Santos, Annesley, Lopes, Olivero; Torrilla, Bent, Britto; Scanlon, De Barr, Walker

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:

B Buchel; N Beck, Wieser, Goppel; S Wolfinger, Hasler, M Buchel, Luchinger, Oberwaditzer; Luque-Notaru, J Beck

We say: Gibraltar 1-0 Liechtenstein

Neither side possess much quality, especially in attacking areas, but Gibraltar are fancied to take the win and move level on points with San Marino, strengthening their chances of returning to the third tier.

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