Preview: Andorra vs. Hungary - prediction, team news, lineups

Hungary travel to Andorra on Wednesday evening, where the two nations will face off in their third World Cup 2022 qualifier in Group I.

The visitors head into this fixture unbeaten in their last eight international matches, while Andorra are winless from their last 13 games.

Match preview

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Andorra lost their sixth international match in a row on Sunday after they were beaten 3-0 away in Poland, thanks to a brace from Robert Lewandowski and a late effort from Karol Swiderski.

Koldo Alvarez 's side struggled to lay a glove on the hosts with just 14% possession and not a single shot on target.

Two defeats from two games sees Andorra sit in a familiar position, along with fellow European minnows San Marino, at the bottom of Group I.

Andorra have only ever won two of their 54 World Cup qualifiers across a 20-year period but their last victory was in fact a surprise 1-0 win against Wednesday's opponents Hungary in June 2017.

Alvarez's men are not expected to claim any points in midweek and are more likely to target a positive result when they face San Marino later this year.

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After a thrilling 3-3 draw with Poland on Thursday, Hungary scored another three goals in their victory over San Marino on Sunday.

Adam Szalai and Roland Sallai both scored for the second successive game with Nemanja Nikolic converting a late penalty to secure a comfortable win on the road.

After dominating the game with 81% possession and 23 attempts on goal, manager Marco Rossi may have hoped that his side had won by a greater margin, but nonetheless, he will be pleased that they claimed their first three points of the campaign.

With another favourable fixture against Andorra on Wednesday, the Hungarians will fancy their chances of securing another victory, which could potentially see them move to the top of Group I on goal difference if Poland were to cause an upset against group leaders England.

Despite losing their last encounter with Andorra, Hungary have won the other three meetings against them by an aggregate score of 11-0.

Finishing this international break with seven points from three matches would put Rossi's men in a strong position to qualify for their first World Cup since 1986.

Andorra World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

L

L

Andorra form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

L

L

Hungary World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

D

W

Hungary form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

D

W

Team News

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Andorra boss Alvarez handed an international debut to 19-year-old goalkeeper Iker Alvarez De Eulate Molne against Poland and the teenager could keep his place ahead of veteran stopper Josep Gomes.

Versatile defender Marc Rebes, who scored the only goal in the victory over Hungary four years ago, is expected to start in midfield alongside 36-year-old captain Marcio Vieira.

Aaron Sanchez started as a lone striker on Sunday and will face competition from forwards Ricard Fernandez, Alex Martinez and Jordi Alaez to keep his place in the first XI.

For Hungary, centre-back Attila Fiola is back from suspension and is in contention to replace Endre Botka in the starting lineup.

Star midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is ruled out with a thigh injury, but his absence should not be an issue for the visitors when facing Andorra on Wednesday.

Central midfield trio Adam Nagy, Laszlo Kleinheisler and Zsolt Kalmar all started on the bench against San Marino, but could be in line to return to Rossi's starting XI, replacing Tamas Cseri, David Siger and Daniel Gazdag.

Freiburg's Sallai and Mainz 05's Szalai scored in both games against Poland and San Marino, and the two forwards are expected to keep their places up front.

Andorra possible starting lineup:

Alvarez; Rubio, Llovera, Vales, San Nicolas, Cervos; Rebes, Vieira, Pujol; A. Martinez, Alaez

Hungary possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Lang, Orban, At. Szalai; Lovrencsics, Kleinheisler, Nagy, Kalmar, K Varga; Sallai, Ad. Szalai

We say: Andorra 0-4 Hungary

With Poland facing England in midweek, Hungary know that this fixture against Andorra is the perfect opportunity to claim three points and move closer to the top two positions in Group I.

Despite losing their last meeting with Andorra, we believe the visitors will be too strong for the hosts and they should have no problems in securing a commanding victory.

Top tip

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