In their fourth and final UEFA Nations League D match of 2024-25, Liechtenstein will hope to leapfrog San Marino and claim a promotion playoff spot when they host them at Rheinpark Stadion on Monday.
The home nation are last in third place with two points and must win in order to finish second and reach the playoffs, while their opponents are second with four points and must win if they are to be automatically promoted to Nations League C given first-placed Gibraltar have six points.
Match preview
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Liechtenstein drew 0-0 with Gibraltar on October 13 in their last outing in the tournament, a game in which they accumulated 60% possession but managed to produce just four shots, with only one coming from inside the penalty area.
The home team are ranked as the 200th best national side by FIFA and lost 2-0 on November 14 in their most recent match against Malta, who are ranked 163rd.
Konrad Funfstuck has been in charge of the national side since June 2023 and has only won once in 17 games, losing his first nine and seeing his players score just one goal in that period.
However, it should be noted that Funfstuck's team have drawn four and won one of their most recent eight fixtures, including drawing two and winning one of their last four.
Liechtenstein were held to a stalemate against Gibraltar in their last home match and beat Hong Kong 1-0 in their previous outing on October 10, but they did lose the prior 16 games at Rheinpark Stadion.
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Meanwhile, the visitors were able to earn a point against Gibraltar on Friday, drawing 1-1 thanks to a 92nd-minute equaliser from Nicola Nanni, who levelled the scoreline and cancelled out Gibraltar's opener in the 11th minute.
To their credit, San Marino were very competitive against their foes and arguably played more on the front foot considering they amassed 59% possession and created four big chances in comparison to their opponents' three.
The result was only the fourth time in 17 Nations League games that San Marino have avoided defeat, though it was the second time in their last three matches in the competition that they have at least collected points.
Boss Roberto Cevoli's side beat Liechtenstein 1-0 on September 5, and their victory was their first ever competitive triumph, as well as their first win in any match since July 2014 (a hybrid friendly against Italian minnows Bellaria Igea Marina).
Cevoli's team have never won an away fixture in their history and have lost 19 of their last 20 games on the road.
Team News
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Liechtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel is likely to be selected between the posts, and he could be positioned behind a back three of Martin Marxer, Lars Traber and Maximilian Goppel.
Midfielder Simon Luchinger may be joined in the centre of the pitch by Marcel Buchel and Aron Sele, while Ferhat Saglam and Dennis Salanovic are candidates to start up front.
As for San Marino, centre-backs Michele Cevoli and Dante Rossi are almost certain to be stationed in front of goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo.
Roberto Cevoli may field a midfield three consisting of Matteo Valli Casadei, Alessandro Golinucci and Lorenzo Lazzari, with Golinucci likely to appear as the deepest of the three.
In the forward line, wide players Filippo Berardi and Andrea Contadini could feature either side of striker Nicola Nanni.
Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:
Buchel; Marxer, Traber, Goppel; Hasler, Luchinger, Buchel, Sele, Kindle; Saglam, Salanovic
San Marino possible starting lineup:
Colombo; Benvenuti, Cevoli, Rossi, Benvenuti; Casadei, Golinucci, Lazzari; Berardi, Nanni, Contadini
We say: Liechtenstein 1-1 San Marino
While San Marino did beat Liechtenstein recently, it is difficult to overlook their poor away record.
However, Liechtenstein have struggled for wins in recent months, and it would not be surprising if they were held to a stalemate on Monday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
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