Andorra and Malta will begin their 2026–27 UEFA Nations League campaigns at the Estadi de la FAF in Encamp on Thursday, September 24, with both sides targeting a positive start in League D.
The fixture is part of Group D1, not Group D2. Andorra and Malta are joined by Gibraltar in the section, while Group D2 contains Lithuania, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein. The group winners will have promotion to League C in their sights as the competition begins.
This will be the seventh meeting between the two nations. Malta have won two of their previous six encounters, with the other four ending in draws. The most recent meetings came in the 2024–25 Nations League, when Malta won 1–0 in Andorra before the return fixture finished goalless.
Andorra enter the match with concerns over their attacking form. They have struggled to score consistently in recent internationals and remain without a win in their last five Nations League matches. Their recent results have also tended to produce tight contests, increasing the likelihood of another cautious encounter in Encamp.
Malta have endured an inconsistent spell of their own, but their recent victory ended a four-match losing run and provided encouragement ahead of the opening fixture. Devis Mangia’s side also have the psychological advantage of their unbeaten record against Andorra, including the 1–0 victory in their most recent meeting.
Andorra are expected to use a 4-4-2 formation, with Alvarez in goal and a defensive line featuring Llovera, San Nicolás, Borra and Olivera. Babot Muller, Ferreira da Silva, Izquierdo and Pujol could form the midfield, with Lopez and Rodrigo leading the attack.
Malta may adopt a more attacking setup, with Al-Tumi projected to start behind Zammit, Ewurum and Garcia. Pepe, Shaw and Satariano are expected to provide support from midfield, while Guillaumier, Teuma, Chouaref and Corbolan could make up the forward line. The line-ups remain provisional until the official team sheets are released.
The match is likely to be decided by fine margins. Andorra’s scoring difficulties and Malta’s historical advantage point towards a low-scoring contest, with a goalless first half a realistic possibility. Malta are tipped to secure a narrow 1–0 victory, although a draw would also be consistent with the recent history between the teams.
