Spain vs Malta Predictions

Spain have little to worry about heading into their meeting with Malta this week. The hosts may have drawn back-to-back games, but they approach this clash having already secured their place at Euro 2020. They have got through this group with two games to spare, but don’t expect them to keep that run of draws going when they meet Malta in Cadiz this weekend.

The hosts are hoping for better in 2020 following a dismal tournament in Russia last year. They were among the favourites until Julen Lopetegui departed on the eve of the tournament, rocking the Spanish camp. Now they are winding up for another crack at silverware, trying to lift their first trophy since 2012. The Spanish made short work of this group thanks to six wins from their first six, but they’re out to get over a brief blip with a win here.

Meanwhile, Malta have struggled throughout this campaign and will simply be aiming to avoid another humiliation. They could yet move off the bottom of the pile before all is said and done, as they’re trailing the Faroe Islands by just three goals. That makes avoiding a heavy defeat a priority for them, while the visitors are unlikely to risk much in their penultimate game.

Spain are still expected to start with a strong side, while we expect a professional performance from the hosts as they look to continue their fine form in this group. However, the hosts haven’t been demolishing sides like they were on their way to Russia. They have 19 goals in eight games, compared to 36 in 10 in the last campaign. The Spanish have won all three home games in this group, scoring an average of three goals per game.

With Malta failing to score in their last seven outings – losing all of them – we expect the hosts to secure a win to nil in this clash. But we don’t feel Spain will rack up six or seven goals, which many seem to be expecting. Instead, we’re going with a home win and under 4.5 goals in this clash, given that even in their seven-game losing run Malta have seen just 2.4 goals scored per game.

With under five goals predicted in this one, we can still see the Spanish getting close. They have scored four times in each of their meetings with the Faroe Islands in this group, while they should add to their impressive recent successes against Malta. The last two times these sides have met in Spain, the hosts have won 4-0. We’re backing a repeat here, as a 4-0 home win is our correct score pick.