Azerbaijan vs Malta Predictions

Azerbaijan finally picked up their first UEFA Nations League win on Thursday night, but can they add another three points to their tally on Sunday. The hosts have just beaten the Faroe islands 3-0, but they still trail Kosovo in the standings. The race for top spot is huge for the smaller nations, who know that they have a chance to make the Euros in 2020, after years of being left out of the running by seedings. It’s even bigger for Azerbaijan, who will be hoping to play in the tournament after Baku was awarded matches at the pan-continent event.

The hosts are hoping to build up some form in Baku this week, as they slipped up at home to Kosovo in September. A pair of draws left them off the pace, but things are picking up after their crushing win days ago. They’re into second, and ahead of a crucial November double header, they need to claim three points when they meet Malta on Sunday. Can the hosts make it two wins from two, or are they going to slip up against Malta once again?

The visitors are rock bottom, and so far their only point has come against Azerbaijan. While they are getting to feature against sides who are on their own level, the island side are struggling to match similarly talented nations. Their hopes of topping the group are all but over, and as things stand their set to be bottom of the pile in the basement tier of the Nations League. However, it’s only the half-way point, and the visitors could yet make an impact after troubling Azerbaijan a month ago.

While Malta aren’t seen as a particularly high scoring side, they come into this encounter having stepped up their game in the Nations League. More level-playing fields have allowed them a chance to be more adventurous, and that’s been reflected in their displays so far. They may only have a point to their name, but they’ve scored in every outing, which should worry the home side.

With both teams scoring in all of Malta’s Nations League games so far, they shouldn’t be too afraid of getting forward here. We’re backing them to make life difficult for the hosts. Malta have scored in three of their last four matches on the road, and we expect them to trouble Azerbaijan. However, after returning to form in midweek, we expect a strong attacking display from the hosts. Both teams to score is our tip, and we’re backing a 3-1 home win.