Luxembourg v Malta Betting Tips [9 June 2023]

Luxembourg, ranked 91st in the world, will take on 172nd-ranked Malta in an international friendly on Friday. Several nations from across Europe, including these two, will be hoping to get some much-needed match-time under their belts with the Euro 2024 qualifiers set to resume next week. Luxembourg have matches against Liechtenstein and Bosnia and Herzegovina incoming in the next two weeks. They currently sit fifth in Group J, three points behind the qualification spots, and will need a great deal of luck to make it through the group, with Portugal and Slovakia already leading the way. The hosts come into this match winless in their last four matches in all competitions, with three draws and a loss. The last time they won a  match was against Lithuania in the UEFA Nations League back in September last year. While their home record has been far from excellent, Luxembourg have been difficult to beat on their home patch in recent times. Before their 6-0 loss to Portugal in March this year, Luxembourg were unbeaten in their previous four home matches, drawing three and winning one. The hosts last played this opponent in 2018 and won 1-0, but can they put on another resilient performance in this one? 

Malta, meanwhile, are at the foot of Group C in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and is yet to register a point after losing their first two matches. Like their opponents, Malta will likely find it difficult to come through their qualifiers in the top two spots, with matches against England and Ukraine to come in the next couple of weeks. The visitors are on a three-match losing streak in all competitions and are winless in their last four. Malta have found it difficult in away matches in recent years. They’ve managed just one win in the last two and a half years, which came over San Marino in the UEFA Nations League last June. Malta have conceded two or more goals in four of their last five away matches in all competitions and will need to address their defensive frailties if they are to bring an end to their losing streak in this match.

With two teams that have poor defences going up against each other, it would come as little surprise if we saw a handful of goals in this one. The hosts have improved significantly in recent years and should come away with the win, but we’re going to opt for the total goals market instead, which feels a little safer. Our Luxembourg v Malta prediction: Over 2.5 goals.