Malta vs San Marino: Historic Rivals Meet in September International Friendly

Match Preview
An intriguing international friendly match is set to take place as Malta goes head-to-head with San Marino on Tuesday, September 9, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 Central European Time.
Historical Context
The historical record heavily favors Malta, who have demonstrated their dominance by winning all of their last three encounters against San Marino, scoring six goals while conceding only two. Their most recent competitive meetings took place in June 2023 during the UEFA Nations League, where Malta secured a convincing double over San Marino with a 2-0 away victory followed by a 1-0 home win.
Current Form
Malta enters this match experiencing a challenging period, having failed to secure a victory in their last five matches. Similarly, San Marino has been struggling with their offensive output, failing to find the back of the net in their last three matches.
World Cup Qualification Context
This friendly comes at a crucial time as both teams are amid their European Qualifiers campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which runs from March to November 2025. For Malta, this match serves as an important preparation following their World Cup qualification Group G match against Lithuania on September 4.
Match Significance
Statistical analysis shows that Malta has historically been the stronger side in first-half performances, winning 11% of their first halves, while San Marino has struggled to establish early leads. This friendly provides both teams with an opportunity to test their strategies and improve their form in a competitive setting.