Gibraltar and Andorra meet for dia UEFA Nations League Group D1 fixture on Sunday. Na home side dey play dia first match for di 2026-27 campaign. Andorra bin fall 2-1 to Malta on Thursday.
For di group, all di nations fail to secure promotion to League C for di 2024-25 edition. So no too much room for error between Andorra, Malta and Gibraltar. Andorra bin look like dem go collect result against group favourites Malta on Thursday when dem take 17th-minute lead for Encamp. But Malta equalise before half time and win 2-1 with 81st-minute goal from Teddy Teuma.
Koldo Alvarez hope say di optimism inside Andorra camp no go too spoil. Him team don avoid defeat for two of dia previous four games. Around a 1-0 loss to Iraq, di 172nd-ranked team for world record goalless draw for San Marino and beat Liechtenstein 2-0.
Gibraltar dey 30 places behind Andorra for FIFA World Rankings. But dem don put three-match unbeaten streak for friendlies. Wins over British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands by 4-0 and 4-1 come before goalless draw against Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday. Before that run, Gibraltar bin lose 12 games in a row, even though three of dia previous four against Montenegro and Latvia, twice, only end by one-goal margin.
After dia appearance for UEFA Nations League qualification playoffs for previous competition, head coach Scott Wiseman feel say dis team dey upward trajectory and can defy dia position for world rankings. Wiseman expected to make plenty alterations to him Gibraltar XI. Kian Ronan suppose return for right-back. Dan Bent likely get nod for midfield, with Hans Stevens potentially dropping out. Key player Tjay De Barr and Dylan Borge dey in line to return for final third.
Unless Alvarez wan freshen him Andorra starting lineup, e fit plausibly name same team from Thursday night. Midfielder Jordi Alaez and attacker Berto Rosas fit replace Eric Izquierdo and Gerard Sola respectively. Gibraltar possible starting lineup na Banda; Ronan, Jolley, Lopes, Valarino; Scanlon, Pozo, Bent; Mason, Barr, Borge. Andorra possible starting lineup na Alvarez; Borra, Llovera, Olivera, San Nicolas; Remolins, Babot, Alaez, Rodrigo; Lopez, Rosas.
After Thursday night disappointment, Andorra go recognize say only win go do if dem want remain competitive for di group. But for home territory, Gibraltar get potential to keep things tight, especially against similar opposition, and low-scoring draw look like di most likely outcome.
For live match, first half don end Gibraltar 0, Andorra 0. Fourth official announce 0 minutes of added time. Offside, Gibraltar. Dylan Borge caught offside. Foul by Gerard Solà for Andorra, Dan Bent for Gibraltar win free kick for defensive half. Foul by Arón Rodrigo for Andorra, Graeme Torrilla for Gibraltar win free kick for attacking half. Jordi Aláez for Andorra win free kick for defensive half. Foul by Julian Valarino for Gibraltar. Foul by Guillaume López for Andorra, Bernardo Lopes for Gibraltar win free kick for defensive half. Biel Borrà for Andorra show yellow card for bad foul. Foul by Biel Borrà, Julian Valarino win free kick for defensive half. Éric Izquierdo for Andorra win free kick for defensive half. Foul by Dylan Borge for Gibraltar. Éric Izquierdo for Andorra show yellow card for bad foul. Foul by Éric Izquierdo, Tjay De Barr for Gibraltar win free kick for defensive half. Foul by Max Llovera for Andorra.
