Spain vs Malta 16/11/19

16 November 2019

Spain welcome minnows Malta Estadio Ramón de Carranza for the penultimate game of the 2020 UEFA European Championship Qualifying (ECQ).

Although they’ve played out back-to-back 1-1 draws ahead of the kick-off, the hosts have already sealed a place in next summer’s tournament. Sitting top of the section as the only unbeaten nation in Group F (W6, D2), the Red Fury will be looking to maintain their 100% home record in the ongoing qualifying campaign (W3). While each of those triumphs saw Spain score at least two goals, only one has witnessed them concede a goal. Spain’s home action usually sparks into life in the second half, as seven of a total of nine ECQ home goals scored came after the break. Also, a 2-0 away win over Malta in the reverse fixture has stretched their winning run in H2Hs to seven games, with five of their last victories seeing them keep a clean sheet.

Meanwhile, after a strong start to their qualifying campaign and a 2-1 home win over the Faroe Islands, the visitors have failed to pick up a single point in the subsequent seven ECQ matches, home and away. Notably, all of those defeats have seen Malta draw a blank, with five seeing them trail at the halftime break. A narrow 1-0 loss to the Faroe Islands has extended Malta’s dreadful away record to 30 successive competitive away games without a win (D4, L26). Nine of their previous 12 road trips in all competitions have witnessed the Knights of Malta allow over 1.5 match goals (D1, L11), while just three saw them find the back of the net.