Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday.
These two nations are among the six-lowest ranked teams in Europe, with Moldova placed 150th in the FIFA World Rankings and 20 positions higher than Andorra (170th).
Match preview
© Imago
Andorra ended a 20-game winless streak that lasted for just over two years when they beat the world's lowest-ranked nation San Marino 2-0 in a friendly last month.
The Tricolours had previously lost both of their opening Nations League games against Malta and Moldova, losing 1-0 at home to the former and 2-0 away against the latter.
Head coach Koldo Alvarez - who has managed 125 games as Andorra boss since February 2010 - sees his side sitting rock bottom of League D Group 2, and the prospect of securing promotion is slim, as they must win their final two fixtures to stand a chance of making it into the promotion playoffs.
Success on Saturday could prove challenging for Andorra, though, as they have only won one of their last nine meetings with Moldova - a 1-0 home victory in Euro 2020 qualifying five years ago.
Moldova, who have won their last two encounters with Andorra by an aggregate score of 4-1, are on course to secure promotion back to League C for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign having accumulated six points from their first three games.
Two 2-0 home wins over Malta and Andorra means that they sit top of League D Group 2 on goal difference and they will all but guaranteed promotion as group winners if they beat the latter for a second time on Saturday.
Serghei Clescenco's side won three games on the spin, including a 1-0 friendly success in September, before suffering a slender 1-0 loss away against Malta in their most recent Nations League fixture last month - not since November 2022 have Moldova lost back-to-back games in any competition.
While Moldova's home form has been impressive (W5 D3 L1) - albeit facing several nations of a similar quality - their away form leaves little to be desired, as they have come out on top in only four of their last 31 internationals on the road, which should provide Andorra with a slight boost ahead of hosting Saturday's contest.
Team News
© Imago
Andorra's 23-man squad includes eight players with at least 50 caps, including 120-cap Marc Pujol, who scored against San Marino last time out and at the ripe old age of 42 is in contention to start as captain in midfield alongside 97-cap Marc Vales.
Albert Rosas was also on target in Andorra's last match and will be hoping to retain his place up front, with support potentially provided on the flanks by Joan Cervos and Alex Martinez.
As for Moldova, defender Ioan-Calin Revenco and midfielder Serafim Cojocari have both been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
Maxim Cojocaru scored his first international goal at the 24th time of asking in Moldova's home win over Andorra and he will be pushing to start in attack with Heerenveen striker Ion Nicolaescu, the nation's all-time record scorer with 16 goals in 47 caps.
Andorra possible starting lineup:
Alvarez; Nicolas, Llovera, C. Garcia, Olivera, M. Garcia; A. Martinez, Pujol, Vales, Cervos; Rosas
Moldova possible starting lineup:
Celeadnic; Platica, Craciun, Mudrac, Babohlo, Reabciuk; Caimacov, Rata, Stina, Ionita; Nicolaescu
We say: Andorra 0-1 Moldova
Fixtures between two European minnows tend to be low-scoring affairs and another is set to be in store on Saturday, although Moldova will be regarded as slight favourites and will back themselves to claim a slender victory to strengthen their hopes of promotion to League C.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
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