Published on: May 30, 2021 4:30 pm IST|Updated on: May 30, 2021 1:43 pm IST
MLT vs NIR Dream11: The ever improving Malta continued their upward curve in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in March. They lost 3-1 against Russia after being just 2-1 down in the dying moments as well as leading 2-0 away against Slovakia only to draw 2-2. That upward curve is not something replicated with Northern Ireland. The departure of Michael O’Neill signalled an apparent major decline in performance under the tutelage of Ian Barraclough. His tenure has seen the Northern Irish not win inside 90 minutes in any of his ten games in charge but there was some improvement in performance when they lost 2-0 in Italy in March. A neutral venue for this will mean Northern Ireland are the favourites but it really is much closer than it should be; it is likely to be low-scoring.
Date: 30 May, Sunday Time: 9:30 PM (IST) Venue: Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
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Recent form:
Malta – L-D-L-D-W Northern Ireland – D-L-L-D-L
Head-to-head (seven meetings)
SWE Wins- 05 Draws– 02 FIN Wins– 00
Malta News
Injury Report and Unavailability: No injury or suspension issue before coming into this match.
Expected changes and Strategy: Malta called up 29 players in his latest international squad. Defender Andrei Agius is two games away from a century of caps. They have a full-strength squad for this clash.
Malta Starting XI (Likely)
Henry Bonello Andrei Agius Kurt Shaw Ferdinando Apap Enrico Pepe Bjorn Kristensen Steve Pisani Joseph Mbong Jurgen Degabriele Shaun Dimech Kyrian Nwoko
Northern Ireland News
Injury Report and Unavailability: The away side don’t have any injury or suspension issue before coming into this match.
Expected changes and Strategy: The Irish side is bestowed with Premier League experience like Stuart Dallas, Paddy McNair and Bailey Peacock-Farrell, which could be big plus for the side.
Northern Ireland Starting XI (Likely)
Bailey Peacock-Farrell Stuart Dallas Craig Cathcart Shane Ferguson Paddy McNair Niall McGinn George Savile Jordan Jones Kyle Lafferty Liam Boyce Paul Smyth
MLT vs NIR Dream11 Fantasy Football Tips
Captain Options
Paul Smyth: Smyth has 3 goals and a total of 16 shots on goals. This results in a goal conversion rate of 32.41%. He had a total of 6 big chances. He has a total of 1 assists, 2 key passes and he created a total of 8 chances.
Kyle Lafferty: Lafferty has 1 goals and a total of 6 shots on goals. This results in a goal conversion rate of 35.74%. He had a total of 5 big chances. He has a total of 1 assists, 7 key passes and he created a total of 7 chances.
X-factors, differential picks
Kyrian Nwoko: Nwoko has 1 goals and a total of 6 shots on goals. This results in a goal conversion rate of 28.48%. He had a total of 3 big chances. He has a total of 0 assists, 7 key passes and he created a total of 4 chances.
Goalkeeper: Bonello Defenders: Dallas, Cathcart, Apap, Pepe Midfielders: Jones, Lafferty, McGinn, Dimech Attackers: Boyce, Smyth, Nwoko
Likely Winner:
As things stand, neither of the two sides is recognized for their attacking quality. However, Malta’s modest standing means that Northern Ireland and Kyle Lafferty in particular might not get a better opportunity to rediscover their scoring touch.. In our MLT vs NIR Today Match Prediction odds, we back for a 2-1 win for the Irish in this match.