Gibraltar is set to host San Marino in a pivotal UEFA Nations League D clash on Thursday. This marks their second match of the 2024-25 season, with Gibraltar currently sitting in second place in their three-team group with one point, while San Marino leads the group with three points after their recent victory.
Match Overview
Gibraltar will be looking to bounce back after a frustrating 2-2 draw against Liechtenstein on September 8. The hosts initially took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute and later held a 2-1 advantage deep into stoppage time, only to concede a last-gasp equalizer in the 104th minute. This disappointment comes on the heels of their struggles in the previous Nations League edition, where they finished last in their group with just one point from six matches and were relegated after a 2-0 aggregate loss to Lithuania.
Managed by Julio Ribas since July 2018, Gibraltar has shown signs of improvement recently, with two draws and a win in their last three games. This is a notable turnaround from their previous streak of 13 consecutive losses without scoring.
In contrast, San Marino is riding high following their historic first competitive win—a 1-0 triumph over Liechtenstein on September 5. This victory marked a significant milestone for the team, as they had not won an official match since making their competitive debut in 1990 and had gone 140 games without a win since their last victory in a friendly against Liechtenstein in 2004.
Managed by Roberto Cevoli, San Marino’s recent form includes one win, one draw, and three losses over their last five matches, but they have struggled in their overall record, losing 32 and drawing two of their last 34 games. Notably, San Marino has not won any of their 101 away fixtures since December 1990.
Team News
For Gibraltar, manager Julio Ribas is likely to field Bradley Banda in goal, protected by a defense featuring Bernardo Lopes and Louie Annesly. Graeme Torrilla may partner with Daniel Bent in midfield, while Ethan Britto and James Scanlon are expected to occupy wide positions. Liam Walker is anticipated to play alongside Andre Tjay De Barr in the attacking line.
San Marino will likely stick with the squad that secured their first competitive win, with Edoardo Colombo starting in goal. The defense is expected to comprise Tommaso Benvenuti, Michele Cevoli, Dante Rossi, and Alessandro Tosi. In midfield, Enrico Golinucci may join Lorenzo Capicchioni and Matteo Valli Casadei. Up front, Andrea Contadini is set to partner with Nicola Nanni and Nicko Sensoli.
Predicted Lineups:
Gibraltar
– Banda; Jolley, Lopes, Annesley, Mascarenhas-Olivero; Scanlon, Torrilla, Bent, Britto; Walker, De Barr
San Marino:
– Colombo; Benvenuti, Cevoli, Rossi, Tosi; Golinucci, Capicchioni, Casadei; Contadini, Nanni, Sensoli
