Still in with a chance of promotion from the UEFA Nations League's bottom rung, Moldova must beat lowly Liechtenstein on Sunday and have some help from elsewhere.

Following up their midweek win over League D Group 1 leaders Latvia with three more points would see the hosts finish first if the Latvians slip up in Andorra, while the pointless visitors are already consigned to last place.

Match preview

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Knowing that anything but victory would consign them to another campaign of fourth-tier competition, Moldova sprung a surprise on Thursday, as they went two goals up just before the break in Riga and ultimately sent Latvia to their first defeat in Group 1.

Yet, ending their rivals' 100% record - thanks to goals from Ioan-Calin Revenco and Ion Nicolaescu - will be for nothing if they cannot now follow up a third win from five fixtures by securing three more points on the final day.

That would at least apply the pressure on Latvia, who sit two clear at the top despite their midweek loss, and also guarantee a minimum second-place finish into the bargain.

The Tricolorii were relegated in the Nations League's previous edition, after picking up just one point from six games against Slovenia, Greece and Kosovo at League C level, but retain a slim chance of bouncing back at the first attempt.

Since taking over earlier this year, coach Serghei Clescenco has won only three of nine matches in charge, but that actually represents a better rate than any former Moldova manager - and he will expect to improve his average still further on Sunday.

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Resigned to their fate as Group 1's rock-bottom nation, Liechtenstein have nothing but pride left to play for this weekend, following a fifth defeat from five on Thursday night in Vaduz.

Beaten by fellow minnows Andorra, who scored at either end of the game at Rheinpark Stadion, the tiny principality have not only failed to register a single point to date but also have just one goal to their name.

Martin Stocklasa's side now conclude their campaign with another attempt to halt a long losing streak: they have been beaten in each of their last 11 matches, while failing to win for 22 in all since September 2020.

As the Blau-Rot's boss is yet to avoid defeat at all since being promoted to the senior setup from the Under-21s, he will be desperate to finally do so in Chisinau.

However, having lost 2-0 to Moldova in June's reverse fixture, the odds are stacked against them pulling off an upset away from home this week.

Team News

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After naming his strongest available team in the win over Latvia, Serghei Clescenco is likely to do so again; leaving nothing to chance in Moldova's efforts to snatch top spot.

Midfielder Vadim Rata returns from suspension, though, and could force his way into the hosts' engine room, where he would be joined by Pisa's Artur Ionita.

Only veteran defender Igor Armas (79) has accumulated more caps than Ionita in the current Tricolorii squad, while 24-year-old Ion Nicolaescu leads the line in attack, having scored his ninth international goal in midweek.

As a principality of less than 40,000 people, Liechtenstein understandably have a small pool of players to pick from, so are likely to make few changes despite suffering another defeat in midweek.

Austria-based teenager Philipp Gassner started up front against Andorra, but both Dennis Salanovic and Noah Frick are viable alternatives for Martin Stocklasa.

FC Vaduz midfielder Nicolas Hasler will again sport the captain's armband, while his uncapped clubmate Jonas Hilti - another one of eight players from the Swiss Challenge League side to feature in the squad - hopes to make his senior debut in defence.

Moldova possible starting lineup:
Celeadnic; Craciun, Bolohan, Armas; Revenco, Ionita, Rata, Reabciuk; Motpan; Damascan, Nicolaescu

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:
Buchel; Malin, Hofer, M. Wolfinger; Graber, Frommelt, Luchinger, Goppel; Hasler, Meier; N. Frick

We say: Moldova 2-0 Liechtenstein

With little goal threat to worry about from toothless Liechtenstein, the path is clear for Moldova to repeat the same scoreline that brought maximum points from the reverse fixture. Though that may not be enough to secure promotion, sealing second spot with four wins from six would still be commendable.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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