Preview: Saint Lucia vs. San Marino - prediction, team news, lineups

Saint Lucia and San Marino will square off on Sunday in the second consecutive international friendly between the countries in quick succession.

The previous contest between the two sides finished in a 1-1 draw on Friday at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground.

Match preview

© Reuters

Saint Lucia headed into this pair of friendlies with San Marino on home soil looking to continue a positive year, having most recently been in action in the CONCACAF Nations League in June.

In what was their first game since 2019, and their first outing under the new management of Stern John, they began with a trip to Dominica and took all three points as Jevick McFarlane's goal made the only difference between the sides.

The Caribbean outfit then made it back-to-back wins in their group by beating Anguilla at home, with Andrus Remy and Kurt Frederick getting on the scoresheet, before welcoming San Marino to the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground this week.

Aiming to make it three victories on the bounce, albeit in a friendly, Saint Lucia looked set to come out on top thanks to Donavan Jn Baptiste's 30th-minute goal, only to be pegged back in injury time.

Now sitting 172nd in the FIFA World rankings, John's men will aim to go one better Saturday and carry on their unbeaten record in the calendar year with a win over their European visitors.

San Marino, meanwhile, come into the second contest in search of a first international victory since 2004, having lost all but four of their games between that triumph and their trip to the Caribbean.

La Serenissima's most recent competitive action came this year in the UEFA Nations League, as they failed to put a point on the board in four attempts in their group alongside Estonia and Malta, losing 4-0 at home to the former in their last match in September.

Such a record sees San Marino sit 211th in the FIFA World Rankings, and they looked set to fall to another defeat on Friday as they trailed Saint Lucia by a goal, only to equalise in dramatic fashion through Lorenzo Lazzari in the 94th minute.

Now bound to have a degree of renewed confidence and optimism from that result, Fabrizio Costantini will be desperate to score an international victory in their second outing at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground this weekend.

Team News

© Reuters

Defender Kurt Frederick boasts the most experience in this Saint Lucia squad, with the 31-year-old approaching 50 caps having netted eight goals for his nation.

Donavan Jn Baptiste will again feature after opening the scoring on Friday, while Ridel Stanislas and Sherman Augustin are both fighting to keep their places in the attacking areas.

San Marino travelled to the Caribbean without key man Filippo Berardi, who often starts on the wing, as he missed out on the trip through injury alongside fellow attacker Nicola Nanni.

Lorenzo Lazzari earned an international debut off the bench and netted their late equaliser, and he should be given a chance from the start on Sunday with rotations expected given the quick turnaround.

Experienced forward Matteo Vitaioli should again don the captain's armband though, having notched up 80 international caps.

Saint Lucia possible starting lineup:

Barclett; Frederick, Doxilly, Evans, Myers; Similien, Elva, Joseph; Stanislas, Baptiste, Augustin

San Marino possible starting lineup:

Benedettini; D'Addario, Cevoli, Grandoni, Palazzi; Mularoni, E Golinucci, A Golinucci, Rinaldi; Vitaioli, Lazzari

We say: Saint Lucia 1-1 San Marino

Given the similarity in quality between the two sides, we would not be surprised to see a repeat of Friday's result at the weekend.

San Marino do have the ability to hurt their opponents but will find it tough ending an 18-year wait for a win, and we see them returning home with another draw.

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