Liam Duckstein
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Malta host Gibraltar in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday 1 October 2026, and the predicted lineups for this one sit at opposite ends of the sample-size spectrum. Malta’s projected XI is built from a single recent match, while Gibraltar’s expected XI draws on two, and that gap shows up in how much rotation each side has shown on paper. Both teams’ shapes below are our projection of who starts, not an official announcement.
Malta Predicted XI
Emilio De Leo’s side is projected in a 4-2-3-1, which is stated as the coach’s preferred formation. It’s a settled side on the numbers available – 11 of the projected XI started their last match – though with only one recent lineup to go on, that settledness reflects a single data point rather than a pattern. Henry Bonello in goal and Irvin Cardona up front both started that lone match used here, and every outfield name in between carries the identical one-from-one record, underlining just how thin this particular projection is. Malta’s expected XI should be read as a working estimate rather than a confirmed team.
Malta predicted XI: Henry Bonello; Ryan Camenzuli, Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe, Zach Muscat; Matthew Guillaumier, Paul Mbong, Teddy Teuma, Ylyas Chouaref, Alexander·Satariano; Irvin Cardona
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 1 | Last 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Henry Bonello | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 3 | Ryan Camenzuli | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 5 | Kurt Shaw | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 13 | Enrico Pepe | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 22 | Zach Muscat | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 6 | Matthew Guillaumier | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 8 | Paul Mbong | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 10 | Teddy Teuma | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 20 | Ylyas Chouaref | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 23 | Alexander·Satariano | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| F | 11 | Irvin Cardona | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Gibraltar Predicted XI
Scott Wiseman’s team projects in a 4-3-3, again matching the coach’s stated preference. The side is largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, though two changes from that most recent XI – at right-back and up front – keep this from looking fully locked in. Bradley Banda and Julian Valarino stand out with starts in both of the two matches used, a stronger and more consistent record than several teammates who managed just one. Overall, Gibraltar’s team news points to a core group holding its place with modest tinkering around it.
Gibraltar predicted XI: Bradley Banda; Julian Valarino, Bernardo Lopes, D. Bent, Ethan Jolley; James Scanlon, Kian Ronan, Graeme Torrilla; Dylan Borge, Tjay De Barr, jaiden bartolo
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 2 | Last 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Bradley Banda | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 3 | Julian Valarino | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 6 | Bernardo Lopes | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 5 | D. Bent | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| D | 2 | Ethan Jolley | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 11 | James Scanlon | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 8 | Kian Ronan | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 22 | Graeme Torrilla | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 9 | Dylan Borge | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 10 | Tjay De Barr | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 18 | jaiden bartolo | 1/2 | 1/2 |
Injuries and Suspensions
For Malta, no absentees are recorded in the data, so there’s no line in the side thinned by injury or suspension heading into this fixture. With the full pool available, any of the unused bench options such as Myles Beerman or Jake Grech would be the ones pushing for inclusion if the coach opts for changes, though none has a recorded start in the matches used here.
Gibraltar’s picture is the same: no absentees are recorded in the data, leaving Scott Wiseman with his squad intact on paper. Bench options including Nicholas Pozo, Leon Mason and Jesse Gomez each carry a start in the matches used, so any of them could realistically step into the expected XI without it being a major departure from recent selection patterns.
How We Predict These XIs
Each projection is built from that side’s own recent lineups – just one for Malta and two for Gibraltar – with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended is removed from contention before the XI is assembled. This is a data-driven projection rather than an official team sheet, and it will change once the actual starting lineups are confirmed closer to kickoff.
Read Also: Malta vs Gibraltar Prediction: 01.10.2026 UEFA Nations League 2026/27
FAQ
What formation are Malta and Gibraltar expected to line up in?
Malta are projected in a 4-2-3-1 under Emilio De Leo, while Gibraltar are projected in a 4-3-3 under Scott Wiseman, both reflecting each coach’s preferred shape.
Who is predicted to start in goal for Malta vs Gibraltar?
Henry Bonello is projected to start in goal for Malta, with Bradley Banda expected to start for Gibraltar.
Are there any injuries or suspensions for Malta vs Gibraltar?
No absentees are recorded in the data for either Malta or Gibraltar ahead of this match.
When do Malta play Gibraltar?
The UEFA Nations League fixture kicks off on Thursday 1 October 2026.