One of the lowest ranked teams in the world just two years ago, Moldova's phenomenal Euro 2024 qualifying campaign has seen them climb almost 30 places.

Serghei Clescenco's men almost became the lowest-ranked nation ever to qualify for a major tournament, taking four points from Poland and holding eventual qualifiers Albania and the Czech Republic to draws.

Qualification came down to a winner-takes-all encounter with the Czechs in Olomouc on the final matchday, but a 3-0 defeat saw Clescenco's plucky side fall just short.

Moldova's world ranking took a hit when they were relegated to League D of the Nations League in 2020, and they missed out on promotion to the next edition, finishing behind Latvia on goal difference.

Fast forward to the present and the Tricolorii enter the new Nations League campaign as the strongest of the six teams in League D, and with Andorra the other nation in their group, Malta are likely to be their closest challengers for promotion.

However, the visitors bring no form to this new international cycle, having lost all eight of their Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Malta's only win in their last 11 came at home to Gibraltar, and they were also thumped 7-1 away in Czechia as recently as June.

It was believed that Malta had a slight chance of promotion in the last Nations League campaign in 2022, but home and away defeats to Estonia put paid to any hopes of moving up to League C for the first time.

A defeat here to begin with will have Michele Marcolini's men on the backfoot from the outset, with just three teams in the group, giving little time to make up the ground after a loss.

Malta's record against Moldova makes for grim reading too, as they have won only once in eight previous meetings - a friendly in 2002 - which is a rather disappointing showing given how little separates the two sides in the rankings.

Moldova possible starting lineup:

Railean; Revenco, Craciun, Posmac, Reabciuk; Postolachi, Rata, Stina, Caimacov, Motpan; Nicolaescu

Malta possible starting lineup:

Bonello; S Borg, Pepe, Vassallo; Zammit Lonardelli, Yankam, Guillaumier, Teuma, Camenzuli; P Mbong, J Mbong

Prediction:Moldova 2-0 Malta

Moldova VS Malta stream and TV listing

International：Holasports