At the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on 14 November 2025, Finland host Malta in a qualifier that the home side must win to keep even a theoretical chance of finishing second. The visitors, meanwhile, travel north looking simply to stay competitive and avoid another defeat in a difficult campaign.
Finland Chasing Their Last Opportunity
Finland enter this match knowing that only a victory keeps their faint hopes alive. The team has shown resilience in recent home performances, winning 2–1 against both Poland and Lithuania - results that have sustained belief, even if the path to second place remains narrow. Finland have already beaten Malta once in this group, 1–0 away, but they remain three points behind Poland while having played one match more. Their challenge is simple yet demanding: maintain focus, control the match, and claim all three points without allowing frustration to creep in.
Malta Still Searching for Their First Win
Malta continue to fulfil the expectations placed on them as the group’s underdog. Winless so far, they sit at the bottom with only two points and just one goal scored from six matches. Their campaign has at least shown defensive resilience at times - excluding the games against the Netherlands, four of Malta’s six fixtures have finished under 2.5 goals. Their lone point away from home came in a 1–1 draw with Lithuania, a result that demonstrated their capacity to remain organised and competitive against mid-table opponents. Even so, their limited attacking threat makes every match an uphill battle.
Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals
Finland are clear favourites, but Malta’s defensive discipline and Finland’s measured, controlled playing style suggest a cautious encounter rather than a high-scoring one. With Malta rarely conceding heavily outside the top-tier opposition and Finland often relying on structure over risk, the selection is Under 2.5 goals, expecting a controlled Finnish win with a modest scoreline.
