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Sports Mole previews Sunday's Nations League clash between Gibraltar and North Macedonia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Both seeking their first win of the new UEFA Nations League campaign, Gibraltar and Euro 2020 finalists North Macedonia meet at Victoria Stadium on Sunday.

While the hosts were heavily beaten in their opening League C Group 4 contest, their visitors took a point from their first fixture in a group also featuring Georgia and Bulgaria.

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Match preview

© Reuters

After narrowly missing out on a place at their second successive major finals - and making a first-ever appearance at the World Cup - North Macedonia's history-makers reconvened at the end of May for another shot at promotion in the Nations League.

Beaten by Portugal in their Qatar 2022 playoff two months ago, the Macedonians could not pull off one more shock result to sit alongside seismic successes against international heavyweights Germany and Italy in the past year - the latter ending the European champions' hopes of reaching this winter's World Cup.

On their return to action, Blagoja Milevski's men managed to salvage a 1-1 draw in Razgrad on Thursday, as they came from behind to take a point from the opening fixture of four in a busy start to the Nations League's 2022-23 campaign.

Set to host Georgia and the return game with Gibraltar in the coming week, North Macedonia are aiming to step up a tier in Europe's newest international competition, after promotion from the depths of League D in the inaugural tournament was followed by a solid second-place finish in 2020.

Indeed, the Balkan nation narrowly missed out on promotion in the final fixture of their previous League C campaign, as Armenia secured promotion at their expense by winning 1-0 in a final-day decider.

While Milan Ristovski's second-half equaliser on Thursday helped them avoid a costly defeat in Bulgaria, the Lions will now be eager to stride closer to League B status by taking advantage of a meeting with more modest opponents.

© Reuters

After suffering a fifth successive defeat on the road, Gibraltar return to the Rock this weekend, desperate to pick up points in their quest to avoid relegation back to League D.

Promoted to the Nations League's third tier by virtue of going unbeaten against fellow minnows Liechtenstein and San Marino during the 2020 edition, Los Llanis recorded two victories and two draws in the process, but are sure to find the going tougher in the current campaign.

Thursday's 4-0 thumping in the Georgian capital of Tblisi saw the side overseen by Julio Cesar Ribas concede the lion's share of possession and muster only a single shot at goal throughout 90 minutes.

Napoli-bound Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring, but only the concession of two late goals gave the final scoreline such a comprehensive look.

Unsurprisingly unable to qualify for this winter's World Cup - as one of only two European nations to lose all 10 of their qualifiers - Gibraltar are aware of their lowly position in the pecking order, but have still come a long way since their acceptance into the international fold back in 2013.

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Team News

© Reuters

Despite a positive performance in Bulgaria, Blagoja Milevski could make changes to his North Macedonia starting XI this weekend, ahead of two more Group 4 matches in the coming days.

Sheriff Tiraspol's Boban Nikolov is among those pushing for a place in the team on Sunday, after only appearing as a substitute in midweek.

As captain Stefan Ristovski previously withdrew from the squad due to injury, Stefan Ashkovski will continue to deputise on the right side of the visitors' back four, while Levante midfielder Enis Bardhi stands in as skipper.

The latter will join Napoli playmaker Eljif Elmas behind a possible front three featuring leading goalscorer Aleksandar Trajkovski - who netted a dramatic late winner against Italy - and Milan Ristovski, scorer of the equaliser on Thursday.

Despite home advantage, Gibraltar are expected to deploy a cautious 5-4-1 formation, with captain Roy Chipolina expected to start alongside Scott Wiseman as two of three centre-backs.

Stourbridge striker Reece Styche could once again lead the line up front, and 40-year-old Lee Casciaro, of Lincoln Red Imps, is poised to play on the left flank - both are among the nation's joint-top scorers with a tally of three international goals.

Gibraltar possible starting lineup:
Coleing; Jolley, Chipolina, Wiseman, Lopes, Britto; Walker, Ronan, Annesley, Casciaro; Styche

North Macedonia possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Ashkovski, Velkovski, Musliu, Alioski; Bardhi, Elmas, Nikolov; Churlinov, Ristovski, Trajkovski

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We say: Gibraltar 0-2 North Macedonia

Pitched against the lesser lights of football on home soil, Gibraltar often give a good account of themselves and have posted some commendable results in recent times. However, Sunday's opponents represent a step-up in class.

Featuring a sprinkling of players with experience in Europe's top leagues, North Macedonia can score more than once and cruise to victory at the foot of the Rock.

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

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