Luxembourg’s national football team will face Malta on Tuesday in the second leg of their UEFA Nations League play-off at the Stade de Luxembourg.
The Red Lions secured a 2–0 away win in the first leg, with goals from Vincent Thill and Mathias Olesen at the Ta’ Qali Stadium. While the performance was not Luxembourg’s most convincing, the result puts them in a strong position ahead of the return fixture.
Head coach Jeff Strasser admitted his side was not fully satisfied with the first-leg display, despite the win.
He said that winning 2–0 while still seeing room for improvement was a positive sign ahead of the second leg. He highlighted Malta’s strength in transition, but stressed that Luxembourg had contributed to that by losing possession too easily, something the team must correct.
Strasser also pointed to Luxembourg’s strong possession in the first half, noting that it must be used more effectively in the final third to create clearer scoring opportunities. Defensively, he called for greater concentration, as Malta’s chances largely stemmed from Luxembourg’s own mistakes rather than structured attacking play.
There had been concerns over goalkeeper Anthony Moris, who was forced off injured in the 68th minute of the first leg. However, Strasser confirmed that Moris trained normally and is expected to be available.
The situation is less clear for Tiago Pereira, who has been ill in recent days and was unable to train. Strasser noted that Luxembourg has four strong goalkeepers available, with three set to be included in the matchday squad.
With a 2–0 advantage to defend, Luxembourg will look to confirm the result at home, backed by strong support. The Stade de Luxembourg is sold out, and Strasser said it is always a pleasure to play in front of a full home crowd, adding that the team’s goal is to ensure fans leave the stadium satisfied.
Ultimately, the objective is clear: avoid the mistakes from the first leg and secure their place in League C of the Nations League. Transition phases are expected to be decisive, with Luxembourg aiming to combine controlled possession with greater efficiency in front of goal, Strasser concluded.
You can watch the game on RTLToday.lu with English commentary.
