Albania will be looking to avoid their worst losing run since 1997 when they open their UEFA Nations League (UNL) campaign against a resurgent Belarus.
Match News and Current Form
After a friendly defeat against Luxembourg in June extended their losing run to five matches, Albania are on the brink of matching that unwanted sequence from almost 30 years ago. It’s difficult to see a way the Red and Blacks don’t fall to that fate having failed to score in four of those five reversals, and even the appointment of Rolando Maran hasn’t helped on that front as Albania still await their first goals under his stewardship (L2). He’s under pressure from the outset here as Albania seek an instant return to League B, but a return to Tirana where his side have lost their last three games to nil hardly seems likely to stimulate a change in fortunes.
Belarus may be ranked 29 places beneath Albania in FIFA’s world rankings, but they travel on the back of a six-game unbeaten run (W3, D3). Four of those have come under Viktor Goncharenko (W3, D1), and that ongoing sequence gives Belarus the chance to go on their longest streak without defeat since February 2011 (W4, D3). Such a positive run should have them believing they can break their four-cycle stint in League C, but they may have to tighten up a defence which has kept just two clean sheets in 12 games if they’re to have any realistic ambitions of promotion.
Head-to-Head History
Albania have won three of the last four H2Hs (D1), keeping three clean sheets in the process and winning their most recent meeting with Belarus in November 2020 (3-2).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Albania haven’t scored before half-time in their last six UNL games.
Just two of Albania’s last 12 matches featured over 2.5 goals.
Six of Belarus’ last seven games were decided by a one-goal margin at most.
Belarus haven’t scored before half-time in their last 12 competitive matches.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Rey Manaj has scored the most international goals in Albania’s current squad (G11) and has been on fire in the Turkish second tier recently, finding the net six times in his last five appearances, although only one of those strikes contributed to a win (D2, L1). Vitali Lisakovich is the leading marksman in Belarus’ current squad, with his seven strikes for his country coming in five games, all of which featured over 2.5 goals.
Albania duo Adrion Pajaziti and Qazim Laçi have withdrawn from the squad through injury, while Belarus look to be close to full strength.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Given Albania’s recent low-scoring games, under 2.5 goals seems a sensible selection here.
Author: Alex Bowmer