Albania is set for a crucial World Cup qualifying match against Andorra on Thursday, a fixture that carries significant implications for both teams. The match will be held in Encamp, where Albania aims to secure an essential victory to enhance their playoff chances.
Match Preview: Andorra vs Albania
Albania enters this penultimate Group K qualifier motivated by the possibility of securing a coveted second-place finish. Their recent performance has seen them win four consecutive matches across all competitions. This includes vital qualifying victories over Latvia and Serbia.
Andorra, however, finds itself at the bottom of the Group K standings. With a single point from seven matches, their focus has shifted to avoiding further humiliating defeats. Their only positive result came from a 2-2 draw with Latvia.
Historical Context
The last encounter between these two teams resulted in a convincing 3-0 victory for Albania in March. This outcome marked Albania’s third consecutive win against Andorra, extending their unbeaten streak to six matches. They have not lost to Andorra since a friendly defeat in 2002.
Team News
- Andorra: Defender Joel Guillen returns after suspension but is left out of the squad. Eric Vales and Christian Garcia are also unavailable due to yellow-card bans.
- Moises San Nicolas stands as the most experienced player in the Andorran lineup with 95 caps.
- Albania: Coach Sylvinho has most of his key players available, except for defender Marash Kumbulla. Rey Manaj is expected to lead the attack in Armando Broja’s absence.
- Elseid Hysaj is set to make his 95th appearance, having recently become Albania’s all-time capped player.
Predictions
As for predictions, Albania is favored to win this encounter. Despite Andorra showing some signs of improvement in attack, they are unlikely to withstand the pressure from a well-drilled Albanian side.
The forecast for the match leans towards a scoreline of 2-0 in favor of Albania, cementing their position in the playoff race.
This match not only serves as a crucial point for Albania’s World Cup ambitions but also as a potential building block for Andorra as they look ahead to future competitions.
