Albania vs Serbia prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-06-06 18:45.
[p]For just the third time ever, Balkan neighbours Albania and Serbia will face off in an international match with crucial FIFA World Cup qualification (WCQ) points on the line. This fixture’s short history is littered with controversy owing to the two nations’ tense relationship, with the first meeting between the sides back in 2014 awarded to Albania by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after a drone carrying a map of Greater Albania interrupted play and incited riots.[/p]
[p]Albania lost the reverse fixture 2-0 on their own soil, so will be looking for their first-ever H2H goal here in Tirana. Aside from off-pitch tension, Sylvinho’s men will be looking to kick on in their bid to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time ever after a mixed start to this cycle (W1, L1), and can take confidence from that win coming on home soil, even if it was against minnows Andorra (3-0).[/p]
[p]Serbia represent much tougher opposition as they begin their quest to qualify for a third successive World Cup finals, having successfully retained their place in the top tier of the UEFA Nations League in March by beating Austria in a play-off. The Eagles have therefore lost just one of their last six matches (W2, D3) and will fancy their chances of a top-two finish alongside heavy group favourites England.[/p]
[p]Dragan Stojković’s men have struggled on their travels in recent times, failing to win any of their four away matches since last summer’s European Championships (D2, L2). Serbia will at least be confident of correcting that here having gone unbeaten through the previous WCQ cycle (W6, D2), while losing just one of their last 18 such matches (W12, D5).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Only seven Albania players have ever scored more for their country than Rey Manaj (G10), with two of those strikes coming in his side’s 3-0 win over Andorra in March. Striker Dušan Vlahović rounded off the scoring in Serbia’s play-off win against Austria, while he also netted three times in his last two WCQ matches.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Just one of Albania’s last seven matches saw both teams score.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]