Albania – Moldova : Preview & Prediction
Rooted to the bottom of Group E in Euro 2024 qualifying, Albania have work to do if they are to emulate their success in qualifying for Euro 2016. To date, that is the only major tournament Albania has participated in, and considering the qualifying campaign began with a surprise win in Portugal, the “Eagles” have certainly started off on the wrong foot so far.
A change of fortune could be just around the corner with Moldova being their next opponents, a nation Albania have beaten in four of their five all-time meetings (E1). In fact, they were in the same zone in qualifying for Euro 2020, and with Albania winning both meetings by an aggregate score of 6-0, they will be hoping this will be the perfect match to kick-start their bid to be in Germany at the end of next summer.
Having started their qualifying campaign on a secure footing with back-to-back draws at home, Moldova will be hoping to get their first win. Perhaps easier said than done for a team that has won just one of its last 22 European Championship qualifiers (E4, P17), but a 0-0 draw against #38 FIFA-ranked Czech Republic in their last match should at least boost confidence ahead of a visit to an Albania side that sits 30 places below them.
A poor away record in Euro qualifiers perhaps dampens that belief somewhat, with seven successive defeats, six of which came without a goal, threatening to offset their solid start. Coach Serghei Cleșcenco will be hoping to be the man to end that streak with his 50% win rate as Moldova coach (G5, E1, P4), the highest win average of any coach in the nation’s history to have managed at least ten matches!
Players to watch: Sokol Cikalleshi scored four of Albania’s 16 Euro 2020 qualifying goals and opened the scoring in both clashes between these teams during that campaign. All of Moldova’s good stuff generally comes through Ion Nicolaescu, who has scored his only goal so far in the playoffs, which like his last three goals for the club, came from the penalty spot.
Key stat: Albania have conceded exactly two goals in five of their last six European Championship qualifiers in which they were the home team on duty.
Albania – Moldova : Betting Tips
Albania – Win Odds: 1.35
