Aiming to get off the mark in European Championship qualifying Group E, Albania play host to minnows Moldova on Saturday evening.

The teams meet in Tirana with the home side bottom of the table after losing to Poland in their opening game; meanwhile, the visitors managed to defy expectation and navigate their first two fixtures unbeaten.

Match preview

Despite much talk of a bold new era under new coach Sylvinho, the Brazilian's reign as Albania boss began with a 1-0 defeat in Warsaw during the spring international period.

The former Arsenal full-back's first competitive match saw the Eagles set out on the road towards Euro 2024, but they were unable to respond after going behind shortly before the break against Group E favourites Poland.

Nonetheless, Albania are now presented with back-to-back fixtures against outsiders Moldova and the Faroe Islands, so will expect to start September's camp with six points on the board.

Alongside his assistant, Pablo Zabaleta, Sylvinho was chosen to succeed veteran coach Edy Reja, after a weak UEFA Nations League showing saw the Albanians finish with two points from a possible 12; only avoiding relegation due to being drawn in the same group as Russia, who were expelled from the competition.

Having also failed to reach Qatar 2022 and won just one of their last 12 matches - a friendly against Armenia last autumn - the new management is now expected to get the best out of a talented crop featuring Chelsea's Armando Broja and Inter Milan midfielder Kristjan Asllani.

By comparison with their hosts - Euro 2016 participants who are placed more than 100 places higher in the FIFA rankings - Moldova's resources are certainly more scarce.

However, they caused an early stir in Group E by holding Czechia goalless when the teams met in March, after having less than a third of the ball at home in Chisinau and surviving 16 shots on goal.

That followed a 1-1 draw against the Faroe Islands, in which a late Ion Nicolaescu penalty saved the day for Serghei Clescenco's side.

Now five competitive games unbeaten after ending their Nations League campaign with three straight wins, Moldova are accustomed to being cut adrift in qualifying for the European Championships and World Cup, but ahead of Saturday's contest at Air Albania Stadium they sit two points above their opponents.

The Eastern European nation came last in qualification for both Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, so a bright start this time around has raised hopes they can avoid such a fate on the road to Germany.

Team News

As Sylvinho aims to lead his team off the bottom of Group E, and ultimately to Albania's second major finals, he has named a squad captained by Torino goalkeeper Etrit Berisha and featuring 75-cap full-back Elseid Hysaj.

That pair make up one quarter of an eight-strong Serie A contingent for the hosts, with Kristjan Asllani expected to start in midfield and Atalanta's Berat Djimsiti set to join Hysaj at the back.

In addition to Armando Broja, though, Roma's Marash Kumbulla and Ivan Balliu of Rayo Vallecano will not be available for this month's internationals. An adductor injury sustained on the final day of La Liga sees the latter miss out, so Nasser Aliji has been called up as cover.

Moldova, meanwhile, will again turn to top scorer Ion Nicolaescu to carry the fight up front; having impressed for Beitar Jerusalem this season, the striker now seeks to increase his international tally of 10 goals.

Elsewhere, Oleg Reabciuk of Olympiacos and Italy-based Artur Ionita are among the most notable members of a squad which will be missing former skipper Igor Armas, who recently retired from national duty. Vadim Rata is set to take the armband this weekend.

Albania possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Veseli, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Hysaj; Abrashi, Asllani, Bajrami; Asani, Cikalleshi, Uzuni

Moldova possible starting lineup:
Railean; Craciun, Mudrac, Posmac; Revenco, Rata, Caimacov, Motpan, Reabciuk; Damascan, Nicolaescu

We say: Albania 2-0 Moldova

Given results so far in Group E, simply sweeping aside Moldova may not be on the agenda for an Albania side blessed with far more depth and top-level experience. In fact, it could take time to break the visitors down, so a two-goal home win is perhaps the likeliest result.


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