Kosovo will be looking for their first win in Euro 2024 qualifying when they face Andorra in a Group I fixture at the Estadi Nacional on Thursday night.
Both teams are currently in the bottom three of the group standings, with Kosovo still having a tiny hope of catching second-placed Romania, while for Andorra it has been over a year since they last won an international match, when they defeated Liechtenstein in the UEFA Nations League.
Match preview
The hosts picked up their second point in Euro 2024 qualifying courtesy of a goalless draw with Belarus in early September, which was followed by a 3-0 defeat at the hands of group leaders Switzerland, although Andorra kept up well for much of the game and held on until the 84th minute.
The worrying thing about Andorra's performance, as in most games, is still their attacking input. They did not manage a single shot on goal against Switzerland, and in the home game against Belarus they only managed three attempts, which makes scoring an almost impossible task.
Even though the Andorrans lack penetrating quality in attack and especially in the final third, they are not completely ineffective in front of goal when they do manage to create a chance or two.
Before the last two games, Koldo Alvarez's team had scored in three consecutive outings - away against Israel and at home against Switzerland, in addition to one in a 1-1 draw with Thursday's opponents Kosovo.
It has been more than two years since Andorra last defeated an opponent in a UEFA qualifier; there was a 3-0 away win over San Marino in 2021, and the Tricolours would need to put in a strong performance to have any chance of ending their two-year winless streak in qualifiers on Thursday night.
While Andorra have performed decently in Group I so far considering their capabilities, Kosovo are certainly playing below their level and are still winless after six games, including a 2-0 loss to Romania in their last match.
Primoz Gliha's team started their qualification for Euro 2024 with three draws in a row against Israel, Andorra and Romania, scoring only two goals.
To make an already miserable start to European Championship qualifying even worse, a 2-1 away defeat in Belarus followed, putting the dream of reaching second place virtually out of reach.
After a very poor start, Kosovo bounced back with an impressive performance at home to group favourites Switzerland to earn a 2-2 draw, with Vedat Muriqi scoring the equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The Mallorca's centre-forward is arguably the biggest threat in Kosovo's attack, having scored three times in Euro 2024 qualifying, but after his red card in the game against Romania, he will not be able to extend his goal tally on Thursday night.
With a win against Andorra, the Kosovars could still have a tiny hope of finishing second in Group I if the other group games also end with a positive result.
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Team News
Andorra will have to do without their main centre-forward Ildefons Lima, who went off injured in the first half of the match against Switzerland and was replaced by Ricard Fernandez, who will most likely start on Thursday.
Otherwise, head coach Alvarez is expected to field a similar starting XI as he did against Switzerland, with little to no changes that could make a real difference.
The Tricolors are expected to play a traditional 5-4-1 system, with Marc Garcia and Moises Nicolas providing danger out wide as wing-backs.
Kosovo, on the other hand, will be without their top scorer Muriqi after the Mallorca striker was sent off for two bookable offences last time out.
With the team consistently playing in their 4-4-2 formation, a two-man forward duo is expected to lead the line, meaning Albion Rrahmani will most likely play alongside Milot Rashica.
Andorra possible starting lineup:
Alvarez; Nicolas, Llovera, Guillen, Alavedra, Garcia; Vales, Rebes, Vales, Cervos; Fernandez
Kosovo possible starting lineup:
Muric; Vojvoda, Rrahmani, Aliti, Paqarada; Berisha, Loshaj, Berisha, Zhegrova; Rashica, Rrahmani
We say: Andorra 0-1 Kosovo
Kosovo have been struggling to score goals in Euro qualifying so far, and the task will not be made easier by Muriqi's suspension for Thursday's match.
Andorra are known for their robust defence, which makes them difficult to penetrate in the final third. Therefore, Kosovo will certainly have to step up in the offensive half of the field to break the home team's resistance.
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