Ukraine vs. Albania: Nations League Preview

On Saturday evening, Ukraine and Albania will kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaigns with their opening match at the neutral venue of Epet ARENA in Prague. This will be the first time both teams have been in action since they participated in Euro 2024.

They will compete in League B Group 1, aiming to secure promotion along with Georgia and the Czech Republic. Ukraine considered the dark horse for Euro 2024, was disappointingly eliminated at the group stage, marking their third group-stage exit in four European Championship appearances.

Ukraine vs. Albania: Team Form & Head-to-Head

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Despite earning four points from three group games, Ukraine finished last due to a poorer goal difference compared to Romania, Belgium, and Slovakia. Albania, who participated in only their second major tournament at Euro 2024, did not progress past the group stage but earned praise for their performances in a tough group with Croatia, Italy, and Spain.

Ranked 25th in the FIFA world rankings, Ukraine has a solid Nations League record, with six wins, two draws, and two losses from their 10 matches in League B. They are confident heading into this match, having won their last two encounters with Albania with a combined score of 7-2, though their most recent meeting was in June 2018.

Under Brazilian coach Sylvinho, who has overseen seven wins, four draws, and five losses in his 16 matches since January 2023, Albania will aim to improve on their previous Nations League performance, where they finished third in their group behind Israel and Iceland with only two points from four matches. Albania has struggled away from home, winning just one of their last 13 matches outside of Albania since late 2021, and has never beaten Ukraine in six previous encounters, including five losses and one draw (2-2) in a World Cup qualifier in October 2005.

Team News

For Ukraine, manager Rebrov will consider whether to continue with Anatoliy Trubin as the first-choice goalkeeper or give Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin a chance, who was benched after the opening Euro 2024 match. Captain Andriy Yarmolenko, with 46 goals, is close to surpassing Andriy Shevchenko as Ukraine’s all-time leading scorer and could feature in attack, although Viktor Tsygankov, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Artem Dovbyk are also options.

Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko may start at left-back or in central midfield, and if he plays in midfield, Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko could take his place in defense alongside Illya Zabarnyi, Mykola Matviyenko, and Yukhym Konoplya.

Albania will be missing striker Armando Broja, defender Berat Djimsiti, and backup goalkeeper Elhan Kastrati due to injuries. Myrto Uzuni and Adrian Bajrami have been called up to replace Broja and Djimsiti, respectively, and are in contention to start. Expected starters include Elseid Hysaj and Marash Kumbulla in defense, with Qazim Laci, Ylber Ramadani, and Kristjan Asllani in midfield.

Ukraine vs. Albania: Possible Starting XI

Ukraine: Trubin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Stepanenko, Zinchenko; Tsygankov, Sudakov, Mudryk; Dovbyk

Albania: Strakosha; Hysaj, Kumbulla, Ismajli, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani, Laci; N. Bajrami, Manj, Asani

Getting a win here at this stage will provide a good momentum push as they look ahead to the rest of the matches in this Nations League campaign. Albania looks forward to the imbalance the H2H statistics as they will try to upset Ukraine mainly through counter-attacks.