Albania vs Scotland PREVIEW & PREDICTION 17/11/2018

Albania versus Scotland in the Nations League C is not the most attractive poster of this round in the Nations League, but there is much at stake on Saturday night at the Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder. Scotland has to win to keep its chance of promotion to League B alive, while Albania has to win to avoid relegation to League D.

Albania:

The tears catch your eyes when you see the results of Albania in 2018. Apart from an economical 1-0 victory over Israel and a goalless draw against the insignificant Jordan, the Balkan country lost all its international matches this calendar year. It will not surprise you that The Eagles in the Nations League are on the verge of relegation. If Saturday night is not won, the Red Blacks will relegate to League D, home to soccer dallies such as Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein and the Faroe Islands.

Yet it is remarkable that Albania, which two years ago managed to place for the European Championship, is doing so badly. All players of national coach Christian Panucci earn their money abroad and the Italian Serie A in particular is well represented with players like Elseid Hysaj (Napoli), Etrit Berisha and Berat Gjimshiti (both Atalanta). In defensiveness it still goes, but the Albanian attack does not bite at all. The Albanian football fans were only allowed to cheer twice in 2018 in seven international matches.

Scotland:

With six defeats in eight international matches, the results of Scotland are also not to write home about. Yet the Tartan Army promotion to League B still in their own hands. The team of national coach Alex McLeish is three points behind Israel, but has played a game less and takes the upcoming Tuesday in the closing round at Hampden Park in Glasgow in a direct confrontation against the leader. With two victories, the Scots are therefore a spekkoper, although in a defeat in and against Albania it can also go completely wrong for the British.

Scotland knows what to do, but has to make it Saturday night without the injured attackers Steven Naismith and Leigh Griffiths. The big question is therefore who should lead the Scottish attack. Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) seems to have the best papers, although he only scored three times this season in eighteen performances. Another interesting option is Callum Paterson (Cardiff City). He is actually a defender, but has been in the point of attack for the last few weeks. With three goals in his last four matches, he knows at least what scoring is.


PREDICTION: Over 1.5 goals @ 1.50

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