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Ukraine will face Albania at the epet ARENA on Saturday in the opening game of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign. The Blue and Yellow had mixed results in the European Championship back in June, finishing level on points with all the other teams in their group but ultimately crashing out of the tournament due to goal difference.
They kicked off their Nations League campaign in 2022 with a 1-0 win over Ireland featuring a stunning second-half strike from Viktor Tsygankov a minute after his introduction and will be targeting a winning start to things here as well.
Like their opponents, Albania also participated in the Euros during the summer but failed to impress as they finished rock-bottom in their group following a winless group-stage run. They were beaten 1-0 by Spain in their most recent game, falling behind in the opening 15 minutes and failing to find a way back into the clash despite a markedly improved second-half display.
The Red and Blacks will now turn their attention to Nations League action this weekend and will look to put out a much better showing than they did in the previous edition of the tournament, where they went without a win.
Ukraine vs Albania Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- There have been six meetings between the two nations. Ukraine are undefeated in all six matchups, picking up five wins and a draw.
- The two teams last faced off in a friendly clash back in June 2018 which the Blue and Yellow won 4-1 via goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and the now-retired Yevhen Konoplyanka.
- Albania are without a clean sheet in all six of their games in this fixture.
- Ukraine were ranked 25th in the latest FIFA Rankings and now sit 41 places above their weekend opponents.
Ukraine vs Albania Prediction
Ukraine are on a run of back-to-back unbeaten outings and have lost just one of their last four games. They have had the upper hand in this fixture historically and will be looking forward to the weekend clash.
Albania have lost two of their last three games and have won just two of their last nine. The sheer gulf in class and quality between the two teams could see the Red and Black lose this one.
Prediction: Ukraine 2-1 Albania
Ukraine vs Albania Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Ukraine to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals (Three of the last four matches between the two teams have produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: YES (Both sides have found the back of the net in three of their last four matchups)
